Schools’ study will assess Catholic identity, finances

    Catholic schools are preparing to reopen this month. How is the strategic planning process that you began earlier this year going?
    We’ve been on a little bit of summer hiatus, but the planning has been going extremely well. We’ve had numerous listening sessions around the archdiocese, and Dr. John Convey and Dr. Leonard DeFiore from The Catholic University in Washington, the education officials who are heading up the study, were very well pleased with the number of people who attended as well as with the quality of the feedback they received. I’m excited about getting together with them again. Our hope is to have recommendations presented to us by next spring, which would give us time to study the recommendations before we begin implementing the plan in the 2012-13 academic year.
     What is the study designed to do?
    We want to do three things. First, we want to evaluate the strength of the Catholic identity in our schools, which is of utmost importance. Second, we want to strengthen our curriculum. Third, we want to see where we can improve in any way to make our family of schools stronger and more cohesive. It would be unrealistic for me to say, as we look to the future, that we will not be looking at the consolidation of some schools. But I want to stress that I have no agenda or plan. In some areas of our archdiocese, we have too many schools or schools that have very low enrollment and are not financially viable. I never want to close a school, but if we cannot offer what we say we stand for, we would have to take a close look at that. Even when it comes down to consolidation, there will be room in one of our schools for anyone who desires a Catholic education.
    Finances are always an issue. How much money does the archdiocese provide every year in tuition assistance and other help to schools?
    My understanding is that we provide about a million dollars a year to give out in the form of scholarships or for other costs associated with struggling schools. Nowadays, that’s not a lot of money.
    Are finances among your biggest concerns?
    We have very strong schools and very strong formation and education. I remain deeply indebted to the administrators and teachers who serve in Catholic education. Most of them do not get the same salaries that they would get in public schools, but they see their service as a vocation and a ministry. I’m indebted to them for their financial sacrifices. I also want to affirm the parents who recognize the importance of Catholic education. Some parents want Catholic education and can’t afford it. When I travel around the archdiocese to different parishes, people tell me they wish they could afford to send their children to Catholic school, and I get letters from people asking me for help. I always try to see if there is anything we can do.
    What have you seen thus far from Dr. Jan Lancaster, the new superintendent?
    I’m very excited about her ministry, and I’ve got great confidence in her and in the leadership she and her staff have shown. One of the short-term goals is to have the Office of Catholic Schools and the Office of Religious Education collaborate and assist each other in their missions, and they’re going to start meeting soon about ways to enhance their collaboration.
    Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to [email protected].