Bay Area Catholic Schools To Combine Middle And High Schools
Combination Presents Excellent Opportunities To Improve Education
January 19, 2009
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By: MyBayCity Staff
2009-10 School Year Will Bring Changes at All Saints
In September, Bishop Carlson established a Blue Ribbon Committee for Bay Area Catholic Schools (BACS.) The committee consisted of 6 individuals who are currently on various Bay Area Catholic Schools committees along with 2 diocesan representatives.
The charge for this committee was to make recommendations to the Bishop regarding the strengthening and growth of our Catholic schools in Bay City. The recommendations were presented to the Bishop on December 6th. On December 22nd, Bishop Carlson met with administrators to affirm a course of action regarding some of these recommendations.
The first change will be the combining of Holy Family Middle School into St. James/All Saints campus for the 2009-2010 school year. The 7th and 8th grades will be located in the high school with the 6th grade housed in St. James. A further recommendation was to keep all of the elementary schools open which Bishop Carlson strongly supports.
The Blue Ribbon Committee made these recommendations based upon hearing suggestions from the community, improving education and being better stewards of Bay City Catholic resources.
This combination presents excellent opportunities to improve education. While there are a few drawbacks, they are hoping that positive results will far outweigh them. Some of the changes are outlined below:
Shared librarian, counselor and custodian
Offering more advanced classes for middle school students
Share equipment/resources, particularly computers, science labs, library and art
Reduce transportation costs for parents having children in both middle and high school
Improve retention between 8th and 9th grade
Establish and maintain mentoring/tutoring between grades
Continue positive interactions started between middle school students and their teachers throughout their time in school
Increase collaboration among teachers to improve curriculum
Combine athletic programs for greater sharing of resources
Increase efficiency for teachers who currently teach on two campuses
Eliminate the need for traveling campus minister
Save costs by operating one less building
Freeze tuition for more than 70% of their families (only those making more than $80,000 will have a 2.4% increase)
Administrators admit they will have less green space for physical activity but hope to schedule the on site gym for lunchtime exercise for their middle school students. They are also hopeful that this move will produce a pronounced attitude of caring and looking out for younger students and positive, family types of relationships among the school community.
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