Schools meeting will set stage for our kids’ future

    On Sept. 24, you will meet with priests, school presidents, principals and the heads of religious communities to discuss the strategic plan for Catholic schools in the archdiocese. Can you share what will happen at the meeting?
    The plan has been shared with priests, presidents, principals and religious superiors in advance of the meeting, and we are encouraging their input. The plan addresses the following topics: Catholic identity, governance, academics, high schools, finances, marketing and public relations, the structure of the Office of Catholic schools, the grade-level structure of our schools, which deals basically with the seventh- and eighth-grade issue, and the state’s scholarship program.
    You’ve asked the participants in the meeting to do a lot of pre-meeting homework.
    Every person coming to that meeting has been asked to read the plan in its entirety and then to go online and vote yes or no for each recommendation in the plan. Those results will be presented on a large screen at the beginning of the meeting. The areas where there is the most disagreement or diversity of opinion will be the areas in which we will ask for other recommendations that perhaps the planning committee has not thought of. I don’t think it’s very helpful for someone simply to say, “I don’t like this.” It’s a lot more helpful to say, “I don’t like this recommendation, and I have a better recommendation.” All those recommendations will be put forward, and people will be given the opportunity to express their criticism or support. Once all the opinions are expressed, the report will go back to me and the Office of Catholic Schools, at which time we will review the feedback, pray and make decisions.
    Will you talk specifically about any mergers or consolidations of schools?
    Those specifics won’t be part of this meeting because some of the  information in the strategic plan is outdated because of the state’s scholarship program. We are updating that section. After the meeting – once we have the updated numbers – we will meet individually with any school recommended for merger. We will make no decisions until we have a chance to meet with each school and hear the pros and cons and take those things into consideration before making a final decision.
    Do you have an idea of how many schools might be consolidated?
    I can’t say at this point. I do know there are more than 15 elementary schools in the archdiocese that are struggling in terms of enrollment and finances. But just because a school is struggling does not necessarily mean that it can’t address those issues and remain open. At the same time, there is a need to look at enrollment, finances and the quality of education. When finances and enrollment are low, very often it does affect the quality of education. We certainly do not want any “failing schools” in the Archdiocese of New Orleans because that would be contrary to what we say we are promoting – excellence in education and excellence in Catholic formation.
    Are you expecting a large turnout?
    Yes. I’m sure all of the school presidents and all of the principals will be there. The religious superiors with whom we work will either be there or send a representative. Just about all the pastors with a school will be there, and I’ve heard from a number of parochial vicars who will be there because they will be pastors in the future, and they want to know what’s going on with the future of Catholic education in the archdiocese.
    How critical is it to get this planning process right?
    What we’re doing here is, in some ways, about 40 years overdue. There have been significant changes in education in the last 40 years – especially in the last 20 years – and for many good reasons, people have been hesitant to tackle these issues. Some would say I’m crazy for taking these steps, but I believe that we as a church must be good stewards of the resources that God has given to us. No matter how good we are doing something, there’s always room for improvement. Secondly, if we’re not doing something well in  terms of resources, finances or quality education, then we have to ask, is this really contributing to the building up of God’s kingdom among us?
    What areas do you think  will receive the most debate?
    The most debatable issues, I believe, will be some of the suggestions regarding tuition and finances. We have listened very carefully and attentively to the voices that were raised at the town hall meetings. I think the second-most discussed issue will be the grade-level structure of our elementary and high schools. Through the years, well meaning and dedicated educators have made decisions about adding a seventh and eighth grade to the high school level and dropping eighth grade on the elementary level. Everyone knows we have middle schools, high schools, elementary schools and various combinations of each. One of the tough questions is to look at  all of that and see if we can come up with some guidelines that will promote the unity within our family of schools and better serve our youth.
    When do you expect to sign off on the final recommendations?
    I hope that we would be able to finish the entire process by the end of October or the beginning of November.
    The last time the archdiocese tried to implement a strategic plan for schools was in the early 1990s with the Meitler Study. How would you assess how that worked out?
    My desire is to have a jazz funeral for the Meitler Study, because every time we enter into this discussion, many people carry with them negative memories of Meitler and what it did or did not accomplish. I would like us to turn the page. We are now in a new age. This study by Dr. Convey and Dr. DeFiore of Catholic University is not only thorough but has benefited from vast consultation, and we will make specific decisions. I suspect some of the decisions will be popular and some will be unpopular. We will also have a timeline for implementation, which will run from two to seven years.
    You mentioned listening to feedback on finances and tuition. Have you nuanced that part of the plan?
    Some of the recommendations are nuanced from some of the original proposals. Let me remind everyone that Dr. Convey and Dr. DeFiore are experts in education, and they’ve given us a marvelous document. It’s extraordinary work. Now it’s up to us to consider the recommendations and say yea or nay and make the document our own. We have to fit the wisdom of national experts into something that will fit our local situation. I think we can do that, and we ask for the prayerful support of everyone in the archdiocese to achieve the best result for our children, which, in the end, is what this is all about.
    Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to [email protected].