Symposium set for Catholic schools

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
 
FITCHBURG – Seeking to make “a Christ-centered education” available to those who desire it, St. Bernard Elementary School has organized a symposium to share ideas for how to obtain funding and increase enrollment for Catholic schools, so the schools will be viable and affordable.
The free symposium is to be held from 5:30-7:15 p.m. Oct. 18 at St. Bernard’s, 254 Summer St. Those wishing to attend are asked to make reservations by calling the school at 978-342-1948.
The evening includes talks by Christopher Sinacola and Stephen Perla and book signings of “A Vision of Hope: Catholic Schooling in Massachusetts,” which is to be available for purchase. Pioneer Institute, a public policy think tank, commissioned the book, and published it on Jan. 20, 2021.
Mr. Sinacola, of St. Brigid Parish in Millbury, is co-editor of the book, and Mr. Perla, a former superintendent of schools for the Worcester Diocese who now lives in Maine, is a contributor. Mr. Sinacola was a reporter and editor for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and now does freelance writing and editing for Pioneer Institute. Mr. Perla is president of ADAC Inc., which provides educational and philanthropic services to private schools.
At the symposium, Mr. Sinacola is to talk about some of the history of Catholic education in Massachusetts and alternative funding sources that benefit private schools in some other states, as described in the book. 
Mr. Perla is to talk about signs of hope, and present and potential funding sources for Catholic schools in Massachusetts.
The speakers are also to take questions and ideas from the audience.
“I’m pleased that St. Bernard Elementary School has taken the initiative to organize this event,” said David Perda, the Worcester Diocese’s superintendent of schools. “Identifying additional funding streams is critical to our continued growth.” 
He said he does not know Mr. Sinacola, but called Mr. Perla a longtime friend of Catholic education, and said, “Our ability to tap into his expertise will surely lead to good things for our Catholic schools.”
“At a time when Catholic secondary schools are closing all across the country, A Vision of Hope reviews the successes of this education model in Massachusetts, and offers recommendations to help these schools increase student enrollment,” says the website pioneerinstitute.org/visionofhope/.
“The book contends that Catholic schools in Massachusetts must focus on the characteristics that make them academically successful and distinguish them from traditional public schools, but must also seek new models and governance structures that will help them achieve financial sustainability. At the same time, barriers to public support of the schools should be eliminated. ... “The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue was an important step toward invalidating so-called Blaine Amendments to the constitutions of Massachusetts and many other states that prohibit public money from flowing to religious schools’ parents. Among its many recommendations, the book includes a proposal for a tax credit scholarship program for Massachusetts that would likely have been impermissible prior to Espinoza.”
St. Bernard’s principal, Deborah W. Wright, said, “I don’t know what’s possible in Massachusetts, but we need to start the conversation.” The symposium is to bring together like-minded people to look at innovative ways to support Catholic schools in the Worcester Diocese. 
“One school can’t make this type of impact, but, if we gather people together … the potential is there to make change,” she said.
“We have a very strong relationship” with other Catholic schools in the diocese, she said. “We’ve done extremely well keeping our tuition at a reasonable amount. … We’ve done very well with grants ... but that’s not part of your operating budget.” St. Bernard’s wants to continue to have affordable tuition, she said.
St. Bernard’s advisory board is forming a sustainability plan for the school, said Ann Racine, a consultant to the board, who formerly worked in professional development for educational and healthcare institutions and continues to help with fundraising for St. Bernard Elementary, which is a parish school, and St. Bernard’s High School, an independent Catholic school.
Reading “A Vision of Hope” and listening to webinars by contributors gave her hope, she said. She saw how Pioneer Institute was gathering data and drawing conclusions, one of which was the need for change in Catholic schools’ financial situations. That fit with what St. Bernard’s is trying to do, she said. 
She said she talked to Mr. Perla, and with Ms. Wright, about hosting a night to educate people, and the symposium was born.
“We got very excited about: ‘Let’s not just do it for North County, (but) invite the Diocese of Worcester and anybody who’s interested,’” Mrs. Racine said.
“One of the things I’m very aware of as a Catholic school leader is the impact of our schools on our students, families and our local community,” Ms. Wright said. “What a gift these schools are, and they always have been. And how transforming of lives they are. It’s a struggle to keep these schools thriving. We meet (the challenge) very well.” She said she thinks other schools in the diocese do too; other principals have told her about their committed families and communities and boards.
“But,” she said, “what we’re looking to do is create a model that will sustain us into the future.”