THE TABLET
Jan. 26, 2008

The Plan for Preserving Our Schools

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

When I first came to the Diocese of Brooklyn in 2003 it was clear that preserving and enhancing the Catholic schools in the Diocese had to be a priority. In fact, looking back on the time spent in meetings and other initiatives with regard to them, Catholic schools appear to be my top priority, since the amount of time and the diocesan resources devoted to them far surpass other elements of my administration.

Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 27-Feb.2) is again an opportunity to share with you reflections on Catholic elementary and secondary schools as essential elements in the New Evangelization, as noted in my pastoral letter of October 2007, “Do Not Be Afraid-A Vision for the New Evangelization.” Obviously, the schools are worth our efforts, and I am committed to doing everything possible to solidify their foundation and provide for the future.

That pastoral letter, issued on the fourth anniversary of my arrival in the Diocese, spoke about the value of the Catholic elementary and high schools located in Queens and Brooklyn and the contribution they make to the Church. It also recognized the many threats our schools face and that they must be prepared to respond to those appropriately.

Last month, a letter to all the pastors in the Diocese and to the principals of elementary schools promulgated two documents: “Diocesan Strategic Plan for Catholic Elementary Schools” and “Desired Characteristics of a Viable Catholic School.” These plans began to be developed shortly after my arrival and this past year they have been subject to an extensive and lengthy consultation process, with many refinements having been made along the way. The plan is comprehensive and realistic. The letter to pastors and principals quoted from the pastoral letter: “Every Catholic school should use strategic, long-range and operational planning to continuously strengthen its Catholic identity, education programs and services.”

Both documents will be available on the diocesan Web site (www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org), as is the pastoral letter, but allow me to highlight the major elements of the Strategic Plan here.

By this June, every elementary school will have established (or will be in the process of establishing) an individual or regional school board, comprised primarily of lay people with appropriate expertise, to assist in giving direction to the leadership of the school. Each board will begin immediately to assess the current and future vitality of the school, identify areas of concern and work proactively to ensure the continued availability of “Catholic Schools of Excellence” in Brooklyn and Queens.

By this time next year, the board and administration of the school will have developed a data-driven strategic plan to address challenges, to build on strengths and to establish a specific goal to develop resources necessary to implement it. Excellence in educational programs, marketing and enrollment efforts, an assessment of the school buildings, financial stability, and a strong Catholic identity are all expected to be included in the plan.

Additionally, as stated in the pastoral letter, every Catholic parish and every Catholic in Queens and Brooklyn will be asked to become a strong supporter of our schools financially and spiritually. The letter also said that our “teachers and principals are vital to our Catholic schools and need to be supported in every possible way. The critical role that they play and the sacrifices they make cannot be underestimated or taken for granted. Any planning for the future will include support for adequate salaries and benefits.”

The community-at-large as well has an interest in maintaining and enhancing  Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens; tuition tax credits, vouchers, and the philanthropic support of our Catholic schools by individuals, foundations and the corporate and business communities are all in the interest of the common good.

I am grateful to everyone who participated in the development of the Strategic Plan and the consultation process, and in particular to Msgr. Michael J. Hardiman, until recently the Vicar for Education, and Dr. Thomas Chadzutko and the staff of the Office of the Superintendent-Catholic School Support Services for their wisdom and dynamic leadership. I am also grateful to pastors and principals who have “put out into the deep” with me in order to secure the firmest possible foundation for all the schools.

Putting out into the deep requires courage, commitment, and a strong reliance on the Holy Spirit; please join me “in the deep” to preserve the very best means we have available to hand down our Catholic faith to future generations of Catholics and those other members of the community who share our values.