Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has formed a six-member search committee for a Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, which maintains the fifth largest network of Catholic schools in the U.S.

            Chairing the committee is Dr. Frank J. Macchiarola, president of St. Francis College, Brooklyn, and former chancellor of the New York City public schools.

            Also serving are Dr. Irene H. Impellizzeri, a former member of the city’s Board of Education; JoAnn Dolan, principal of St. Anastasia’s School, Douglaston; Joseph E. Geoghan, a member of the Diocesan Finance Council and retired general counsel of Union Carbide; Msgr. Michael J. Hardiman, pastor of St. Sebastian’s Church, Woodside, and former Deputy Superintendent of Schools, and Sister Mary Hughes, assistant to the president of Iona College and former prioress of the Amityville Dominican Sisters.

            Bishop DiMarzio held an initial meeting with the committee last week. The members will seek candidates, interview them and recommend their choice to the Bishop for approval.

            The person selected will succeed the late Msgr. Guy J. Puglisi, a veteran educator and administrator who died July 8 after a long illness. Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, the Deputy Superintendent, was named the interim Superintendent July 1, while continuing to serve as the District Superintendent for the 33 schools in the Brooklyn West Vicariate.

            Bishop DiMarzio said preserving and strengthening the diocesan educational mission through schools was “one of the more important---and urgent---aspects of my pastoral ministry.”

            Noting that “ours is a very large educational system,” he said that it has been calculated that the budget for this service is over $120 million.

            The Bishop cited increasing tuition costs and demographic changes as “serious challenges” to maintaining a strong school system.

            According to a Schools Office census report for the 2003/2004 school year, 47,332 students attend 149 elementary schools and 17,809 students are enrolled in 20 high schools.

            Of the nation’s 33 archdioceses and 152 dioceses, only the Archdioceses of Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and Los Angeles have larger school populations.