Bishop names executive director, new superintendent of Catholic schools

Miss Boyle has been assistant superintendent of schools since 2004, overseeing curriculum and testing.  Since 2005 Miss Boyle also served as liaison to the Catholic high schools, and served as ex officio member of the boards of trustees at Camden Catholic, Paul VI and St. Joseph High Schools.  Previously, Mary was assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Metuchen.  She has extensive experience as an elementary and high school teacher and administrator in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.   She holds a B.S. in biology and secondary education from Chestnut Hill College and a Masters of Education in instructional systems design from Penn State University.

In a letter to Catholic school principals this week, Bishop Galante wrote, “Mr. Regina and Miss Boyle both bring great strengths and proven competence to their respective areas of responsibility.  I am delighted that they will work together as a team to ensure that our Catholic schools, which are fundamental to the life and mission of the Church, will build on past success to reach their fullest potential, as we commit ourselves anew to the education and spiritual formation of our young people.”

Miss Boyle said, “We stand on the shoulders of giants—the bishops, clergy founders, foundresses and members of religious communities—who, with a poor, immigrant Church, built the legacy of our Catholic schools.  I am convinced that Catholic schools will continue to be the most effective means we have for the education and the evangelization of children and young people, the future of our Church.”

Mr. Regina said, “I am grateful for this opportunity to help our schools flourish at a challenging time where academic excellence and strong programs of spiritual formation must be matched with sound practices that will ensure healthy enrollments, long-term viability and a strong presence in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”In 2006 the diocese announced the “Faith in the Future” initiative to strengthen Catholic schools.  As part of the initiative, a new funding model will be introduced to bring greater fiscal health to the schools, while keeping tuition affordable for families who wish to choose Catholic schools for their children.  As part of the initiative, schools also will be working to enhance curriculum and facilities, and to increase faculty compensation.  The initiative also will provide for increased levels of marketing and institutional advancement, as well as new models of governance for the schools.

There are presently about 11,000 students enrolled in the Catholic elementary schools of the diocese.  After consulting with school cluster steering committees and in response to declining enrollments, the resulting financial pressures on the parishes, and with the need to strengthen Catholic schools in every area of the diocese, Bishop Galante announced in November 2007 the closure of one elementary school and the merger of eight other schools with neighboring schools, resulting in a net reduction of nine Catholic elementary schools, from 47 to 38 beginning with the 2008-09 school year.  In most cases, the announcements by the bishop followed closely the recommendations of the school steering committees.

Decisions regarding 17 other schools in four clusters were announced in February 2007.  That reconfiguration resulted in a net reduction of five schools effective with the start of the 2007-08 school year.   

The reduction in the number of schools in the diocese is consistent with a national trend.  According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), the almost 700 Catholic elementary schools have closed in recent years, from 6,979 in 1995 to 6,288 in 2007, while the number of Catholic elementary school students has fallen by 294,000 to 1.697 million during the same period of time.

While there has been the need in some areas of the diocese to close or consolidate schools due to changes in population and enrollment declines, the diocese has also seen growth in other areas.  Last September, for example, the new Assumption Regional Catholic School opened on a 24 acre site on South Pitney Road in Galloway to serve students from five parishes in the area.Likewise, with demographic trends indicating continued growth in southern Gloucester County, the Diocese of Camden announced last August that it is considering locating a new Catholic high school on a 100 acre site off Route 77 in Mullica Hill, Harrison Township. With the announcement this week, Bishop said he wanted to emphasize the opportunities that are present in spite of the challenges.  “I believe strongly in the value of Catholic schools.  I know that the reconfiguration of these schools in this diocese has been difficult, but that it will set the stage for future growth and for stronger schools that will provide the best education and spiritual formation for our young people now and in the years ahead,” he said.