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May 1, 2020By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
Work is moving forward for St. Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School.
The program of studies is being finalized so students can sign up for next year’s courses; the mascot, school colors and winter sports coaches are expected to be announced soon, and renovations are planned, David Perda, superintendent, said Tuesday. Appointments of faculty and fall sports coaches have been announced.
The school is being formed from Holy Name and St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Junior/Senior High schools.
Superintendent Perda said the Catholic Schools Board sought input from students, parents, staff and alumni for the mascot and colors.
“We got a big, long list … back,” the superintendent said.
From those suggestions, a survey was developed and sent to current students, including seniors, to give them a little bit more of a say, he said. Their responses were shared with the bishop, who made the final decision, which is to be revealed soon.
Allen Creative Group in Millbury is doing the graphic design work, helping with the branding of St. Paul’s, Superintendent Perda said.
Coronavirus restrictions are affecting the merger, according to Michael J. Clark, associate superintendent of secondary schools, who is St. Paul’s founding head of school and acting principal for the 2020-2021 academic year.
He said inventory of available items at both campuses can now be taken, since Gov. Charlie Baker announced last week that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year because of the virus.
St. Peter-Marian’s land and buildings are to be put up for sale, and the proceeds will be used to help pay for renovations at Holy Name, the campus for the new school.
Mr. Clark said the Catholic Schools Office is seeking to have the renovation work designated as essential, since construction projects deemed non-essential have been shut down during the pandemic.
The hope is to complete Phase I of an expected three-year project before school opens this fall, but the school can open regardless, he said.
He said the facilities committee, an ad hoc subcommittee of the Catholic Schools Board, has reviewed the plans for Phase I.
Much of Phase I consists of looking at the structure for what should be upgraded and how to do it, he said. Other projects are security and visitor enhancements to the school building, painting inside and outside, making restrooms near the gym and cafeteria handicapped accessible, resurfacing the gym floor and replacing the bleachers, replacing the auditorium roof and demolishing the former convent that once served as the junior high.
Phase II, to take place in the summer of 2021, involves exterior enhancements, including repaving, expanding parking and replacing windows, an extensive project that will likely continue in the summer of 2022 for Phase III, Mr. Clark said.
Much of the work is contingent upon enrollment, proceeds from the sale of St. Peter-Marian’s property, and donor support, he said. Grants and contributions will be sought.
He said Saam Architecture of Boston has overseen the completion of the design phase by engineers and contractors and the design has been given to the general contractor, Lauring Construction of Worcester.
In other news, decisions about financial aid are to be announced soon. Unlike in previous school years, no deposits or minimum payments were required for those enrolling for the upcoming academic year, Mr. Clark said.
Faculty
Faculty members were appointed based on a student enrollment of 500; if enrollment exceeds that, more appointments are to be made, Mr. Clark said. The new school’s staff members presently work at one of the two schools being merged, he said.
The Catholic Schools Office made a collective bargaining agreement with DELTA, the lay faculty union, that seniority would be a factor, but not a requirement, in decisions about hiring, Mr. Clark said.
“It was a tremendous extension of good will on the part of both bodies,” he said. He said DELTA will continue representing faculty at St. Paul’s.
The new assistant principal for ministry, Sandra Pollette, and the assistant principal for student life, Timothy St. John, were announced in March.
In an April 17 letter to students, families and staff, Mr. Clark said Megan Capurso and Harry Duchesne will be campus ministers, helping Ms. Pollette create opportunities for worship, retreats, service, and pastoral counseling.
Mr. Clark said Karen Loin and John Pace will be class deans, helping Mr. St. John with programming in the areas of discipline, extra-curricular activities, and student support services.
In an April 14 letter, Mr. Clark informed students, families and staff of other appointments made. Appointments of department heads were finalized March 20, and, after that, some 48 video-conference interviews were conducted with candidates for faculty positions, he said.
“Having participated in each of these interviews, I can share that it is a true encouragement to know of the demonstrated dedication our teachers have to Catholic education, and still more to the young people entrusted to our care,” Mr. Clark wrote.
He said 93 percent of the new staff members possess or are completing an advanced degree, and their average tenure in education is 14 years.
“Those are numbers that rival and, in some instances, exceed the finest prep schools in Massachusetts,” Mr. Clark told The Catholic Free Press. “And we’re doing it at a tremendous value” – $9,500 per year for grades 9-12; $8,800 for grades 7 and 8.
The new school’s business manager is Honghoa Le, currently business manager for the central Catholic high schools – Holy Name, St. Peter-Marian and St. Bernard in Fitchburg, which is becoming a private school this fall.
St. Paul’s facilities director is Daniel Millett, now facilities director of the three central Catholic high schools.
St. Paul’s director of school and college counseling is Kelli Reyngoudt, who holds that position at St. Peter-Marian.
Mr. Clark said academic department chairpersons are: theology, Joseph Toritto, Holy Name theology department chairman; computer science and technology, Brett Penza, Holy Name chairman of computer science and director of technology; English, Patrice Cronin, St. Peter-Marian English Department chairwoman; fine arts, John Deedy, a St. Peter-Marian English department member; mathematics, Susan Russo, Holy Name math teacher; social studies, Jonathan Meager, Holy Name social studies department chairman; science, Rita Somi, St. Peter-Marian science department chairwoman, and world languages, Don Nicole, St. Peter-Marian Spanish department acting chairman.
In his April 17 letter, Mr. Clark also announced head coaching appointments for fall athletics and said winter and spring appointments are to be announced soon.
Athletics
He thanked the new school’s athletic director, Jim Manzello, from Holy Name, and the student activities steering committee, for helping in this area.
Coaches are: cheerleading, Tina Borelli; cross country (boys), Nick Villani; cross country (girls), Greg Marcotte; dance, Arianna Sacco; field hockey, Julie Kreuz; football, Mike Donovan; golf, Rob Riggieri; soccer (boys), Rick Porter; soccer (girls), Bill Manzello; volleyball, Erica Dancy.
