School Planning Costs Reflect Scope of
Challenges and Need for Expertise  

The Diocese of Scranton has incurred costs of $193,985 thus far for the services of Meitler Consultants, Inc., the national firm that is coordinating the Strategic Planning Process that will culminate in a reorganization of the Catholic school system in the Diocese.

The Meitler firm has been coordinating the process since September of 2005, conducting research and data analysis, and collaborating with Diocesan officials, pastors, principals, faculty, parents and others representing each school.

Bishop Joseph F. Martino said the cost of the process is appropriate given the complexity of the issues, the extensive work involved, and the expected result: a strategic plan that will preserve and advance Catholic education for present and future generations.

“I realize that some people will question this kind of expenditure, but to accomplish what needs to be done we have to get the best analysis from people who are experts in this field, and who can be objective because they have no allegiance to any of our schools or communities,” he said.

The cost, he added, amounts to the cost of educating one student in each Diocesan school.

The Bishop noted that, since he arrived in 2003, individual pastors and consultative bodies of his clergy have stressed the need for systemic change in the way Catholic schools are organized and financed. Demographic shifts, enrollment declines and debt carried by schools and parishes are threatening the very existence of many institutions.

“My own observations confirmed this,” Bishop Martino said. “It became clear that we needed a comprehensive, independent analysis of our schools and a strategic plan that would result in long-term stability and excellence across the board.”

Referring again to the cost of hiring a national consultant, the Bishop said that even if this money had been applied to the debt of a particular school or divided among all schools experiencing financial difficulties, it would not solve the systemic problems of enrollment trends and diminished resources that created those debts in the first place.

“We cannot afford to use a band-aid approach that will allow a school to just hang on for another year,” he said. “We have to address the roots of the problems and come up with long-term solutions.”

Meitler Consultants, Inc., based in Wisconsin, was chosen because the firm specializes in strategic planning for Catholic schools. In 36 years of providing consulting services, Meitler has worked with 237 high schools and 1,021 elementary and middle schools in 103 dioceses across the United States.

The firm’s six senior consultants have a combined 180 years of experience in education and church consulting. In the Diocese of Scranton, the Strategic Planning Process is under the direction of the firm’s co-directors, Sister Mary Anne Heenan, C.S.J., and Alan Meitler.

Sister Mary Anne has 27 years of experience as a high school principal and diocesan leader of Catholic schools. She served as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Syracuse from 1989 to 2002. She also worked as provincial treasurer for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and as assistant superintendent and principal of Notre Dame High School in Utica, N.Y.

Mr. Meitler has been involved in more than 100 projects. He specializes in regional and diocesan planning, parish and school planning, new school feasibility studies and new school start-ups. In recent years, he had a significant role in 25 diocesan or regional studies and has worked in 30 dioceses around the country. He has directed new school studies in over 20 different cities.

The Meitler consultants presented their preliminary recommendations for Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wayne Counties on Nov. 14 and 15. The Local Consultative Groups for each of the schools in those counties have subsequently offered feedback to those recommendations. Grassroots groups associated with several schools have also submitted proposals regarding the recommendations.

The consultants are reviewing this feedback and will prepare their final recommendations for Bishop Martino’s consideration. By the end of January 2007, the Bishop will promulgate the strategic plan for Lackawanna, Wayne and Luzerne counties.

Subsequently, preliminary recommendations for Lycoming, Bradford, Monroe and Pike counties will be made on Jan. 18, 2007, followed by feedback and then final recommendations coming in March 2007.

(Note: The schools in Lycoming County had previously completed a self-study
and have implemented a reorganization through the establishment of St. John
Neumann Regional Academy.)