CCMT school to reduce number of campuses |
 |
 |
|
Written by ANGELA KESSLER, Chronicle Editor
|
|
Friday, 15 February 2008 18:45 |
TOLEDO—Central City Ministry of Toledo Catholic School (CCMT), a consortium of schools serving Toledo, is reducing the number of campuses from four to two at the end of the current school year.
During a press conference Feb. 15 Toledo Bishop Leonard P. Blair announced the closure of St. Charles Borromeo and Pope John Paul II campuses in June.
 |
| Toledo Bishop Leondard P. Blair, announces the closure of two Central City Ministry of Toledo School campuses during a press conference Feb. 15. Also addressing the media during the press conference were Jack Altenburger,superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Notre Dame Sister Mary Carol Gregory, director of CCMT. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens) |
“After much thought, prayer and a careful analysis, not only of the financial situation, but also of the academic and special needs of our Central City Ministry School students, I have accepted a recommendation made to me by the CCMT Board to close two of our four campuses,” the bishop said.
“Throughout the years many children have experienced a safe, caring Catholic environment that nurtured spiritual, intellectual and emotion development,” he said. “However, declining enrollment due to population shifts from city to suburbs, rising tuition costs and increased financial difficulties have been major challenges for these schools.”
During the past three years, CCMT has accrued a deficit of approximately $700,000, according to Notre Dame Sister Mary Carol Gregory, director of CCMT. The school’s annual budget is about $3 million.
“If you have deficits and you have four campuses with only 600 students, you have to ask yourself — especially when they are so close to one another — you have to ask yourself, ‘Is this a responsible thing to do?’ We can still provide the service, but we have to do it in a more economical way,” he said.
The bishop pointed to several factors for the deficit. With changing demographics in Toledo’s central city, the parishes that once subsidized the CCMT schools no longer have the means to do so, the current economy has made it so some families cannot fulfill their tuition commitment and enrollment is declining.
On a more positive note, Bishop Blair said fundraising for the school has never been more successful.
“But even with that, the cost, plus these other factors, continue to outpace the good efforts we make to raise money,” he said.
CCMT has approximately 600 students enrolled this year at the four campuses: St. Charles, Pope John Paul II, Rosary Cathedral and Queen of Apostles. A total of 314 students attend classes at the campuses slated to close.
The remaining campuses have the capacity to accommodate each of those students, the bishop said, adding that Pope John Paul II is geographically close to Rosary Cathedral and St. Charles is near Queen of Apostles. Families wishing to transfer students to another CCMT campus do not have to reapply for admission.
It is anticipated about half of the CCMT staff will be cut as a result of the closures. CCMT School employs 82 people. Jack Altenburger, superintendent of Toledo Catholic Schools, said the staff will be analyzed and evaluated, with positions to be filled internally before looking outside of the school for staffing needs.
“This reconfiguration of the CCMT School will put the two remaining campuses on a much more stable financial base,” Bishop Blair said, adding that the school will be able to develop stronger reading and math programs and provide more professional development opportunities for teachers. Additionally, the school will be able to add academic and counseling services to assist those students who are academically at-risk and continue to build on fundraising efforts, allowing for additional scholarships.
“It is not just academics that we are concerned with in our Catholic schools,” Bishop Blair said, “it is the educational ministry designed to teach our children about the love of God and neighbor, and to give them the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty. So many of our central city students and their families are looking for a better life, more in keeping with the promise of America, and we are pledged to do our part to help them as we are able.”
|
|
Last Updated on Monday, 28 July 2008 08:46 |
|
|
