The Democrat and Chronicle's front page story this morning describes how displaced students have filed most of the open seats at area Catholic schools remaining open, leaving little room for new families to take advantage of tuition breaks. This comes after Bishop Matthew Clark rejected proposals by multiple parent groups to keep select schools open to reduce overcrowding, again calling into question the effectiveness of the "expert" task force convened by the Bishop in Fall 2007.
According the the D&C, "Registration for families who are new to diocesan schools began on Tuesday, but diocesan spokesman Doug Mandelaro said that marketing to new families would raise false hopes. 'There just aren't a lot of seats available,' he said."
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3 comments:
First, it would be interesting to know how many WIN students make up the 50% enrollment rate. I suspect those students, due to the financial strain of registration and financial aid application, enrolled at a much lower rate while students at non-WIN schools enrolled at higher than 50% rate.
The diocese says it is sorry, but that doesn't excuse the fact that for some, like the WIN students, they are basically being denied a Catholic education. The diocese has also forever lost those who did not re- enroll or did so at a private school not affiliated with the diocese. There is a basic question now, that I think deserves an answer for ALL remaining families-how will the school system remain financially viable in the future when the tuition has been decreased 30%, there are 50% less students plus no room for new families? Arguably, expenses will be decreased, but has the diocese determined whether the current enrollment at the new tuition rate (and apparently with a lack of room for future enrollments) can support the remaining expenses?
What a surprise, there are no seats available for new students. That will happen when you disregard your true experts - the parents, teachers, and school administrators. Packing students into classrooms, disregarding all acceptable elementary educational standards, parents having to transport their kids or be forced to ride insanely long on the bus. How long is your commute to work Clark? Why should these children have to ride on buses for hours each day, some transferring at local colleges and high schools, just to overcome your lack of vision and poor decision? If the children are the future of the Catholic Church, you've done quite a number to ensure the future is bleak.
Since your cold, corporate-like announcement back in January, we have found a better use for our charitable contributions. Sorry, we'll no longer be funding your twisted priorities Clark. Hope your $800,000 organ at Sacred Heart has been paid for.
You wrote, "calling into question the effectiveness of the "expert" task force convened by the Bishop in Fall 2007."
One of the fundamental lessons taught in any management program is that the exclusion of primary stakeholders from a decision-making process usually results in disaster. Parents, teachers and other building staff are the primary stakeholders in the MCCS System, and yet the bishop's task force systematically shut these folks out of their process.
Calling the task force members "experts" is more than a stretch. Any expert worthy of that title would have simply refused to become involved in such a process.
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