New Revelations in the St.Monica Closing

A letter sent to parishioners, school families and friends of St. Monica in Berwyn sheds some new light on the appeal process for Catholic schools recommended for closing in the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

St. Monica in Berwyn was told on January 6 that the school would be closed, as would St. Patrick's parish school in Malvern. Under the recommendation of the Archdiocesan Blue Ribbon Commission a new regional school would be created, probably under a new name, on the current St. Patrick campus in Malvern.

Late last week St. Patrick appealed the recommendation in a decision that "dumbfounded" the leaders at St. Monica. On Monday morning (January 30) the principals, pastors and others from both schools met with two representatives from the Archdiocese Office of Catholic Education (OCE) who heard the appeal from St. Patrick's Pastor and Principal.

Late Tuesday morning St. Monica Pastor, Father William Trader sent a letter to his parishioners and friends in the community at large recounting what happened during the appeal meeting.

Here is the entire letter sent Tuesday from St. Monica Church Pastor, Father William Trader:

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Monica's,

Our principal, Lisa Hoban, and Business Manager, Terry Carey and I just returned from our meeting in town concerning the appeal filed by Saint Patrick's pastor and principal. The panel was made up of two individuals from the Office of Catholic Education, one from Financial Services, and two from Research and Planning.

 The following information was shared by the OCE:

• The number of schools projected to be needed in 2015 in Chester County is 11; The Blue Ribbon Commission has at this point decided on 14.
• St. Patrick Data from 2005-2009
  • Enrollment < 400 to 316 ( Current 267)
  • Baptisms < 108 to 67 (2009)
  • Capacity Use of Building < 67% to 54%
  • Tuition Paid > $1,641 to $ 2,183 (2010)
  • Cost per Student > $3,351 to $4,385 (2010)
  • Parish Operating Deficit ($113,940.00)
  • School Excess Operating Deficit ($541,455.00)
• St. Monica Data from 2005-2009
  • Enrollment <192 to 188 (Currently 158)
  • Baptisms < 38 to 35
  • Capacity Use of Building < 74% to 72%
  • Tuition Paid < $1,992 to $2,235 (2010)
  • Cost per Student > $4,609 to $5,453 (2010)
  • Parish Operating Deficit ($160,499.00)
  • School Excess Operating Deficit ($364,760.00)

The following information was shared by Father Redcay and Ms. O'Donnell:

• St. Patrick's is in the situation they are because of inattention to many issues over the years prior to Father's and Ms. O'Donnell's arrival. Some of these issues include but are not limited to:
  • Lack of cohesiveness in church and school
  • Morale and academics
  • Trends, recruitment, managing finances
  • Tuition collection; school-wide fundraising
  • Collaboration
• It is Father Redcay's and Ms. O'Donnell's belief that with their leadership and enthusiasm and the current momentum and enthusiasm of their parent population, St. Patrick's can be turned around. They currently have around 244 students on board for next year and they believe they can grow that number. They believe they can also bring some of the PREP students into the school.
• They also had grave concerns that the larger St. Monica School population will not come to the Malvern Campus. They are also concerned with the "deal breakers" some of our parents have shared concerning CYO, the principal, and the school name.
• They have talked to some SMS parents who are looking at other options and that also concerns them.
• As Father Redcay stated, "The bottom line is that this is supposed to be our parish school - it is a partnership, partnerships like this should have no deal breakers....if you're in you're in." (Father Redcay's handout)

Patch Editor's Note: Parenthetical information below has been added simply to clarify names, titles and dates of those referenced in the letter.

The following represents Saint Monica Administration comments:

• Father (Trader) explained that he spent the last two days calling every school family personally and that to date he can say with some certainty that there are 105 students ready to move to Malvern. There are an additional 26 students who are hesitant or unsure; three students going to public school; six students who are interested in private Catholic academies, two students who are transferring out of parish; one moving out of state; and he did not hear back from five families.
• Father (Trader)also explained that there has been a language issue to date concerning the difference between merged schools and a regional school. This is NOT a merger where St. Patrick's would be making room for us, but rather a new entity entirely with both principals and faculties losing their jobs, and a new faculty emerging.
• (St. Monica School Principal) Lisa Hoban explained the process that has taken place to date including bringing our students to SPS, parents to the open house, unity ribbons for each student. She also explained that SPS parents invited our parents and students to skate on Friday and appeared to be as surprised as we were about the appeal. She also explained that conversations with the faculty also had the same results that they had been told there were no grounds for appeal, but suddenly things have changed.
• In response to their concerns about parents researching their options and adamant about CYO, Lisa Hoban explained that perhaps since she is the only parents among the four, she can shed a little light on that. Lisa explained that if she were put in the same position as our families, she would do the exact same thing. As stated to all of our parent population and reiterated today, you must make the decision that is best for your children, whatever that may be. As for CYO, Lisa told them that she was in a cheerleading outfit an hour before the meeting, cheering at a pep rally. She asked what uniform she would wear next year if there weren't any school teams.

The Panel responses included the following:

• This isn't about turning anything around, it is deciding whether or not we can work together to see the vision fulfilled.
• They explained that those effected have to work through many feelings of hurt, uncertainty, and loss in this process, and we must avail them the opportunity to do so.
• Catholic Education as we know it will not survive without regionalization.
• There will not be "parish schools," there will be regional schools where children of various parishes attend. The model includes governance unlike today's current model of Pastor running the school.
• Everyone must give something up in the process.
• And finally, they will be relaying all our information to the Archbishop who will decide on the matter sometime around mid-February.
• When asked since there was no data corrections, if St. Patrick's has any validity to appeal at all, Mary Rochford explained that they did not expect data corrections since it came from the parishes; however, any new information is grounds for the appeal to be heard. That is why SPS had their day today (Monday January 30).

We are confident that we will all be continuing this journey together with the St. Patrick community, and that we can work through any issues that arise. Father also asked Father Redcay to address our Home and School Community about his rational for appeal and his hopes for the future. Father Redcay agreed, and as soon as HASA has that date confirmed, we will let you know.

As always, thank you for your confidence, your support, most importantly, your prayers. God is listening!

God's peace,

(Rev.) William A. TraderPastor

Lisa Hoban Principal

P.S. As promised, Father Trader asked the question to the Office of Catholic Education that was presented at the Parish Information Night. The question was: "Is there a chance to get a 3-year extension to attempt a turn-around in the school's enrollment?" The answer received from the OCE was "no."