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A task force that was formed last June to plan for the future of Bishop Maginn High School in Albany has offered a list of recommendations for the struggling school that include adding a pre-kindergarten program and a middle school, increasing tuition and fundraising, and renting out part of the campus and the school's athletic fields.

Bishop Maginn currently enrolls 133 students in a building that can accommodate 1,200. Since 2008, enrollment has dropped by more than 50 percent.

Michael Pizzingrillo, superintendent of schools for the Albany Diocese, noted that Maginn has been operating at a deficit of well over $400,000 for the past two years, and has received an additional $200,000 from the Diocese each year during that time.

"The school is not able to make ends meet with enrollment and fundraising alone," he stated, and the gap has continued to widen; the Diocese has stated that it cannot continue to support Maginn to that extent.

Initial idea
Last spring, Maginn was looking into relocating to the former Cathedral Academy building in Albany when those considerations became public. Students' families adamantly opposed the move, and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard said the school would remain in its current location through at least the 2014-15 school year.

A task force chaired by Sister Mary Anne Heenan, CSJ - province director of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and a former superintendent of schools and consultant - then began to meet to discuss the future of Maginn. Also on the task force were two dozen faculty, students, parents, a school administrator, alumni and school board members.

Several public meetings were held in the following months, and an email address was set up where concerned parents and others could send suggestions. Mr. Pizzingrillo told The Evangelist that a total of about 150 people attended the public meetings. In addition, a study of the Cathedral Academy building was done by the Capital Area School Development Association to determine its suitability as a possible home for Maginn.

Task force's conclusions
The task force's recommendations were announced Jan. 12 at a public meeting at Maginn and published in a report on the school's website. Specifically, the members suggest:

•  remaining at the school's current location, but renting out part of the building and the athletic fields to increase revenue;

•  increasing tuition (which has not been done in several years) from $6,000 per year to $6,250;

•  increasing enrollment by seven students per year, which, after two years, would bring in an additional $80,000 per year;

•  adding a pre-kindergarten program;

•  adding a middle school and junior high;

•  increasing fundraising by 10 percent annually;

•  going to a "one-administrator system," eliminating a position to save money;

•  adding the position of development director, which had previously been eliminated;

•  increasing staff salaries and benefits by five percent annually; and

•  implementing a strategic marketing plan.

Task force members believe that, if this plan is instituted, Bishop Maginn could eliminate its deficit and realize a surplus by 2018.

Members' thoughts
While "it would be foolish to say that meeting any of these challenges would be easy," Sister Mary Anne told The Evangelist, "I believe that we did not put forth any recommendation that we do not believe is realistic."

Head of school Joseph Salamack called the report "very professionally done. They did a wonderful job of outlining the needs of the school. I, for one, am very excited to move forward with whatever decision the Bishop makes for the future of Bishop Maginn High School and Catholic education in Albany."

Relocating was not on the list of recommendations, which did not surprise Mr. Pizzingrillo, who noted the school community's passion for Maginn and its current campus. Some parents have indicated that, if Cathedral Academy becomes Maginn's new home, they will transfer their children to another school.

Robin Jira is a task force member and the parent of three Maginn alumni. Her son, Matthew, is currently a junior at Maginn, and her daughter, Juliana, will be a freshman in September.

"Most people were in favor of trying to keep the school where it is," she said. "Maginn is very dear to us," although "it's not the building; it's the people who are there."

Mr. Pizzingrillo was concerned that people understand "the gravity of the situation" for Maginn in terms of finances. Mrs. Jira hopes that alumni and members of the larger community will step in to help Maginn implement the task force's recommendations.

Bishop and board
Some in the school community have said they're praying for a miracle as the Diocesan School Board now takes up the recommendations; the school board will spend a month reviewing the task force's ideas and, in turn, present their recommendations to Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger.

The Bishop will analyze the recommendations and announce his decision on Maginn's future in March.

"It's about getting the school what it needs to survive and thrive," Mr. Pizzingrillo told The Evangelist.

Mrs. Jira said the Maginn community is "in a state of anxious enthusiasm at this point. We're in a positive frame. We just have to pick up the pieces, wherever they land, and remember what Maginn is, what we have."[[In-content Ad]]

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