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Catholic schools to be in regional system
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
Seven Catholic elementary schools are being reorganized into the Mahoning Valley Catholic Regional School System.
No school closures or mergers are planned.
The schools are Holy Family in Poland, St. Charles and the Early Childhood Learning Center at St. Luke, both in Boardman, St. Christine in Youngstown, St. Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Austintown, St. Nicholas in Struthers and St. Patrick in Hubbard.
Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, said that under the current system, each school is under the individual parish.
“This shifts ownership from the parishes to the regional system,” he said.
Teachers, parents and parish representatives were informed about the plan, dubbed “Sharing Our Faith, Shaping Our Future,” Monday in a series of meetings.
Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown approved the change in October.
“The mission of the regional school system is to provide students and families an exceptional education which is affordable, based on national best practices and deeply rooted in the Catholic faith,” Wolsonovich said.
The system will operate under a two-tiered governance structure, although parents and students won’t see any change in how the schools function day to day.
A board, consisting of the bishop, vicar general, superintendent and chief financial officer of the diocese as well as the pastors of the sponsoring parishes will select a board of directors. The board of directors will include 15 to 20 people, Wolsonovich said.
Membership of the board of directors is likely to include parents, although they will not comprise more than 25 percent to 30 percent.
The member board also will hire a president who will administer the regional system.
Other member-board responsibilities include budget and finances, legal issues, property of the system and its mission.
The board of directors’ major responsibilities include institutional advancement activities such as fundraising/development, strategic planning and policy development.
Wolsonovich said students and families can expect to see benefits including enhanced education practices such as instructional technology, improved and more-consistent professional development and enhanced academic programs. It also will allow improved curriculum planning and coordination and let present programs be expanded while developing new ones.
Benefits to the schools include economies of scale, efficiencies of staff utilization, united fundraising, improved marketing and enrollment management, improved financial controls and uniform, equitable financial assistance programs.
Wolsonovich said it’s a model used throughout the country, including many Catholic high schools in Ohio.
Advertising for a president is to begin this week with the board of directors to be named next month. Both the president and board start their responsibilities July 1, 2012. The full system is expected to be in operation July 1, 2013.