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2 to merge into 1
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L-R Brendan (10) Patrick (6) Molly Faloon, Kathleen (7) and Colin (9) Faloon. Molly picked up her children from St. Joseph School in Austintown, Friday January 23, 2009
By Elise Franco
The superintendent of schools said the diocese plans to work with parents on the merging of two township elementary schools.
AUSTINTOWN — News of the merger between two parochial schools in the township has some parents asking questions.
The merging of St. Joseph School, on New Road, and Immaculate Heart of Mary, on Norquest Boulevard, was addressed in a letter from the pastors of both parishes to pupils and parents, stating that declining enrollment and rising costs are key factors in the decision.
Parish councils and finance committees of the two churches recommended that the schools be consolidated into one building for the 2009-10 school year, and Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown has approved the plan.
Pam Jadue, whose children attend St. Joseph School, said she is in favor of bringing the two together. She just wants to make sure it’s done properly.
“What I am concerned with is how it will be implemented and that we won’t be looking at the same problems years from now,” she said. “We don’t know who will be making decisions about the curriculum or the way the school performs in the future.”
Jadue said many parents feel this way. She said bringing the two schools together will be beneficial for everyone in the end.
Enrollment at Immaculate Heart is 152 this year, down from 185 two years ago.
At St. Joseph, enrollment is 172, down from 204 two years ago.
Both buildings house children in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Steps are being taken to evaluate where the new school will be located.
“Students from the two schools have been working together,” said Jadue, who is a Home and School officer. Home and School groups are like Parent Teacher Associations. “They know each other, and I think they can support each other.”
Molly Faloon, Home and School president, said she also thinks her four children will benefit from one larger elementary school.
“I think any time you can combine resources and unify people, you’re going to come out stronger,” she said. “The merger itself will be nothing but positive.”
She said she did take issue, however, with the decision-making process.
“The part I didn’t like was that the decision was made without any input from the parents or the teachers, in a kind of a back-alley way.”
Faloon said she, like Jadue, would like to see a plan laid out for everyone to see. She said she isn’t sure if the laying off and rehiring of teachers will be done in the best way.
“I would like them to present a plan, which we haven’t seen, and I would like them to allow cooperation between the two buildings,” she said. “Right now we were told that all the teachers will be getting layoff notices then hired back based on seniority. It doesn’t seem to allow for much collaboration or cooperation.”
Dr. Michael Skube, diocesan superintendent of schools, said the planning process is in full motion.
He said the diocese plans to address all questions and concerns of parents over the next weeks and months.
“Part of what we did in the last meeting [Jan. 13] was to have the parents talk about what traditions take place at each school that they would like to see continued,” Skube said. “That was just a beginning. We certainly want to get that type of ongoing feedback from parents.”
He said both schools’ Home and School organizations will be sending letters to parents asking for feedback on what they’d like to see addressed.
“They’re going to put those questions together, and we’re going to meet with both Home School groups,” Skube said. “The point is to find out what those issues would be and come up with some type of clarification.” The next meeting with the Home and School officers will be in early February, he noted.
The rehiring of teachers and staff, he said, will be done based on the state’s standards.
“In these particular schools it would be by seniority and type of certification,” Skube said.
The number of teachers hired back will depend on the number of classes and students per classroom, he said.
“It depends on the enrollment,” Skube said. “We have kindergarten through eighth, and we’ll certainly continue to have that in the new school.”
He said he’s glad to hear some parents are in favor of the merger and thinks it will help the school and pupils within it prosper.
“Bringing the traditions, students and teachers together, you would really have a stronger Catholic presence in terms of Catholic school education in Austintown,” Skube said.
Jadue agreed and said the presence of Catholic schools in the area is important, and she wants to make sure that is preserved for future children.
“I just know that Catholic education has been a tradition in the Youngstown area,” she said. “We’ve had so many schools close over the past 10 years that I think I just want that opportunity preserved for those in the future who make that choice and want to go to a Catholic school.”
efranco@vindy.com