Values for a Lifetime

In my last blog, I discussed the various conditions that affect whether a school can stay viable, or needs to consider closure or consolidation. I know that many people are rightly focused on the danger of closing and consolidating Catholic schools. However, as we study the future of our schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, it is also vital that we examine the possibility of new schools in emerging areas of growth.

At the start of the 2011-2012 school year, we will be opening the first Catholic high school in the Archdiocese in over 50 years. Somewhat ironically, the new high school will be focused on serving an inner-city population, and will be located geographically near the center of the city of Cincinnati. The new school, DePaul Cristo Rey, is close to filling its first class of students and recruitment efforts have already begun for the class that will follow in 2012.

However, I see a need to examine new Catholic schools in areas of population growth in the Archdiocese. I have been very interested in the growth of population in Warren and Butler counties. We have disproportionately few schools located in these areas. A few years ago, Fenwick High School constructed a new building and moved its campus several miles to the east. I am convinced that the new location and building of Fenwick will position it well for the future. To the south, several large parishes have been reticent to establish schools of their own. As a result, several parishes have chosen to support existing schools at other locations (such as St. Gabriel’s Consolidated School). Conversely, independent schools such as Mother Theresa and Royalmont Academy have appeared in response to parent demand and a lack of enough Catholic schools in the area. The few parish schools in the area are bursting at the seams.

As we define our vision for the future, we will be examining how best to position our schools to meet the needs of our populations. We will be looking closely at areas of great growth; from Springboro to Mason, from West Chester to Milford, there is potential for new schools if we can build a strategic plan and find the funding. I cannot make any promises; the landscape of the Archdiocese is vast and complex. Even more critically, we must study whether existing underserved Catholic schools can somehow reach better into these populations. This issue will be closely examined as we build our vision for Catholic Schools. These are certainly exciting times in Catholic education!