FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 22, 2008

Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Madison, Michael Lancaster, announces that the Office of Catholic Schools, in collaboration with the Institute of Parish and School Development (ISPD), has undertaken an 18-24 month planning process to ensure the future of Catholic schools in the Diocese. The study will be conducted in partnership with the Institute for School and Parish Development (ISPD). ISPD has over 20 years of experience working with Catholic Schools and Parishes nationwide.

This effort responds to three calls for action, the first two of which are the general directive of the Guided by the Spirit parish planning process coupled with the call of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). According to the directive, “All parishes, those with and those without schools, will actively participate in a diocesan wide comprehensive school study to promote and increase our diocesan commitment to Catholic education as outlined in the USCCB publication, ‘Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium.’”

The final call was issued by Pope Benedict XVI who, in his Address to Catholic Educators in Washington D.C. in April of this year, urged Catholic educators to do all that they can to ensure that Catholic schools are sustainable over the long-term. He stated, “Indeed, everything possible must be done, in cooperation with the wider community, to ensure that they [Catholic schools] are accessible to people of all social and economic strata. No child should be denied his or her right to an education in faith….”

As the study and planning proceed, the process will follow five key principles. The process will:

• Focus exclusively on ways to strengthen Catholic schools and the Catholic school system

• Assess the current situation in our schools, including but not limited to, Catholic leadership, curriculum, demographics, enrollment data, financial data, community input and existing strategic plans.

• Be a collaborative process that serves to unify schools, parishes and communities across clusters throughout the Diocese

• Consider new, imaginative, innovative structures and processes that will increase school enrollment, ensure school viability and provide an unparalleled education in the faith and academic disciplines.

• Honor, complement and coordinate with the work already done by cluster planning commissions through the Guided by the Spirit process

In the Diocese of Madison in the past thirty (30) years, only two schools have closed (both were high schools) and two elementary schools have consolidated. The consolidated schools still serve students in both communities and continue to use both school buildings. Thus, to a large degree, through the tireless efforts of pastors, parents, and parishioners, Catholic schools in the Diocese, including Brother Dutton School on Beloit’s West Side and Our Lady of the Assumption School on Beloit’s East Side, have bucked the national trend. “ Despite this impressive track record, and countless hours of work and sacrifice, we must not ignore the changing and increasing challenges facing our schools.”, Lancaster stated, “ Rather, we must confront these difficulties, study them, understand them and plan to overcome them so that Catholic schools remain true to their mission, inspired in their vision and viable in their operation. This process is not just about studying schools, nor is it simply about making periodic improvements. It is about strengthening Catholic schools so they can blaze a trail that will burn brightly for all people of the Diocese well into the third millennium. “