Planning for the future of the Saint Alphonsus and Saint Alexis Schools

Planning for the future of the Saint Alphonsus and Saint Alexis Schools

On Mission for the Church Alive Realign Parish Structures to meet the future Grow the Church Regionalization of Schools 2

Diocese of Pittsburgh Trends Weekly Mass Attendance Parishes with Budget Deficits Catholic Elementary Schools 2000 2015 Change 250,000 150,000 (100,000) -40% 33% 50% 102 59 (43) -42% K-8 Enrollment 24,000 12,000 (12,000) -50% 2015 Projected 2025 Change Number of Priests 222 112 (110) -50% 3

Students from Parish Families - 2015 Proportion of students from parish families Number of schools 90% + 3 6% Percent 75% to 90% 11 23% 50% to 75% 25 53% Less than 50% 8 17% Total * 47 100% Less than 50% 50% to 75% 90% + 75% to 90% * Single Parish Schools 4

K-8 Enrollment Trends 2006-07 to 2016-17 2006-07 2016-17 Change Diocesesan K-8 Enrollment 17,000 11,000 (6,000) -35% Diocesan Elementary Schools 89 59 (30) -34% Northern Region K-8 Enrollment 1 Mary 334 134 (200) -60% 2 Northside Catholic 334 135 (199) -60% 3 Alexis 377 161 (216) -57% 4 Bonaventure 346 149 (197) -57% 5 Ursula 171 82 (89) -52% 6 Alphonsus 512 274 (238) -46% 7 Teresa 288 161 (127) -44% 8 Assumption 153 106 (47) -31% 9 St. James 170 142 (28) -16% 10 Sebastian 345 315 (30) -9% 11 CDT 136 160 24 18% North Hills Region K-8 Enrollment 3,166 1,819 (1,347) -43% 5

Enrollment Trends 6

Current Issues Facing the North Hills Region Catholic Schools 7

Current Issues Facing the North Hills Region Catholic Schools 8

Enrollment Trends May 2015 September 2016 174 Fewer Students Approximately $700,000 loss in Tuition Revenue 9

North Hills Region Enrollment History: School and Religious Education School and Religious Education Enrollment * 2002-03 2015-16 Change Catholic School Enrollment (K-8) 3,769 1,992 (1,777) -47% Religious Education Enrollment (K-8) 5,304 3,195 (2,109) -40% * 11 schools and all parishes sponsoring them. 10

Current Issues Facing the North Hills Region Catholic Schools Financial challenges of both schools and parishes Declining student pool and enrollment Pastors and principals trying to address challenges at the parish level Challenges and implications of small grade level enrollment (single classrooms, combined classrooms) 11

St. Alexis K-8 Enrollment History: School & Religious Education St. Alexis K-8 Enrollment Initial School Enrollment 02-03 06-07 14-15 15-16 13 Year Change 16-17 K 79 55 44 40 24 1ST 72 53 27 28 25 2ND 53 61 29 21 17 3RD 34 52 21 24 19 4TH 42 49 13 19 18 5TH 38 41 13 12 21 6TH 7 29 20 12 9 7TH 13 21 16 14 11 8TH 4 16 16 15 17 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- School Enrollment 342 377 199 185 (157) -46% 161 Religious Ed. Enrollment 342 240 249 (93) -27%

St. Alphonsus K-8 Enrollment History: School & Religious Education St. Alphonsus K-8 Enrollment Initial School Enrollment 02-03 06-07 14-15 15-16 13 Year Change 16-17 K 49 55 29 34 30 1ST 58 52 33 33 27 2ND 60 59 36 31 31 3RD 51 60 40 34 30 4TH 66 63 33 37 32 5TH 65 62 35 33 33 6TH 65 56 37 28 33 7TH 56 54 36 34 27 8TH 66 51 52 35 31 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- School Enrollment 536 512 331 299 (237) -44% 274 Religious Ed. Enrollment 280 199 209 (71) -25% 216

Task Force Formed to advise Pastors Diocesan staff, including the Regional Vicar, will provide support and guidance to the Task Force as needed. Comprised of 3 5 members from each Parish Finance Council Pastoral Council School Advisory Council 14

Why Are Catholic Elementary Schools Important? Catholic schools continue to provide families with an alternative that is defined as exceptional education in a faith centered community. The children's growth is focused daily on developing respect for one's self and one's neighbors. These qualities allow children to be well equipped to excel when they encounter the many challenges of high school. - Heather Baranowski (current St. Alphonsus school parent) The value of a Catholic education is priceless! We offer a safe and nurturing environment that integrates high value-based academics with leadership opportunities to inspire a strong character that will continue to support and grow in the Catholic faith and community. The moral foundation we offer our students promotes a lifelong commitment to faith, service and building a better tomorrow. - Mrs. Smolter (St. Alexis teacher) By placing our children in a Catholic environment, you find a home where their faith drives their education, their friends and their daily living. - Anne Haus (former St. Alphonsus school parent) 15

Why Are Catholic Elementary Schools Important? We were blessed to experience both the St. Alphonsus and St. Alexis elementary schools in the education of our children. In both instances, the strong faith based community of clergy, teachers, parents and classmates have had a significant impact of their lives. Now as young adults, how they practice their faith, conduct themselves and the respect they show for others have roots in the religious, educational and leadership qualities they learned and consistently observed during those formative years in Catholic elementary school. - Dick Spence (former St. Alexis school parent) Catholic schools are important to me because that is how I learned as a child and I want to give that same gift to my children. Catholic education gave me the opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with Christ and a strong moral foundation. - Jennifer Bailey (current St. Alexis school parent) 16

