Construction of a science building at the Imperial Valley’s only Catholic high school is on track to be finished in June despite the pandemic and a break-in that led to major water damage.

The plan is for students to begin to use the science classrooms and the chapel in the new building at Vincent Memorial Catholic High School in August, when the academic year is scheduled to begin.

Sister Guadalupe “Lupita” Hernández, the principal of the high school, said the COVID-19 pandemic did not interrupt the construction of the new building.

Nor did a break-in at the construction site that led to tens of thousands of dollars of water damage.

The principal said that the high school still needs to raise funds to cover the cost of renovating classrooms in the school’s main building. The school has raised the majority of the $3.7 million total project cost through a mix of diocesan help and funds raised by the Parent-Teacher Group.

However, the school still needs $400,000 to complete the project, said the principal. Two fundraising events that had been planned for the spring – a fashion show and a raffle – were canceled due to the pandemic.

Full story at The Southern Cross.