Official news release of the Catholic Schools plan in Erie

7/24/2019 Official news release of the Catholic Schools plan in Erie

1/5

Embargoed until 4 pm on 2.17.16

Diocese unveils Building in Truth and Love, final plan for Catholic schools

The Diocese of Erie today unveiled Building in Truth and Love, the highly anticipated

final plan for Catholic schools throughout the 13-county Diocese of Erie. The blueprint is

part of the most comprehensive pastoral planning effort the diocese has undergone in sever-

al decades.

I believe parents in northwest Pennsylvania, and particularly in the Erie area, will be

very happy with the final plan, said the Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, bishop of Erie. It

is built on a solid foundation of data, but also incorporates imagination and inspiration.

Catholic education is a crucial asset in our community, and the plan ensures families will be

able to take full advantage of its benefits for generations to come.

The final plan contains observations, goals and strategies for Mission and Catholic

Identity; Governance and Leadership; Academic Excellence; and Operational Vitality. Un-

like the preliminary plan proposed last yearsixth through eighth-graders now will remain

embedded within the PreK-8 buildings.

We asked for feedback from the community, and the community responded with

great passion, said Father Nicholas Rouch, vicar for Education. The deep desire voiced by

so many people who value the PREK-8 system gave us reason to re-evaluate this aspect of

the plan.

In light of the feedback, we went back to the research, Father Rouch said.

Ultimately, we felt we could accomplish our overall goals of academic excellence in a


2/5

faith-based environment while keeping all our students in PreK-8 buildings. We are

deeply committed to system-wide, age-appropriate opportunities for middle school stu-

dents. We are designing a more focused approach for students in grades six to eight, in-

creasing academic rigor, emphasizing high school preparedness and expanding offerings

ranging from spiritual experiences to international languages.

A separate document released today enumerates key features of the plan for sixth

through eighth-grade students, and outlines the strategies that will be used to accom-

plish specific goals. Among the highlights of middle-school education in Catholic schools

in the greater Erie area:

a campus minister to develop age-appropriate spiritual experiences for middle school

students

competitive and intramural sports programs

focus on science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) across the curriculum

through new science labs, improved access to technology, an emphasis on problem -

solving and teamwork

emphasis on debate and public-speaking skills

a middle-school-specific code of conduct

career education and exploration

wellness programs

professional development for middle school teachers

opportunities for students from multiple campuses to meet for educational activities

focused on the arts

readiness for a smooth transition into Catholic high school.

The final plan calls for the creation of a new Catholic school system in the Erie ar-

ea: the Erie Catholic School System, replacing the current array of independent, parish-

based schools. The Erie Catholic School System will be similar to the approach already

successfully established in three areas of the dioceseDuBois, the Shenango Valley and

Elk County. The new system, which is expected to open in September 2017, will comprise

six campuses: Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Peace, Our Ladys Christian, St.

George, St. Jamesand St. Luke. Two other schools, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School

and St. Boniface School, will close after the 2016-17 academic year. Opportunities to de-

velop Holy Family Schoolinto a separately incorporated diocesan school with philan-


3/5

thropic support from the wider community are being discussed. An exploratory commit-

tee will soon be appointed for this purpose.

The diocese said it will need to make a multi-million dollar fundraising effort to

support middle school education as well as diocesan-wide professional development op-

portunities for Catholic school personnel.

St. Gregoryin North East will remain open, but participate in a new diocesan col-laborative for parish-based schools (PBS). Eleven grade schools not connected to systems

in the diocese will belong to the PBS Diocesan Collaborative, designed to strengthen and

support the parish-based schools in smaller communities.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania have said they will contin-

ue to operate Villa Maria Elementaryas a sponsored ministry.

Six of the seven Catholic high schools in the diocese will remain open. Venango

Catholic High Schoolin Oil City will close at the end of the 2015 -16 academic year. The

challenges of declining enrollment and substantial infrastructure needs were too signifi-

cant to overcome.

All parishes in the diocese will contribute to the financial support of Catholic

schools.

Catholic education is an essential outreach, Bishop Persico said. By working

together, we can ensure that students in northwest Pennsylvania have access to a rigor-

ous, top-quality, Catholic education. We also recognize that we need to do everything

possible to keep it affordable. In addition to parish subsidies and parish-based endow-

ments, the diocese plans to continue growing its scholarship funds.

All Catholic schools in the diocese will be under the leadership of the newly creat-

ed position of superintendent of schools. Implementation of the plan calls for two new

positions: a superintendent overseeing all Catholic elementary, middle and secondary

schools, and a president for the Erie Catholic School System. Both are expected to be

hired by this summer. A board also will be established for the system.

The hope is to implement many of the changes by the beginning of the 2017 -18 ac-

ademic year; some aspects could occur earlier and some later, depending on a number offactors.

The Erie Catholic School System will mean more collaboration and less competi-

tion among the Catholic elementary schools, ensuring consistency in everything from tui-

tion rates to academic offerings. Sharing resources will create an economy of scale that

will significantly improve the educational value.

The final plan was presented to clergy, principals and diocesan administrators


4/5


5/5

This information was shared in multiple forums, and used by the task force to de-

velop the preliminary plan. Working subcommittees of the task force included Catholic

identity, academic excellence and school finances.

In announcing the preliminary plan last October, officials at the Diocese of Erie

asked people who will implement the plan and those affected by its recommendations to

provide feedback. School administrators had access to a confidential online form devel-

oped for this purpose; approximately 1,200 individuals also submitted feedback.

The Catholic Schools Office analyzed the feedback that was received after the pre-

liminary plan, and worked to shape the final plan. Bishop Persico consulted with numer-

ous individuals associated with the pastoral planning process before approving the final

plan.

In his letter at the beginning of Building in Truth and Love, Bishop Persico noted the

plan is the fruit of intensive prayer, study, feedback and collaboration by parents, educa-

tors and pastors.

We now have a roadmap for faith-based academic excellence which is supported

by our parishes and affordable for our families, he wrote, acknowledging there is still

much work to do.

I ask that you join me in wholeheartedly committing yourselves to these initia-tives and to our children, who are our hope for the future.

# # #

Documents

Official news release of the Catholic Schools plan in Erie