Yuma Catholic High School is debt-free for the first time in school history

By Carissa Krautscheid

For the first time in the history of the school, Yuma Catholic High School is debt free! From the time they opened in 2000, the school accumulated over $6.5 million in debt, while still maintaining their beautiful campus and providing fantastic programs.

Rhett Stallworth became the Principal of Yuma Catholic in 2016 and has since worked diligently to pay off the school's debt. After six and a half years, they just wrote a check for $1.3 million on November 7, 2022, and have now paid off their entire debt!

“This was made possible,” said Stallworth, “through private donations from Deacon Gary Pasquinelli, and Jon and Linney Jessen who stepped up to get the ball rolling. The rest was through increased attendance, operating within budget, and making sure to negotiate with the creditor. We paid off the debt through good old fashion budgeting and being fiscally responsible.”

During that time, the school continued making facility upgrades such as adding four modular buildings, adding a fence around the stadium, installing the largest high school scoreboard in the state of Arizona, replacing all the roofs, and converting all lightbulbs to LED.

Now that they are debt-free, Yuma Catholic is looking ahead towards a Capital Campaign. “We’re growing,” explained Stallworth. “Every year, we have a waiting list. We need more classrooms to accommodate more students.”

Join us in congratulating Yuma Catholic High School on this accomplishment!

 

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