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After a week filled with speculation about the fate of principal and football coach Joe Grasso of Bishop Maginn High School in Albany, the Albany Diocese announced last Saturday that it would be retaining Mr. Grasso under both titles. 

However, the school will still undergo a shift in personnel; Sister Mary Jane Herb, IHM, announced the school's new administrative structure. 

Sister Jane, superintendent of schools for the Albany Diocese, has created the new position of Head of School. The person who fills this position, who will be found through a national search, will share the top administrative responsibilities with Mr. Grasso. 

Bishop Maginn opened in 1977; Mr. Grasso has served as head football coach since then and as principal of the school since 1984.

"I think this is something that can draw on the strengths of the school," said Sister Jane; "and at the same time Mr. Grasso can continue his relationship with the students."

Without discussing specifics, Sister Jane noted that "the Diocese is willing to invest some money into this [change] because we feel it is something that will strengthen the school."

Bishop Maginn was already expecting changes in its faculty next year, with vice principal Rev. Cabell Marbury set to retire. While Sister Jane said that Father Marbury's retirement did not directly factor into the decision of creating the Head of School position, she does think it will help "in that there will be someone else coming to the school that can assist Mr. Grasso despite Father Marbury's absence."

In a press release, Mr. Grasso said: "While this has been a very difficult and unsettling time for everyone, I hope that it has helped to galvanize the Bishop Maginn community of students, parents, alumni, board members and friends. 

"Together we can now all move forward with a unified goal to provide the best possible Catholic education for our students now and for many years to come. I'd like to thank the Maginn School Board as well as the hundreds of people who have shown their support throughout this process."

The responsibilities of the Head of School include academics, institutional advancement and finances. Sister Jane said the Catholic Schools Office hopes to conclude the search by July 1.[[In-content Ad]]

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