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Diocesan officials, parents discuss merger of two Austintown schools
By Elise Franco
A facility panel has been created to choose where the school will be located.
AUSTINTOWN — A meeting between officials of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown and Home and School officers proved beneficial in planning for the merger of two Catholic schools in the township.
Michael Skube, Diocese of Youngstown superintendent, said the meeting Wednesday afternoon was the steppingstone for organizing and finalizing plans and for getting more meetings scheduled.
He said the Home and School officers from the two elementary schools, St. Joseph School and Immaculate Heart of Mary, brought to the table many parents’ questions and concerns — ranging from tuition cost to curriculum, a new school name to school colors.
“We looked at the purposes of the meeting and the purpose of going forward,” Skube said.
“Everyone agreed that purpose is working together to provide a smooth transition to a new school.”
He said the next step is working toward success.
One major step in the transition process is choosing where the new school will be located. For this, Skube said a facility committee has formed. The committee will look at both buildings as possibilities, as well as outside locations.
He said another important issue is making sure all pupils can adjust to the combined curriculum.
“We have the same curriculum in both schools, but we might be using different textbooks,” Skube said.
He said getting pupils from both schools together and interacting before the start of the 2009-10 school year is necessary as well.
“We want to get as many of the students together as possible in the spring for some activities,” Skube said. “Then they can see we’re all going to be in this together.”
efranco@vindy.com