The archdiocese of Philadephia is handing the management of its secondary schools over to an independent foundation in a move aimed at improving finances and increasing enrolment levels.
The first independently managed Catholic school system in the United States will be run by the Faith in the Future Foundation, created by concerned Catholics in conjunction with the archdiocese last February following an outpouring of support for four high schools targeted for closure.
The foundation’s original mission was to strengthen local Catholic secondary schools through fundraising and marketing. Now it will take over the management of 17 secondary and four special education schools, with a total enrolment of 15,000 students and an annual budget of $NZ158 million.
Catholic parishes will continue to operate 123 elementary schools.
The foundation is headed by H. Edward Hanway, a former chief executive officer of the CIGNA insurance company, who said the move “clearly establishes the role of the laity here to bring significant expertise and capabilities”.
“While this decision reflects a paradigm shift, it serves to change the organisational structure for Catholic education, not its mission,” said Archbishop Charles Chaput, who will choose a third of the foundation’s executive board.
The archdiocesan education office, which formerly ran the high schools, will continue to provide religious and academic curricula but will now report to the foundation’s CEO.
Turning over the high schools to an independent foundation comes after a tumultuous year for the archdiocese. A high-profile child sex abuse scandal cost an estimated $NZ13.5 million and properties had to be sold to head off a $NZ7.5 million budget deficit.
Philadelphia’s Catholic schools have seen a 72 per cent decrease in enrollment since 1961. The drop has been blamed on smaller family size, increasing tuition costs and alternative forms of education such as charter schools.
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Image: CatholicPhilly.com