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Two Lumen Christi schools sought to leave system
By Denise Dick
BOARDMAN
Two of the six elementary schools that make up the Lumen Christi system petitioned Bishop George V. Murry to withdraw from the group earlier this year.
The bishop denied the petitions by St. Charles in Boardman and Holy Family in Poland, said Nick Wolsonovich, school superintendent of the Diocese of Youngstown.
“The bishop asked them to stay in, and they agreed,” Wolsonovich said.
Lumen Christi, meaning Light of Christ, includes Holy Family, St. Charles, St. Christine in Youngstown, St. Nicholas in Struthers, St. Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Austintown, St. Patrick in Hubbard and the early-childhood learning centers at Holy Family, St. Christine and St. Luke, Boardman, parishes.
Each school has its own principal, but one president oversees all of the schools. The system is governed by a 14-member board of directors.
Monsignor William Connell, pastor at Holy Family, declined to comment through a church receptionist and referred questions to Wolsonovich.
The Rev. Philip Rogers, pastor of St. Charles, said the petition to leave the system was made about two months ago and since then, things have improved.
“It basically had to do with the most effective use of our parish and tuition funds,” he said.
Every school has different strengths and different issues it’s trying to address, Father Rogers said.
“There are ways of working together in a system,” he said. “At the time, Monsignor Connell and I thought it would be better to do work on those things individually. We’re on board with the system now and we’re going to move forward and try to address the issues within the system.”
All of the schools functioning as one system allows them to save money through economies of scale, according to proponents who also tout educational benefits.
Some parents were concerned that tuition they were paying was being used to subsidize other schools.
“That issue has been resolved,” Father Rogers said.
Tuition money paid to St. Charles stays there.
“It’s money in, money out,” he said.
But it was a legitimate question that needed to be answered, Father Rogers said.
“Obviously the impression is people in the Poland, Boardman and Canfield area have more money and they could and should be supporting other schools,” he said. “Many people in our parish are struggling to meet tuition needs as well at St. Charles and at college and at Cardinal Mooney. Our parents should not be and are not being asked to subsidize any other schools.”
Wolsonovich said Lumen Christi is a new system so there are kinks that have to be worked out.
“They were separate entities,” he said. “They’re all learning how to work together in a positive way.”