MPNnow.com: Displaced Student Reregistration at 86%

MPNnow.com is reporting that the reregistration rate for Catholic school students displaced by the closure of 13 MCCS System schools has far exceeded that predicted by Bishop Clark's panel of "experts."

In January, Bishop Matthew Clark of the Diocese of Rochester announced the diocese would close 13 area Catholic schools in June, citing a sharp decline in enrollment and a significant budget shortfall. At the time of Clark’s announcement, diocese officials estimated that 48 percent of the students enrolled in the closing schools would enroll in other Catholic schools.

However, those figures appear to be drastically underestimated.

Doug Mandelaro, a spokesperson for the diocese, said 4,221 of the 4,884 displaced students — or 86 percent — have re-registered, far exceeding the retention goal. There are 376 openings available in the schools that are staying open, with 82 children on a waiting list for openings closer to their homes, Mandelaro said.

Another part of the story deals with class size at St. Joseph School in Penfield.

Right now, about 325 students are enrolled in the school. That number will jump by 122 to 447 in the fall, with 108 of those students coming from St. John’s of Rochester in Fairport.

St. Joseph’s currently has two classrooms for each grade, kindergarten through sixth, according to [Principal] Sister Christina Marie. The incoming students will be divvied up among those grades, making the average class size about 28.

“We could comfortably hold 30 per class,” she said.

As a result, no new classrooms will be added and new teaching staff will not be hired.

While Sister Christina Marie might feel comfortable with 30 children in each of her classrooms I know of no teachers - or parents - who would use the word 'comfortable' to describe their feelings about such a large class size.

New Catholic Blogger in DOR

A new (to me) Catholic blogger has appeared on the DOR scene.

From Journey To A New Pentecost ...

[A]m I missing something? The Catholic school buildings were built from the collective wallets of the laity, but the Diocese of Rochester will not allow these buildings to be leased by independent lay groups (not that the laity matter these days).

... I’d also like to challenge, David Kelly, the Diocesan spokes person who stated that Bishop Clark wants a “stabilize” Catholic school system. The Catholic school system in the Diocese of Rochester has not been stablized since the first reorganization in the eighties, hence the reason why the laity would like a chance at managing Catholic education themselves. 

... I don’t think it fair that the laity are not given a chance at running an independent Catholic School with the blessings from their Bishop. They can’t do any worse than the Diocese of Rochester.

I couldn't agree more.  Keep up the good work!

Sister Elaine Poitras Finds New Job

Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has made the following announcement:

Sister Elaine Poitras, CSC, Ph.D., is appointed superintendent of Catholic Schools, effective July 1, for a period of one year.

Sister Poitras was appointed Superintendent of the Monroe County Catholic School System in 2006 and resigned "for personal reasons" in January 2008, one day after Bishop Clark's committee of "experts" turned in its report recommending the closure of 13 Monroe County Catholic schools.

Sister Poitras generally had "no comment" when asked about the school closings. However, in a January 21 report News 10NBC's Nikki Rudd quoted Sister Poitras as saying,

People consider themselves family in Catholic schools. I don't think anybody should underestimate the magnitude of this decision.

MPNnow.com: Movement Afoot to Start Independent School

MPNnow.com has posted a story on its site reporting on the Open House at Irondequoit's St. Margaret Mary School this past Sunday.  Toward the end of the story is the following  section related to St. John Bosco Schools:

Residents concerned with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester’s decision to close 13 suburban schools this month are trying to start an independent private Catholic school.

“It’s a group of parents and business people who are concerned about the redemption of Catholic school opportunities in Rochester in view of the recent closing of schools,” said Joseph Indelicato of Rochester, who is spearheading the effort. Indelicato, CEO of Caritas Consulting of Rochester, is president of the Catholic Education Foundation of Rochester, a national organization he founded in 2001.

He said he has connections with the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools, a Florida-based organization the group is working with to establish St. John Bosco Schools. Indelicato said about 40 people attended an initial organizing meeting May 20. A second meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 11. The location has not yet been announced. More information will be available at a new Web site: www.johnboscoschools.org or by contacting info@johnboscoschools.org.

