News/Press Releases

As the Diocese of Scranton looks to the future, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera has outlined a plan of action created to address the important role of our Catholic School System. 

The goal of the plan, he stressed, is to ensure that the Diocese maintains into the future a “stable, sustainable Catholic school system that is spiritually sound and academically excellent.” 

The plan is comprised of several primary elements including: establishing a three-year tuition rate schedule that makes it possible for families to plan ahead; implementing a marketing plan that is focused on two key components: (1) retaining and increasing enrollment in our Catholic School System and (2) cultivating the support of our alumni and friends along with the community at large; and lastly, instituting a more aggressive development plan designed to foster funding opportunities while simultaneously ensuring that parish subsidies are feasible for our parishes. 

The Bishop presented the plan on Jan. 20 during a meeting at St. Maria Goretti Parish Center in Laflin. In attendance were members of the Diocesan Catholic School regional boards, principals, teacher and parent representatives from each of the schools, along with members of both the Diocesan Finance and Priests’ Councils. 

A video of the meeting can be viewed on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseofscranton.org beginning by noon on Friday, Jan. 21. The video will also air on Catholic Television: CTV on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 30, at 5 p.m. 

Bishop Bambera noted that, since his installation last April, he has visited parish communities and schools across the 11 counties of the Diocese. In every conversation, a common theme emerged: the need to develop a vision of who we are as God’s people and who we wish to become. 

On Nov. 28, the first Sunday of Advent, Bishop Bambera issued a Pastoral Letter: Working Toward A Vision for the Diocese of Scranton. Through this Letter, he invited every member of the faithful to help him articulate a Diocesan vision. While responses to the Letter continue to be received, the Bishop recognizes that a plan to address the challenges facing our schools must be developed now – before the next school year begins – so that he can best respond to the immediate concerns, anxieties and fears that many, including parents, teachers and students, have articulated to him about the future of our schools. 

“I have heard loud and clear from you about your anxieties over whether or not we will have a Catholic school system in the Diocese of Scranton,” Bishop Bambera said. “From what you have already told me, I cannot wait until a total vision for our Diocese is articulated later this year – I need to respond to your concerns now. From all that I have heard, it is clear to me that the issue before us is not primarily maintaining buildings but maintaining a Catholic School System as an option for our children. I need to work with you to provide our Diocese with a stable, sustainable Catholic school system that is spiritually sound and academically excellent.” 

Bishop Bambera also noted that in February 2010, when he was Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese, a similar school system meeting was held at the request of Cardinal Justin Rigali to brief the regional school boards about the finances of the schools, the impact on parishes, and the need to make adjustments to how our schools are funded. 

Following that meeting, because there was so little time to fully evaluate the school system, the decision was made to keep the school system intact with no building closures for the 2010-2011 school year. The Diocese then began a process of evaluating the current school system. This process included the Bishop continuing to converse with school families; appointing Father John Lambert, V.E. as the Episcopal Vicar for School Planning; engaging principals and system school board members in the conversation; and convening an Advisory Committee for Schools, which consisted of representatives from the four Catholic colleges and universities in the Diocese along with members of the community who shared with the Bishop their experience with and expertise in school planning, development, marketing and finances. 

Bishop Bambera specified that the action plan he unfolded focuses initially on the Holy Cross System (based in Lackawanna and Bradford counties) and the Holy Redeemer System (based in Luzerne County) as these are the two largest systems with the greatest financial impact. Future planning will address the particular circumstances of the Notre Dame System (Monroe County) and the St. John Neumann System (Lycoming County). 

WHERE WE ARE  

School Funding 

In the Holy Cross and Holy Redeemer systems, the average cost to educate each student is $5,000 for elementary and $8,400 for high school. The current average parent responsibility is $3,175 ($2,675 tuition; $500 fund raising fee) for elementary and $5,425 ($4,925 tuition; $500 fund raising fee) for high school. 

To help defray the funding gap that emerges from the difference in per pupil costs and tuition rates, most parishes in the Diocese are currently being assessed 23.75 percent of their income to support the schools. A few parishes that do not have students in the schools are assessed 10 percent. This year, parishes are being billed $11,826,625 to fund the schools. Another $705,000 is provided by the Diocesan Annual Appeal, primarily through contributions from parishioners. These funding sources, in effect, amount to a grant of approximately $1,800 for each student. 

Despite the infusion of significant financial support, however, the Holy Cross and Holy Redeemer systems have budget deficits totaling $1,266,026 for the current school year. Moreover, for all four regional systems, the Diocese is owed $18.9 million in loans taken out on behalf of the schools to pay for both capital projects and regular operating expenses. Currently, the schools are not able to make payments on these loans. 

Enrollment Concerns 

While the combined retention rate for the current academic year for the Holy Redeemer and Holy Cross systems is at 94%, a rate which is higher than in recent years, total enrollment continues to decline. This year there are 5,601 students in these two school systems, compared to 11,286 in 2002-2003. 

Many schools are well below capacity. There are currently 2,094 open seats in the two systems.  

WHERE WE ARE GOING  

Moving Forward 

The plan announced by Bishop Bambera is designed to create a sustainable and stable Catholic school system. To provide for this goal: 

• A strong Catholic identity and an appropriate mission statement that reflects the Catholicity of all school programs and activities will be maintained.
• All schools will continue to maintain full accreditation by the Middle States Association.
• Student/teacher ratio must be both cost effective and capable of providing for a positive learning environment.
• Buildings should be filled to at least 90 percent of capacity.
• Tuition will be increased by a reasonable amount that is appropriate for families to share more of the actual cost of educating their children. Tuition will increase approximately $300 for each of the next three years. Providing this schedule in advance eliminates the year-to-year uncertainty about tuition, allowing families to plan ahead and budget for educational costs.
• Financial grants and scholarships will continue to be available. Schools will continue to receive significant support from the parishes and from the Diocesan Annual Appeal, and eligible students will continue to have access to financial assistance through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program and several other scholarship programs. Discounts will still be given to families with more than one student in a system and tuition reduction opportunities will be available in each school for families who choose to participate.
• For parishes currently being assessed 23.75 percent of their income, that assessment will be reduced to 15 percent over a period of time. Thus ensuring that parishes continue to provide substantial financial support to our schools.
• A marketing program using secular and Catholic media, direct mail and other means will promote our school system. The program will highlight the benefits of the schools, including strong Catholic identity, academic excellence, extracurricular activities and the opportunity to learn and grow in a faith-based, supportive atmosphere.
• Registration for the 2011-2012 school year will begin during Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 30 to Feb. 5) and will continue until March 4. The configuration of our Catholic school system will be announced by April 15.
• Most importantly, although enrollment is crucial in determining the configuration of our school systems and the buildings that will be utilized, a Catholic school education will be available for every student who enrolls.

Bishop Bambera said he is inviting everyone – families, current students and alumni, the regional school board members, clergy, religious and laity – to come together to promote and support our Diocesan Catholic school system. 

“I ask you to join me in this partnership to forge the future of Catholic education in our Diocese,” he said. “With your help and support, I have faith that we can achieve our goal to have a stable, sustainable Catholic school system that will serve our young people into the future.” 

Click Here to View Video of Bishop Bambera’s Announcement Regarding Catholic Schools