Press of Atlantic City
Catholic schools to merge
Bishop: 12 area elementary schools to offer plans by month's end
By TOM NAMAKO Staff Writer
(Published: January 19, 2007)
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/top_story/story/7127823p-6983449c.html
CAMDEN: Twelve Catholic elementary schools in the region will know by the end of January whether they will close, merge or remain as they are, and most of the decisions will be made by lay people.
That's part of a widespread plan that Bishop Joseph Galante, leader of the Diocese of Camden, announced Thursday. The plan is supposed to address declining enrollment in schools, more empty pews in churches and burdensome costs of operation.
Mergers and closings eventually will shake up the diocese's 124 parishes and 52 elementary schools, whose fates will be determined in June for the 2008 school year.
Galante also wants to increase tuition but give financial aid on a family-need basis, increase teacher raises to be competitive with public schools and allow students to attend any Catholic school they choose.
The changes will affect 18 elementary schools and about 53 parishes in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties.
Not just New Jersey
Similar parish closings and school mergers have occurred across the nation, from Midwest cities such as Louisville to nearby Philadelphia. Galante's plan allows priests, principals, parents and alumni to make a decision for each school or church - although he still has the final say.
The 12 local schools, scattered from Wildwood to Vineland, submitted their recommendations to Galante in December. In a few weeks, he will make the decision to consolidate, close or keep those schools the way they are. Changes will be seen by the time classes begin in September.
Those schools are on an accelerated track, Galante said, because of a sharp decrease in enrollment. Most schools in the Cape May county area, diocese statistics show, had a 13 percent decline in student population between 2001 and 2006.
Most of those schools have fewer than 225 students, a mark that Galante said is too low.
"Those schools had very, very, very, low enrollments, and we needed to deal with them first," he said.
The only local schools not on a fast track are St. Augustine in Ocean City, St. Joseph in Somers Point, Blessed Sacrament in Margate, St. James in Ventnor and Our Lady Star of the Sea in Atlantic City. The last three of those schools are in an area that saw a 14 percent increase in enrollment between 2001 and 2005 - the only section of local schools that gained students.
Schools were arranged in clusters based on geography. Committees will have to make the best decisions for the group.
Parishes are arranged in similar clusters, and clergy and lay people are looking at financial, demographic and attendance reports before making decisions. They must give their plans to Galante by May 15. Changes also will begin in 2008.
"We understand there's going to be a lot of emotion in this," Galante said at a news conference at diocese headquarters. "It's like having a family, then the parents decided to downsize."
Faculty and staff across the region have been mostly tight-lipped about the changes. But most comments seemed supportive of the plan. Some have taken a wait-and-see approach to the decisions.
"We're just carrying on as normal, giving it our best," said Rita McGlade, an administrative assistant at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Cape May.
Mara Marczyk, PTA President of Assumption Regional School in Pomona, said she was for the possible consolidations.
"Whatever is best for Catholic education, (we support)." She said, adding, "We don't have to worry about being closed, because we are building a new school."
Diocesan officials said the changes won't affect any new school or church construction.
Not just school costs
Galante met with reporters at diocese headquarters on Market Street in Camden, in an ornate conference room with wood ceilings and a carved stone fireplace.
Administrative costs at the headquarters were also being studied, he said.
"We don't work with a very large staff," he said.
Plans also include major revamping of how much families pay for a Catholic education and how much teacher salaries should be.
Average tuition at a grammar school is $2,400. But it takes about $4,000 to educate each student, Galante said. He hopes to raise tuition so that families pay about $4,000 - but each parish also would contribute to a fund for financial aid to those who need it most.
"Catholic schools must be accessible for all children, including those from poor and middle-class families who face major economic challenges," he said. "The new funding model will ensure that no child will be denied a Catholic school education for financial reasons."
Also, teacher salary increases would be doubled for three years, beginning in 2009, Galante said, in hopes of remaining competitive with educator pay in public schools.
Demographic changes
With the declining number of priests in southern New Jersey, Galante said, the diocese doesn't have many options but to consolidate. There are not enough priests for every parish, and he envisions situations where several parishes have one pastor, where several pastors are stationed at several parishes, and the traditional one-priest-one-church model.
On average, only three new priests are ordained for every 10 who die in the area, according to diocese statistics. Most priests are between the ages of 65 and 69. Only 1 percent are in their twenties.
Galante said the diocese is working on recruiting new priests, although he was short on details for a strategy.
Catholic population shifts away from southern New Jersey have taken a large toll on church attendance and school enrollment, Galante said. There are about 500,000 Catholics in southern New Jersey.
One of the most formidable trends is the movement of Atlantic and Cape May county barrier island residents.
"Extremely lucrative purchase offers for shore homes often replaced by high-end condos have resulted in the relocation of families," read a 2006 diocese demographic report. "This trend has caused a rapidly diminishing school age population."
Another noticeable trends in Cumberland and Atlantic counties is the influx of Catholic Hispanics. Cumberland County alone has about 32,000, according to church statistics. Some of those residents are transitional farm workers.
"I stress that no decisions have been made yet," Galante said. "Parish and school planning teams are still to offer recommendations to me."
Staff writers Shawn Hardie and Brian Ianieri contributed to this report.