03-21-2005, 06:49 PM
|
 |
Cheesesteak GURU! Wiz with
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Somewhere between Spruce Hill and Cedar Park
Posts: 6,247
|
|
St Leo's
Info on the parish ...
http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/parishes/8125.htm
http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/clust...n2005stleo.htm
Quote:
Communique January 22-23, 2005
Saint Leo Parish Elementary School To Close in June 2005
Reverend John J. Farry, Pastor of Saint Leo Parish in the Tacony section of Philadelphia, announces that Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, has accepted the recommendation of the pastor to close Saint Leo Parish Elementary School in June 2005. The recommendation follows the conclusions and findings of the School Study Committee.
The School Study Committee was made up of the pastor, principal, a faculty representative, parents, and one member of the Pastoral Council and one member of the Financial Council. Students currently attending Saint Leo Parish School will likely continue at Saint Timothy Parish School or Saint Bernard Parish School.
Despite extensive and creative marketing efforts in place for many years, Saint Leo Parish School has seen a steady decline of enrollment from 370 students in 1999-2000 to 197 students in 2004-2005. As enrollment decreased, costs increased. At the same time, the parish school worked to keep tuition affordable for parents. Tuition in 2004-2005 for one child is $1950 while the actual cost to educate one student is $3157. In order to stay open, tuition would have had to be raised to a level beyond what many families could afford or would be willing to pay.
Saint Leo Parish School is also no longer able to provide a gym teacher, paid library staff, pre-K program or Honors Math. Even with these reductions in academic programs and personnel, the parish will deficit over one hundred thousand dollars this fiscal year. After a thorough study of all of the facts, the Study Committee therefore concluded that St. Leo Parish School could no longer continue as a separate entity. It was with great sadness that the members realized their school must close.
Background
In March 2003, Father Farry formed an Advisory Committee to examine Saint Leo Parish School's finances, enrollment, programs, marketing and future plans. The purpose was to establish a sense of the school as it existed at that time in a self-study.
In May 2004, Father Farry formed a Study Committee of seven members who had previously served on the School Advisory Committee. The Study Committee examined in detail the demographics of the parish, enrollment, marketing programs, finances and alternative structures.
During the past several years, Saint Leo Parish School has done extensive marketing. They added new programs (half day kindergarten and pre-K), advertised with bumper stickers, lawn signs and logo school wear. The school designed a web site, invited community members to open houses and mailed birthday cards to children who were not enrolled. The school also secured tuition assistance grants for families to make the school as affordable as possible.
In September 2004, an ad hoc School Committee to save Saint Leo Parish School was formed as a result of the joint desire of the Pastoral and Financial Councils to appeal to the parishioners, parents and alumni to save the school. Committee members spoke at Masses, instituted a pledge drive and visited new families.
On September 21, 2004, Father Farry held a meeting with all of the parents of Saint Leo Parish School children. Parents were informed of the results of the preliminary self-study on the future of Saint Leo School. Several lay members of the Study Committee shared the demographics, marketing programs and financial picture of the school. Parents were informed of a substantial deficit in the school's operating expenses in 2003-2004 and a serious deficit projected for 2004-2005. Surveys were distributed and options were presented.
Another information meeting for parents was held on November 3, 2004. Approximately 63 school families were represented. The tenor of the gathering seemed to be one of sadness and resignation that the school would likely close despite their efforts. Some were willing to do all that they could to help the school.
At two School Study Committee meetings in November 2004, members continued to discuss ways to boost enrollment and raise funds. Unfortunately, the money raised was less than what was needed to continue operations.
Recommendation
At the January 5, 2005 School Study Committee meeting, members studied enrollment projections for the next school year. Enrollment for grades one through eight was only projected to be 137 students. At that time, the Study Committee concluded that Saint Leo Parish School could no longer continue as a separate entity. It was with great sadness that they realized the school must close.
School Buildings
There are no immediate plans for the Saint Leo Parish School buildings.
Enrollment
Pre K- through eighth
1-2000 370
1-2001 303
2001-2002 288
2002-2003 258
2003-2004 247
2004-2005 197 (Pre-K closed)
|
__________________
Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian. - Robert Orben
|
Similar Threads