The new school could start with as few as five students and will be located somewhere in the Pittsford, Fairport and Victor area, Indelicato said.

Doug Mandelaro, a spokesperson for Bishop Matthew Clark, said a number of groups wanted to start independent Catholic schools at some of the closed school sites. He said Bishop Clark has indicated he will listen to proposals, but is not in favor of independent schools.

Mandelaro noted that of the 4,884 students in the system early this year when the closings were announced, 4,201 have re-registered, exceeding the retention goal of 48 percent. There are 376 seats available, with 82 on a waiting list for seats closer to their homes, he said.

While Bishop Clark may not be in favor of independent schools, many people who have followed the diocese's management of the MCCS System over the years have come to see independent schools as the only long-term hope of preserving Catholic education in Monroe County.

SBST&M 2008 Summer ACT Program

St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry has announced its 2008 Academy for Contemporary Theology (ACT) course lineup.  This year's theme is Catholics and Civic Responsibilities in the Election Year.

From the program flyer:

The overall focus for this year’s Summer ACT will be to look at issues surrounding the relationship between our identity as a people of faith and our responsibility as citizens. How do we participate in the political life of our country and address public issues while remaining committed to the principles of our faith? It is hoped that the perspectives offered would generate a vital public discourse concerning faith in public life to sort out the issues and make responsible decisions for the future of our country and the world.

Individual 5-hour modules will include

1. Biblical Perspectives: This module will examine biblical texts often used in discussions concerning a Christian’s responsibilities in public life.
2. Historical Perspectives: This module will examine the Catholic Church teachings using some key documents.
3. Moral Perspectives: This module will focus on some key issues from a moral perspective.
4. Practical Perspectives: This module will look at practical strategies to help people sort through the issues and challenges.

Given that 2008 is a presidential election year, this looks to be a good mix of topics.

New City Catholic School Announced

Yesterday's D&C ran a story focusing on a new Catholic middle school to be located in the City of Rochester whose mission will be the education of underprivileged children.  Nativity Preparatory Academy, a joint effort of the Jesuits of the New York Province and the Sisters of Saint Joseph, will be co-ed but will teach girls and boys in separate classrooms.

A spokesperson said that a committee has looked at several Catholic school buildings in the city and expects to select a site soon. After-school programs will be offered in 2008-09 and fifth- and sixth-graders will be admitted in September 2009.  A seventh grade will be added in 2010 and an eighth grade in 2011.

Tuition is expected to be in the range of $300 to $400 per year and no child will be turned away because his or her family cannot pay.

A couple of weeks ago, while this story was still pretty much in the rumor stage, a parent with children at a Catholic school about to be closed sent me an email that read, in part,

The Jesuits are picking up where the diocese left off. ... The diocese would not see this venture as competition because these are the students the diocese doesn't want. Ours, who can afford full tuition, are the ones they don't want to have to compete to keep.

I choose to look at the positives:

1. They are educating a group that would be left out under the current "plan".

2. They will be helping a city parish survive.

3.  Any school that opens independently of the diocesan system and succeeds will set a precedent.

To which I can only say, Amen.

Catholic Schools Make a BIG Difference

The Catholic New Service has posted a News Brief reporting on a study conducted by Loyola Marymount University's School of Education in Los Angeles.  The study focused on a group of Catholic school students in the Los Angeles area, all of whom received tuition funding from the Catholic Education Foundation of the Los Angeles Archdiocese between 2001 and 2005.

100% of the 603 eighth grade students followed in the study continued on to ninth grade.  Furthermore, an almost unbelievable 98% on the 205 ninth graders in 2001-02 graduated in 2005. (The comparable public school 4-year graduation rate was 64%.)

The 205 students selected for the high school study were considered “at risk” because of low socioeconomic status.  Many were under the care of guardians, had incarcerated parents, lived in shelters and came from abusive family situations.

Further details can be found here, here and here.

Tip: Tmac.