PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A renovated, former seminary building is once again attracting students.

Where students once trained for the priesthood, they're now studying algebra, earth science and history and looking to get secular jobs in such fields as auto repairs and nursing.

The Perryville Area Higher Education Center, operated by Southeast Missouri State University and Mineral Area College, opened for classes in August in a 48-year-old stone building on the grounds of St. Mary's of the Barrens, just off Highway 51.

Retired priests still live on the grounds. "It's neat to see it being used, especially for education," said The Rev. John Gagnepain, who studied at the seminary from 1953 to 1962 and now manages the seminary property.

The opening of the center this fall marked the first classes in the building since the seminary, run by the Vincentian order, closed in 1985.

There's a new sign denoting the Perryville Area Higher Education Center on the outside of the building. Inside, the classrooms have fresh paint and new lights. There are rows of computers in the computer lab. But little else has changed, Gagnepain said. "They don't look any different than when I was here," he said as he viewed the classrooms last week.

Seeking a boost

School officials hope the move from a former grade school at Sereno, Mo., five miles east of Perryville, and more course offerings will boost enrollment.

The higher education center currently has 225 students enrolled in classes, mostly courses offered by Mineral Area College, a two-year school in Park Hills, Mo. Southeast is offering seven courses this semester, including three offered through interactive television.

School officials believe the building is large enough to handle an enrollment of 400 students or more once renovations have been completed.

Enrollment currently is about the same as in past semesters at the Sereno center. "We are hoping it goes up as word spreads," said Sally Werner, interim director of the Perryville Area Higher Education Center, which is offering 27 courses this semester in everything from applied accounting to English composition.

A dedication ceremony had been scheduled for Oct. 17, but will be held at a later date so U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-Mo.) can attend. Bond helped secure funding for the renovations.

Werner likes the refurbished seminary building, which still retains its rich marble and terrazzo foyer. "This has more of a collegiate atmosphere," she said.

Renovated library

Only the first floor of the former library building has been renovated -- at a cost of about $450,000 -- but plans are in the works to renovate the second floor for added classrooms by next fall. The ornate, second-story library room -- now empty of books -- likely will be converted to a second computer lab and a study area. There are plans to install a new elevator too.

The final price tag for the entire project is expected to be $1.5 million, which includes the completed first-floor renovations and street and parking lot construction. Private donations and a federal grant are funding the building renovations. The city of Perryville and Perry County helped pay for the road and parking lot.

The renovated first floor has five regular classrooms, a computer lab, an interactive television classroom and an office.

There's little hustle and bustle in the building during the day. That's because most of the classes are held at night, particularly on Thursday evenings when more than 100 students fill the first-floor classrooms.

Over a dozen students were in the building on Thursday afternoon. All were in a public speaking class.

Stephanie Sturdevant, 28, of Perryville spent the afternoon taking a test with her classmates. A divorced mother -- with three children -- who cleans houses for a living, Sturdevant said it's convenient to take classes at the center.

Sturdevant has only one complaint. "The only problem is there is not heat," she said as she stood in the first-floor hallway wearing a jacket.

Werner said the contractor is still working on installing the new heating equipment. More importantly, the system relies on steam heat that's piped throughout the seminary campus, she said.

The Vincentians are expected to turn on the heat within the next few weeks, she said.

Jennifer Dunning, 20, of Cape Girardeau travels to Perryville twice a week for community college classes. "This place is really quiet. You can get a lot of studying done," she said.

Beckey Hayes, 38, of Marble Hill, Mo., previously took classes at the Sereno center, but prefers the education center's new quarters.

""It's more like a college," said Hayes, who hopes to get a nursing degree.

She doesn't want to take classes at Southeast's campus in Cape Girardeau. "It's too busy over there for me. I like the small-town atmosphere," said Hayes who also takes classes at Mineral Area College's campus in Park Hills.

Fallon Hoff, 18, of rural Perryville is enrolled, along with her mother, in an earth science class. "It's a lot better than driving to Cape for classes," she said.

It's also cheaper, Hoff said. Tuition for a Mineral Area College class is $77 per credit hour while Southeast charges nearly double that amount.

Christopher Boland, 19, of Perryville likes the higher education center classes too. He's training to work in an auto body shop. He's taking classes at the Perryville vocational school and at the Perryville Area Higher Education Center as he works towards a two-year degree.

"It's pretty neat," said Boland, adding that the building is larger. "You have a little more room," he said.

Boland said the opening of the Perryville center should encourage more area residents to go to college.

"I think you will see a lot more students," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123