St. Francis Catholic School has taken a first step toward expanding its campus, but many more steps remain before that long-awaited dream is realized.

The school has presented preliminary plans for two new buildings to the Town of Hilton Head Island to get feedback before going forward with a formal application. The plans include a 3,600-square-foot facility for art and music classrooms, as well as a 14,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility that would include a gymnasium. Parking and playground areas also would be restructured.

"We're just touching base with the town before we start with the actual approval process with the diocese," said Principal Mike Rockers, referring to the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, which must approve any expansion.

No timetables for fundraising or construction have been set, said Tom Loosbrock, chairman of the building committee for St. Francis By the Sea Catholic Church.

On Monday, town staff provided feedback on the proposal to Mary Jo Riley of The FWA Group, which drew up the plans for the school. Other than general questions about parking and fire truck access, the town's staff mostly asked that more detailed information be provided when the school makes an official application.

If approved, the new buildings likely would be built in two phases, starting with the arts center, said Steve Riley, a member of the St. Francis school board. Riley also is Hilton Head's town manager and Mary Jo Riley's husband.

The school, which opened in 1996, serves about 230 pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students. With no indoor gymnasium, the school has to improvise for physical-education classes and play all of its indoor sports on the road, Steve Riley said.

In addition to a gym, the new multi-purpose facility would include space for an island-wide Catholic youth group aimed at middle- and high school students. Expanding the campus also would make it possible to move some students out of the church's family center, opening it up for other uses, Steve Riley said.

In a church survey conducted about two years ago, St. Francis parishioners, including those without school-age children, said building a gymnasium should be a priority. That survey showed there was a good deal of support for providing families with opportunities for Catholic education, Steve Riley said.

"I think there's a lot of excitement among all the parishioners, and I think that sends a great signal to all the families who are sending children to the school," Steve Riley said. "It is exciting stuff. It's been a longtime dream."

Contact Dan Williamson at 706-8142 or dwilliamson@islandpacket.com.