Schools
Parents Split On Consolidated Catholic School
Survey shows 51-49 percent deadlock on whether parents intend to enroll children in new elementary school this fall.
Parents who responded to a survey regarding the creation of a regional Catholic school were split on whether they planned to enroll their children there in the fall.
When the idea was floated around last year to close three Downriver Catholic elementary schools and merge them into one, parents of students at the schools were asked to weigh in.
Of the 145 people who responded, 74 (51 percent) said they did not plan to put their child in the new school, while 71 (49 percent) said they did.
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If bus transportation was offered, 57 (66 percent) parents said they would not use it, while 29 (34 percent) said they would.
If latchkey programs were available, 54 (64 percent) parents said they would not use them, while 31 (37 percent) said they would.
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An overwhelming number of respondents said they wanted class sizes to be limited to 24 students or fewer. The option liked by the most (19) was for a maximum class size of 20, while nine people said they’d be OK with a class of 30 students.
Of the 57 respondents who said they had a specific concern about the plan, the majority (18) said they were concerned about the decision-making process and the loss of individual school identity.
This was followed by 15 worried about tuition costs, 14 about school operations, nine about the new location and one about having to relocate.
While the survey results weren’t overwhelmingly positive, Catholic officials said that’s to be expected, especially at the onset of planned changes.
“Anytime you talk about closing Catholic schools, it’s going to be emotional,” said Joe Kohn, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Detroit. “Not everyone is going to be happy about it. People are very passionate about Catholic schools, as they should be. … It’s certainly understandable that not everyone is going to agree with what needs to be done.”
As more details emerge and people begin to learn more about what is planned for the new school, Kohn said he’s confident the comfort level of parishioners will rise as well.
and will close at the end of the school year, along with Christ the Good Shepherd School in Lincoln Park.
The three schools will be consolidated into John Paul II Catholic School, which will open in August on the campus of Christ the Good Shepherd in Lincoln Park.
Four parishes will serve as sponsors to the school: Christ the Good Shepherd, , and and in Wyandotte.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School is not affected.
The merger, which has been discussed for years, was precipitated by declining enrollment in Catholic elementary schools over the last several years, Kohn said.
All three schools, which are within a two-mile radius, have been operating at a deficit, requiring subsidies from their sponsoring parish communities, Kohn said.
The three schools combined have to pull between $600,000 and $700,000 from their sponsoring parishes each year just to operate, Kohn said.
“That’s a huge financial burden for Catholic churches to have to take that amount of money from the collections,” he said.
The new, combined school is designed to offer competitive tuition rates while remaining financially viable, Kohn said.
The Rev. Tony Richter of Christ the Good Shepherd said he is pleased with the merger and is looking forward to working hand-in-hand with the priests from the other involved schools.
“It’s great to have three schools with the same mission,” Richter said. “(It is) strong Catholic education coming together.”
Mariann Lupinacci, who is in her first year as principal of Christ the Good Shepherd School, has been chosen by the pastors involved to be principal of John Paul II Elementary School. She currently chairs the committees involved in establishing the new school.
“It’s wonderful, it’s a great mission,” she said. “That’s what Pope John Paul II was all about–bringing people together. … It’s a great honor to be a part of this.”
Families interested in learning more about the new school are invited to a tour Feb. 16 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. School representatives will be available to answer questions about school programs, student activities and tuition. Children are welcome to attend. For more information, call 313-386-0633 or visit the school website. The school is located at 1590 Riverbank St. in Lincoln Park.
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