Parents, community offer guidance on schools’ plan

    What have you  learned from the town hall meetings that have been held throughout the archdiocese to solicit public feedback on the strategic plan that will guide schools into the future?
    I learned that people in the archdiocese care passionately about Catholic education, and that’s a wonderful thing. In the first four town hall meetings, we had more than 500 parents, students, teachers and community members show up to give us their feedback. That shows people care. I also received numerous phone calls and emails from people offering suggestions for the plan. We have promised a culture of transparency and collaboration. I also pledged that our schools would be authentically Catholic and constantly strive for academic excellence while remaining affordable to anyone wanting a Catholic education. That’s the purpose of this strategic plan.
    Where does the plan stand right now?
    Let me make this very clear – absolutely no decisions have been made. We are encouraging feedback, discussion and conversation. We are starting with a strong foundation. Archbishop Aymond is very committed to Catholic education. Our Catholic schools are vibrant centers of spiritual and academic excellence. Our high school average ACT score is 22.7, among the highest in the state. Our high school graduation rates are among the highest in the nation at 99 percent. And, our students go on to serve their communities in many important ways.
    What issues have the town hall meetings raised?
    Everyone realizes the serious challenges we are facing as a family of Catholic schools. Enrollment is decreasing. Financial realities may impact our tradition of strong academics, and something needs to be done. This process is not about one school but a family of schools and about how we can best pass on the Catholic faith. At all of the town hall meetings, there were three issues that seemed to come up most often – tuition costs, grade-level governance, and the consolidation of schools.
    What are the challenges in the tuition area?
    I’d like to emphasize, once again, that these are proposals and not etched in stone. That being said, the planning seeks to identify ways in which we can keep Catholic education affordable. Many people do not realize that what they pay in tuition is not the true cost of a Catholic education. In elementary schools, the true cost averages out to be about $750 more than the tuition charged. Among the suggestions in meeting this challenge is to ask all parishes, both those with and without schools, to increase their support for Catholic schools so that more tuition assistance is available to parents. The formula for that support would be based on a parish’s annual “ordinary income,” the amount it receives in the collection basket. Because we can’t continue to, in essence, give scholarships to the children of more affluent parents, those parents who could easily afford to pay the true cost of their child’s education would be asked to do so. There would be tuition assistance for those parents of more moderate means and those who have multiple children attending school. The process would be similar to the FAFSA application that all parents fill out when their children attend college. The middle class is so strapped right now. The plan will help parents either through a tier or sliding scale that takes into consideration the number of children in a family. The goal is to keep Catholic education affordable for everyone.
    What about grade levels in elementary and high school?
    One of the plan’s goals is to provide consistency in grade levels among elementary and high schools. One of the proposals is that elementary schools end at seventh grade and high schools begin at eighth grade. Here is the rationale: principals need to know how to plan for enrollment in order to ensure the best possible learning environment for their students. An elementary school might have an eighth grade that is viable, but that potentially produces a problem at the high school level. If parents send their children to eighth grade in elementary school, how does a high school hold a spot for them in ninth grade when that high school, which is tuition-based, needs income to offer the best possible curriculum? We are trying to help the entire family of Catholic schools. While the plan does call for exceptions, our schools are tuition-based, and principals need to plan based on numbers of students. We simply must establish grade-level governance. Of course, none of this will take place immediately, and, again, none of this has been decided. This grade-level model has worked for years in West St. Tammany Parish, with elementary schools ending at seventh grade and high schools beginning in eighth.
    What about consolidation of schools?
    Although no schools will be closed for the 2012-13 academic year, some consolidation will eventually take place. We want parents to be assured that there will be a place for their children in Catholic schools. We are a family of schools, and we will continue to operate as such throughout the implementation of this plan. Catholic school restructuring is going on throughout the country, and we are up to the task to face the future together. Improvement in education throughout our region is great news for all children. That’s a win-win situation. Our Catholic schools continue to offer the best possible education embedded in the Catholic faith. One of the most affirming things to emerge from the town hall meetings was the degree to which parents praised our schools for their authentic Catholic identity and their academic and spiritual excellence. Now, we need everyone’s help to continue to make all of our schools authentically Catholic, academically excellent, and affordable.
    Dr. Jan Lancaster can be reached at (504) 388-5528 or [email protected]. Presentation is at ocs.arch-no.org/newsletters.