Sullivan said St. Patrick will emphasize its faith-based curriculum while adding more technology to classrooms. The school already has “smart boards” – interactive computerized whiteboards – in almost every classroom. Textbooks for English, math and reading were recently updated. The school also added a library this year through book donations.

Sullivan said the school can use volunteers with a variety of skills. One professional heating and air-conditioning repairman in Springfield, who Sullivan said wishes to remain anonymous, donates his expertise whenever the school needs help. Another volunteer provides new glass whenever a window is broken.

George Fairchild, a volunteer for 11 years, visits the school every morning to tutor children who need individual help with math, spelling, English and more. Fairchild, a retired Springfield businessman, said he started volunteering because he saw a need at the school.

“It’s a clean, wholesome environment where kids can get a good education and good discipline,” Fairchild said. “I don’t know what more you could ask for with your children. (The children) can come in at 8 in the morning and not have to leave until 5:30 at night, so that’s quite a value for parents who work.”

He said volunteering at St. Patrick is his calling for now.

“I think it helps to keep you humble, to give you a sense of giving back to a community and giving back to your fellow man,” Fairchild said. “My wife could tell you every day I’m happy about coming here. God has given me the direction and the ability to come here and help out in my own small way.”

Sullivan said the school needs donors who are willing to “sponsor” students by helping to make up the difference between the tuition fee and the actual cost of educating a child.

“Every little bit helps,” he said. “We get checks in the mail ranging from $10 to $4,000. We just need more of the $4,000 ones.”

Runkel likened St. Patrick to a mission like those in other parts of the world.

“We always talk about missions in Africa, Haiti, Indonesia and all those places, but there’s a similar situation here in the middle of our city, where these children need a good education,” she said.

Sarah Stanley, the third-grade teacher, said she and the rest of the staff are hopeful and confident about the school’s future.

“I think it’s going to do nothing but get better,” she said. “I think you almost have to come in and check it out. It’s not like any other school I’ve ever been in.”

Contact Patrick Yeagle at [email protected].