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ATTLEBORO - Raising $4.5 million might seem daunting in this economic climate - a little like shooting for the moon.

But man has walked on the moon, and officials at Bishop Feehan High School say their astronomical goal is comfortably within grasp.

Renovation of the school officially begins with a groundbreaking today, an event meant to herald Feehan's launch into the 21st century.

The school actually has been working on the project, without fanfare, for about three years. It began with a "comprehensive campus-wide study" that resulted in planned improvements outlined into three categories.

Of the $4.5 million needed for the entire project, $3 million will go to renovate the school's unoccupied convent into a media/technology center and classroom facility. Of the remaining money, $1 million will go to financial aid and $500,000 will go to professional development.

But the physical expansion of the school does not signal huge grown in the student population and the kinds of noise and traffic that might bring to the surrounding neighborhood.

The school has no plans to increase enrollment beyond the 40 additional students the accepted this year. The intent is to provide the best educational facility possible for the number of students they have.

"We took additional students this year with the specific purpose to create some revenue stream to complete the project," President Chris Servant said. "We're just making sure we provide ourselves a little insurance buffer. But we're not increasing. That's not the intent at all."

The school already has raised $3.1 million since starting fundraising in April 2007, and Servant said the school is optimistic about achieving its goal through pledges and commitments.

"It's a worthy mission and there's a passion for the school," Servant said. "I think that people realize this is one of the few products that is appreciating in value, not depreciating.

"We started this well before this economic situation, but when economics are limited, I think people have decided what are their priorities. I think we have been fortunate."

The decision to convert the empty convent was an easy one.

Since enrollment reached its current 960 students, a look at classroom space was the first objective.

Servant said the desire is to put classroom numbers back at 18 to 19 students per room, and for that they need 48 classrooms instead of the existing 30. "We've gradually worked ourselves into spaces that were not intended for classroom use," Servant said.

Converting the convent also will put in meeting spaces, administrative offices and a library.

"We talked to the diocese about the possibility of using the convent, and had been using half of a dining room," Servant said. "We actually don't have meeting places. So we needed to address that."

Construction began this past September, with Dore & Whittier of Burlington, Vt. The company also worked on rehabilitation of King Philip Junior High School.

The library will be the facility's focal point on the first floor, with classrooms on the second level and offices occupying the top floor.

The project is scheduled for completion in May 2009.