Archbishop calls for change in Catholic schools
The Blue Ribbon Committee was established by Archbishop Edwin O'Brien. The committee seeks to create a long term plan to better Catholic schools in the area. (Photo Courtesy of Archdiocese of Baltimore)
Kate Froehlich, Executive Editor
October 9, 2009
Filed under News
After enrollment in the archdiocese schools dropped 7 percent and 29 of the 55 schools were acting with an operational deficit of a combined $2.75 million by the start of the 2009-2010 school year, Archbishop Edwin O’Brien formed the Blue Ribbon Committee to adopt a long term plan to make Catholic schools more affordable and accessible.
Monsignor Bob Harnett was appointed to lead the committee in late January 2009 that is currently made up of 17businessmen, school superintendents, religious women, principals, priests, and teachers. The focus is focused set on maintaining and enhancing Catholic Identity, Academic Excellence, Governance, and Stewardship.
“This is a strategic plan for schools because of an extreme debt, loss of enrollment, and concerns about the quality of schools. We want to create a strong Catholic school system and we feel like we have a system of schools without a lot of cohesiveness, Harnett said.
The debt arises from approximately $8 million in uncollected insurance premiums, fees from schools and parishes to the archdiocese.
In particular, Hartnett hopes to “strengthen our schools in a way that makes them financially viable and see some of the schools ramp up academically. We need to emphasize sciences, technology, and math because that’s where we get criticized in the academic program. In addition, we don’t handle a broad spectrum of students, well -gifted and talented and minor learning disabilities in particular.”
The committee consists of an external work group that researches information from other dioceses with similar plans and looks at the public school sector for inspiration. An internal work group focuses on evaluations of Baltimore diocese schools, from facilities to fiscal issues.
JC hosted a “listening session” on September 30, a tool that the committee created to “broad based input for this planning process from parents, teachers, and other interested parties” Hartnett, said. The session was the second of 10 to be held around the archdiocese in attempt to get more opinions to contribute to the plan, attended by approximately 40 teachers and parents.
The session started with a PowerPoint introduction, followed by two small group discussion periods, and then a question-and answer-segment. The sessions and notes taken during the small group discussion were kept by the committee to review.
Small group discussions centered around what recommendations attendees had, what the committee should be most attentive to, and what should not be lost in the planning process.
Recommendations at the JC meeting included making Catholic schools more affordable, not neglecting alternative educational methods, strong athletic programs to attract students, and better marketing techniques for all schools. Others suggested centralized purchasing of goods and services within the archdiocese and networking with other public and private schools. A major question brought up was the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) factor, or how to attract kids from CCD programs to parish schools.
Lobbying was suggested to allow state money to flow to Catholic schools.
“I want to see the state of Maryland increase tax incentive – similar to what Pennsylvania does,” speaker at the meeting and parent Joan Lozinak said.
Attendees stressed not losing students and their input in the planning, and keeping in mind the goal of Catholic schools.
Elouise Mabe of St. Joan of Arc said at the session, “Do not lose Catholic tradition of teaching the whole child with faith being the anchor.”
However, Hartnett stressed that test scores in the dioceses schools are “significantly above the national average, in the upper third or upper quarter,” although “some of the struggles are particularly in urban communities.”
Sharon Mellni, a teacher and parents who attended, added, “We in the Catholic schools try to emphasize the internal rather than the external, the spiritual rather than the physical.”
The rough draft of the plan will be written in January. O’Brien will receive a first draft in March, and a final copy should be released to the public by June.
The committee believes this should have lasting consequences, according to Hartnett. “I think this is going to make a recommendation that will have far reaching implications of the archdiocese for years to come.”
Contribute to the Blue Ribbon Committee’s planning process by visiting their comment page.
Kate Froehlich can be reached for comment at kfroehlich@jcpatriot.com.