Tuition Payments Are Crucial to Financial Stability of Schools 

A major impetus behind the Strategic Plan for Catholic schools is the issue of financial stability.

Many of the schools and the parishes that support them have been facing dire financial situations. The restructured school system will be supported by all parishes under a revised formula of parish assessments.

But another challenge must be addressed in the wake of reports from the schools that some families have not paid their tuition bills from the 2006-07 school year and, in some cases, previous years.

“We need families to pay their tuition to maintain the financial viability of the schools. They simply cannot survive without this money,” said James Quinn, Diocesan Secretary for Financial Services.

The Diocesan Finance Office is continuing its analysis of outstanding tuition bills. It is estimated that more than $1 million is still owed to the schools.

Mr. Quinn emphasized that the Diocese will make every effort to work with families to arrange a payment plan to help them satisfy the balance owed for tuition. If the issue cannot be resolved, the Diocese will refer the account to a collection service, but only as a last resort.

“This is not a question of badgering people; this is an issue of fairness,” Mr. Quinn said. “Tuition is payment in exchange for the education you have received. You agreed to this when you enrolled your child. Furthermore, those who don’t fulfill their tuition obligation are doing a disservice to all of the families who have paid their tuition and all of the parishioners who have contributed to the schools through their parishes.”