On Jan. 29, I was privileged to host a ceremony unveiling an art exhibition at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, featuring art created by the students of the Catholic schools in our Diocese as well as the many special events marking our annual Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 27-Feb. 2).
I was most proud of the wonderful designs our students fashioned and of the fact that their talents were displayed so prominently at the center of state government.
The exhibition serves as the tangible reminder of the vital contribution our Catholic schools make to the wider society in fulfilling their mission "to teach, to build community and to serve."
In order to ensure the continued viability of our Catholic schools, this past June I approved a plan put forward by our Diocesan School Board: "Centered in Faith, Focused on the Future: A Strategic Plan for the Schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany."
I am confident that this plan -- developed as a result of a series of forums conducted by Sister Jane Herb, our diocesan superintendent of schools and her staff -- will assist us in securing a sound future for the Catholic schools within our Diocese.
Let me comment on six key dimensions of the plan, which is currently being implemented by our School Board.
1. Catholic Identity
The Catholic identity of our schools is a critical element of the plan. If our schools are not rooted in the core values, teachings and traditions of our Catholic Christian heritage, and are not forming students in the way of Christian discipleship, then there is absolutely no reason for their existence, no matter how successful they may be academically.
I am pleased that the plan calls for a close working with our diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis to assist teachers, both in their own understanding and practice of their faith, and in developing innovative methods for communicating this faith to their students. Particular emphasis is being placed on linking our schools with the sacramental and liturgical life of our parishes.
Only through this vital partnership between school and parish can we fulfill the mission of proclaiming the Gospel message to our youth.
2. Educational Programs
Historically, our schools have been known for the quality of our academic programs. While our schools have been measuring up to new state assessments, we cannot rest on those results. Thus, I am encouraged by the fact that our schools will be seeking Middle States Accreditation. This process will challenge our schools to be the best that they can be.
The technology within our schools is remarkable considering the limited resources we have. The new plan seeks to ensure that this development of our school's technological capacity will continue to be an area of growth in all of our schools.
Over the years, there have been a variety of grade structures within the Diocese. The Diocesan School Board's task over the next several years is to examine what middle-grade structure is necessary so that our students will be well prepared for the challenging regent's high school curriculum.
3. Enrollment
Over the past several years, the enrollment within a number of our schools has declined. By establishing minimum enrollment targets for all of our schools, the strategic plan will assist the schools in maintaining a healthy educational environment.
This past fall, we conducted a workshop for pastors, principals and teachers on their important role in the recruitment and retention of students. However, equally important in this pursuit is the peer-to-peer outreach of Catholic school parents to other parents and guardians, sharing the reasons why they have chosen a Catholic school for their children and their satisfaction with the results.
4. Faculty and Staff
The educators within our schools are our most valuable asset in educating young people and preparing them for their life careers. However, we are facing a national shortage of teachers. It is estimated that in the United States, we will need to employ two million new teachers in the next decade. This crisis has affected and will continue to affect all public, private and religious schools for the foreseeable future.
The greatest impact of the shortage will be felt in private schools, particularly Catholic schools, because of lower salary scales and other benefits compared to the public schools. Experienced teachers in our Catholic schools earn an average of 63 percent of the salaries of their public school counterparts.
The constant challenge we all face in Catholic school education is providing just compensation for our faculty members. Several years ago, I approved a five-year salary plan in an effort to remain competitive with the public sector. Every effort must be made to adhere to that plan.
Studies show that our Catholic school teachers evidence a higher rate of satisfaction with their careers than public school teachers, and often experience much more parental support. But justice, and the personal and family needs of our teachers demand that we compensate them adequately for the enormous investment they are making on behalf of our most precious treasure, the youth of our Church.
5. Leadership
Leadership in our Catholic schools must be a collaborative effort involving principals, teachers, school board members, parents, pastors, parishioners and the wider community.
The role of the principal cannot be underestimated. It is the principal who sets the tone, formulates the vision, creates the atmosphere, and coordinates the efforts to ensure that effective education is taking place in a faith-filled environment which finds its expression in community-building and service to others.
However, the principal cannot accomplish the task alone; he or she needs the support of an active and involved school board, working on finances, recruitment and promotion; as well as the involvement of pastors and parish life directors who believe in our schools and their future, and who present the Catholic school as an integral part of the Church's mission and as an invaluable resource for faith formation, and for the moral and spiritual development of our youth.
6. Resources
The Catholic schools of our Diocese have served hundreds of thousands of students over the years, many of whom, I believe, are willing to give back, if they understand the need and are asked.
Often, people respond to fund-raising appeals from the college where they matriculated, seeing their collegiate education as essential to their success in life. While not diminishing the invaluable contribution institutions of higher education play in enabling their graduates to pursue fulfilling careers, it must not be forgotten that without the solid foundation laid at the grammar and high school level, the ability of the college to prepare its students adequately for their career goals would be compromised severely.
So, I hope that graduates of our Catholic grammar and high schools will remember the debt of gratitude they owe to these institutions as well as to their college alma mater, and be generous in continuing to support our Catholic schools through annual financial contributions and designation in their wills or other estate arrangements.
Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge facing the grammar and high schools of our Diocese is developing the financial resources to maintain excellence in education. Gradually, the tuitions in our schools need to be increased so that they cover the salary and benefits of the faculty and staff. With the increase in tuition, however, more assistance needs to be available to help those families who find it difficult to face the accelerating costs of tuition. Hence, the portion of our recent Capital Campaign that was set aside for Catholic schools will be used for financial assistance. Our Diocesan School Board is currently working to develop a process so that any family within our schools can apply, based on their need.
I recognize the constant tension of meeting the rising costs of quality education with the opportunity for all families to avail themselves of a quality Catholic school education. I also know that while the tuition for Catholic schools is beyond the pocketbook of some families (unless they receive a subsidy), for many other families the ability to meet the tuition for a Catholic school is not so much a matter of financial resources as the determination of priorities. Thus, we need to convince these parents of the value of a Catholic school education and encourage them to reprioritize their family expenditures.
The tragic events of Sept. 11 and their aftermath have served to remind us of those things which are truly important in life: faith, family, and the moral and spiritual values which underlie our existence, and contribute to personal fulfillment and to a just and peaceful world order. I am convinced that the best way to impart these important values to our youth is through the well-rounded academic, social and spiritual program offered by our Catholic schools.
May our annual observance of Catholic School's Week lead all in the Church to a renewed awareness of the vital role our Catholic schools play, and to a recommitment to support and maintain for future generations the precious heritage of a Catholic school education.