Governance, staffing, courses of study
Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools Continues to Move Forward
 

As the 2006-07 academic year comes to a close, work continues to implement the Strategic Plan that will guide the operation of Diocesan Catholic schools for next year and beyond.

The Diocese is in the process of officially establishing the new governance model for the schools, which becomes effective July 1. The schools will no longer be governed by individual parishes or boards of pastors.

Instead, four regional Catholic school systems (Pre-K to 12) are being established for Lackawanna/Wayne/Bradford Counties, Luzerne County, Lycoming County, and Monroe County.

These systems will be supported by all parishes and each system will be governed by a board of clergy and lay members with delegated authority and responsibility.

The system boards will have responsibility for areas such as planning, finance, policy development, public relations, marketing and institutional advancement. Authority in limited areas such as mission and budget approval is reserved by Canon Law to diocesan authority.

Each system will have a director who is responsible for the day-to-day administration and operation of the system. The director will implement the policies determined by the Diocese and the system board, and will supervise the principals within the system.

The systems will be registered as nonprofit corporations with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The systems and their directors are: 

• Holy Cross Regional School System of the Diocese of Scranton, Inc. (Lackawanna/Wayne/Bradford Counties). System director will be Kathleen Hanlon, current assistant superintendent of secondary education for the Diocese of Allentown.
• Holy Redeemer Regional School System of the Diocese of Scranton, Inc. (Luzerne County). System director will be Susan Dennen, current principal of Bishop O’Reilly Jr./Sr. High School.
• Saint John Neumann Regional School System of the Diocese of Scranton, Inc. (Lycoming County). System director will be Susan Kaiser, current administrator of Saint John Neumann Regional Academy.
• Notre Dame Regional School System of the Diocese of Scranton, Inc. (Monroe County). System director will be Jeffrey Lyons, who will also remain principal of Notre Dame High School.

In Pike County, an ad hoc committee will review the data compiled by Meitler Consultants and present a recommendation concerning the future of Catholic education in that area.

“The regional systems will be anchored by the high schools, and the names were chosen to reflect that. It is our intention to provide a complete continuum of education from Pre-K through 12^th grade, and it is our hope that families will recognize the value of a system that will provide a quality Catholic education and is financially viable,” said Joseph Casciano, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education and Superintendent of Schools.

Membership of the system boards will be both clergy and lay persons with knowledge, commitment and appropriate expertise. Mr. Casciano said the board appointments will be made in June, and the following month the board members will receive orientation and training.

“Although the new governance structure does become effective on July 1, it will obviously take some time before these boards are fully operational,” he noted. “They will gradually assume their duties and responsibilities with assistance from the Diocese.”

Mr. Casciano added that although this new governance model is a change from the traditional parish-based model, the involvement of all clergy and links to parish communities will be maintained and fostered by each school system and school. 

Enhanced Courses of Study; Technology Upgrades

Mr. Casciano said several enhancements to the courses of study are being made: 

• An Introduction to Foreign Language program is being implemented at the junior high level (grades 6-8)
• A consistent course of study in mathematics is being implemented for grades 6-8. A course in Algebra I will be available for 8^th grade students who qualify.
• An instrumental music program will be implemented in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. In Luzerne County, the instrumental music program that exists in some schools will be expanded to all schools.

Technology upgrades are also being implemented in the schools.

These include the Hunter System, a suite of administrative software that will enable schools to better manage their records and will offer online access to grade reports, assignments, attendance records and other data to students and parents. Teachers and other school personnel have attended training sessions, and the system will gradually be implemented during the upcoming school year.

The Diocese is also acquiring interactive computerized blackboards, known as “Smartboards.” Installation will begin at the junior high and high schools and will be incorporated into all classrooms eventually.

“We are investing in the future by giving our schools the technology to meet the demands and expectations of education in the 21^st century,” Mr. Casciano said. 

Staffing for Schools Being Finalized

This week each teacher who will have a position in a school received a letter with their assignment.

James Burke, Diocesan human resources director, said the Diocese developed a master list of teachers for each system, based on the eligibility criteria of seniority, state permanent certification, religious education certification as required by the Diocese, and a letter from the teacher’s pastor or representative of their faith tradition.

“Our intention is to diversify our faculties in order to have a mix of veteran and newer teachers, and to satisfy needs for teachers with special certifications such as foreign language, art and music,” Mr. Burke explained. “In some instances, this has resulted in a teacher who has been at a particular school for a number of years being assigned to another grade level or another school.”

He stressed that changes in faculty placement are not based on an individual’s years of service in the Diocese or within a certain school, or on his/her experience or performance, but on the need to provide a balanced and quality education in each school.

Mr. Burke is meeting with teacher representatives from each school today (June 7) to discuss employment conditions, including salaries and benefits, sick leave and pensions. He noted that every teacher will be getting a salary increase, and the Diocese will also guarantee health care coverage for the teachers and their families through the Diocesan self-insurance medical program administered by Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

He said there will be an ongoing dialogue over the summer and the teacher reps will continue to provide input and be an important part of the process.

Mr. Burke also met recently with representatives of the support staff, consisting of teacher aides and clerical, business, food service and maintenance personnel. He informed them that the Diocese is assessing how many and what types of support staff will be needed in the new systems.

“We have fewer sites now, so everyone has to realize that fewer people will be needed,” he said. “However, we will try to find a position for as many people as possible, either within the school systems or perhaps in a parish or other Diocesan institution.”

Mr. Burke said he plans to meet again with support staff representatives to update them on the staffing situation.

Both Mr. Casciano and Mr. Burke expressed that the Diocese is grateful for the dedicated service, patience and prayers of the teachers and support staff during this period of restructuring.

“This has been a long and challenging year for our school communities,” Mr. Casciano said. “We cannot expect growth or progress to occur unless we believe that change is part of the process, as difficult as it may be. As we embark on this new venture, we must continue to place our trust in the Lord, who is the beginning and the end of every good!”