Why Are Catholic Elementary Schools Important? First, there is the quality of the education and of the educators. Each of our sons was supremely prepared and qualified for High School upon graduation from 8 th grade. The oldest two have been to college and they were equally well prepared for that upon graduation from Catholic High Schools. The youngest is in the Full IB Program at Vincentian and doing very, very well there. So the quality is there. But it s much more than that. In addition to the quality, it s the culture, the environment, and the community. Our sons have been raised in this Faith community. It s a place where they are not only permitted to speak of their Faith, but where they have been continually encouraged to explore that Faith and grow in it. It s where they have learned of service. It s where they have had the lessons of respect, and dignity, and love reinforced. It s where they have been nurtured during those critical, tender, formative years. They have been nurtured in many ways, but in each case it was in a way that was necessary for them at that time. Sometimes that was in the form of tough love; sometimes it was in the form of mentoring; sometimes it was something else entirely. In each case, it was because the Faith community, especially the faculty, knew them well, knew what they needed, and knew that we were all operating on the same basic philosophy centered on, and grounded in, our Faith. THAT is why we chose Catholic schools and it is why Catholic schools remain so vitally important. - Timothy S. Johnson (former St. Alexis school parent) 17

Why Are Catholic Elementary Schools Important? My wife and I both attended 12 years of Catholic education in the Pittsburgh area and were guided by the influence of faith and religion every school day. At the time, this was very much the norm and we were not given the option of other schools due to our Catholic upbringing. In hindsight, it was this common influence that we received both in elementary school and in high school that helped shape our lives. This commingling of our faith and education in the classroom ensured that both remained important parts of our lives, which we have tried to pass on to our children. - Joe Dominijanni (former St. Alphonsus school parent) No matter what you build, a solid foundation is critical. While all schools profess a mission of well-roundedness, no institution delivers on this promise better than the Catholic School system. The combination of faith, service, core Catholic values, and solid educational content in Catholic elementary schools establishes a rock solid foundation for our children no matter which path they take in secondary and post-secondary education, or in life in general. - Mark Conklin (current St. Alexis school parent) 18

Why Are Catholic Elementary Schools Important? What better way to begin a child s educational experience than in a faith-based, nurturing, Catholic environment where they not only can excel academically, but socially and spiritually, as well. - Sue Eppley (former St. Alphonsus school parent) To our family, Catholic schooling is important because it provides our children with a foundation for becoming well rounded, caring, thoughtful and inclusive members of society. Transcending the emphasis on not only learning the facts of education but the philosophy of being young men and women for others. Additionally, the K-8 experience provides them the nurturing family support system to both follow and lead by the examples of their fellow classmates. Finally, it instills in them the understanding that there is a greater purpose on earth to share the good news of the lord, loving all. -Kevin Riley (current St. Alphonsus school parent) 19

Rethinking Regionalization What is a Parish School? A Ministry of a single parish Primary funding is single parish What is a regional School? Merged/Consolidated or Consortium school A Ministry of two or more parishes Shared funding model 20

Saint Sebastian North Hills Region (Schools & Parishes) 21

The Evidence Diocese of Greensburg Archdiocese of Cincinnati Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Diocese of Charlotte Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archdiocese of New York Diocese of Green Bay Diocese of Rockford 22

Benefits of Regionalization Improve the Quality of Catholic Education Support our Catholic identity and mission of excellence Curriculum coordinated through Diocesan Guidelines Strong Teachers Formation of Professional Learning Communities Greater access to extracurricular activities Greater socialization at all grade levels 23

Benefits of Regionalization Improve the Financial & Operational Model All parishes in region support funding Stabilize enrollment through enhanced marketing Reduce the competition among our schools through collaboration and standardized tuition Better distribution and use of resources - human, financial and facility Community approach to committees and fundraising 24

Benefits of Regionalization Build a Collaborative Governance Model for all Schools Administration Regional Supervisor Added Professional Support Services Mission Integration Instructional/Operational Technology Athletics Extracurricular Activities Regional Fundraising Regional Identity 25

North Hills Region 26

Let s Get Together Combining the Schools To Build a Stronger, Sustainable Model 27

5 Model Options 1. One Building, One Campus Pre K 8 2. Two Campuses - Two Buildings Pre K 3 Grades 4-8 3. Two Campuses - Two Buildings Pre K 5 Grades 6-8 4. Two Campuses - Two Buildings Pre K 4 Grades 5 8 Minimum of two classes per grade level Special area space Library Music Art Instrumental Title programs Computer Science Lab (Intermediate) Playground (Primary) Gymnasium/Cafeteria 5. Two Campuses - Two Buildings Pre K K Center Grades 1-8 Recommended class size K-3 / 18-22 students 4 8 / 20-24 Students 28

Classroom Breakdown - Current 29

Let s Hear From You Table Discussions -What do you value most about Catholic education? -What do you love about your current community experience? 30

Let s Hear From You Table Discussions What ideas do you have to strengthen your community? What are your primary concerns and fears about regionalization and what ideas and or suggestions do you have to address these fears? 31

Let s Hear From You Surveys Please complete Electronic Survey. SchoolSurvey (Preferred Method) Hard-copy surveys also available at meeting. DUE by Wednesday, November 16th 32

Next Steps Task Force will review survey results and feedback Task Force will recommend 3 models Diocese will survey parents on recommended models Meeting with parents on recommended models in December Recommendation by Task Force to Pastor in December Pastors Submit Proposals to Superintendent s Office in December Bishop to make final decision Task Force involvement with Implementation 33

Help us write this next chapter