Values for a Lifetime

There has been a lot of conversation lately about the likelihood of cuts in public education in the coming year. In Monday's edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer, state officials were quoted as predicting that education funding may be slashed as much as 15-20%. A number of tax levies in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas failed during elections last month. Many public school districts are talking about massive cuts in expenses, including widespread layoffs of teachers and staff members. The immediate future of public education seems bleak.

How might this affect our Catholic schools? First, it is important to note that our schools do receive some limited funding by the state and federal governments. Although this funding cannot compare to the amounts provided to public schools, we are nevertheless grateful for the public support of our schools. There are worries that we will receive cuts in both federal and state funding, but I will save this topic for a future blog post.

Aside from these public sources, our schools are reliant upon the voluntary goodwill of our parents and other supporters. The main source of income to our Catholic schools is tuition. However, tuition never covers the complete cost of education per student. Oftentimes, there is a difference of at least $2,000 between the tuition rate and the actual cost of education per child. The school must make up the difference through donations or subsidies from another source (such as a sponsoring parish or religious order). The CISE program and other efforts help subsidize schools in inner-city areas that are sponsored by parishes with lower-income populations.

In other words, our schools are essentially dependant upon the charity of our many supporters. Aside from the limited state and federal funding, all money that supports our school is given voluntarily. Parents choose to enroll their children and pay tuition. Parishioners voluntarily place money in the collection basket at Masses, and this money helps fund our schools. Donors freely give their money in support. As a result, our schools are not as vulnerable to cuts in state and federal funding. Although such cuts would no doubt impact our schools (again, I will take this up in a future post), we are not predicting cuts and layoffs on the scale of those in public school districts.

In my opinion, the voluntary nature of Catholic school funding helps to build a sense of investment and involvement in our schools. Parents and donors are more likely to take an interest in what is happening in our schools because they are choosing to give their money to the cause (versus involuntarily paying taxes to fund a public school). This, in part, helps to create vibrant communities in which all adults, not just teachers and administrators, are part of the educational process of our children.

When I walk the halls of our Catholic schools, I am always amazed at how many parents, parishioners, and other volunteers are present. As the African proverb reminds us: "It takes a village to raise a child." Our schools are truly places where adults unite to best support our students. I cannot fully express my gratitude to the many volunteers that work every day in our schools. Catholic education could not succeed without your time and dedication!