April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENT

Troy-area schools collaborate under new diocesan initiatives

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger has announced a series of initiatives for Catholic schools in the Troy area, creating what he called "a model of collaboration and cohesiveness among three elementary schools and the diocesan high school in the area that will offer new opportunities for students and faculty."

The initiatives stem from the work of the Troy 2016 Innovation Committee, comprised of leaders from Sacred Heart School and parish in Troy, St. Augustine's School and parish in Troy, St. Jude the Apostle School and parish in Wynantskill and Catholic Central High School in Troy.

The Bishop stated that "these four schools, located in close geographic proximity, provide a unique opportunity to develop alliances that will take what is already a quality educational product individually at each school and transform it into a model of educational innovation."

The initiatives are:

•  Create a "STREAM" curriculum across all four schools. This program takes the well-known STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum and adds an "R" for religion and an "A" for art.  The STREAM program includes training support for teachers, and is already under development at the schools, following a $15,000 Higher Powered Learning grant awarded in September from the Diocesan School Board.

•  Develop new -- and expand upon existing -- partnerships among the four schools for the benefit of all students. "Through greater collaboration, each school will benefit from the strengths of the others, and all will be able to provide more comprehensive services," the Bishop said, noting that "such partnerships have already succeeded elsewhere, such as a joint athletics team among schools that would not otherwise be able to sustain a particular sports program on its own." (Read a previous story about the three-high-school "Holy Trinity" football team at www.evangelist.org.)

•  Create a joint committee, comprised of representatives from each school, to review opportunities to standardize tuition models and evaluate the sharing of resources and centralization of services where appropriate. Pastors at each of the three parishes and diocesan school superintendent Michael Pizzingrillo have been tasked with developing this committee to look at opportunities such as the possible creation of a purchasing cooperative, allowing the schools to take advantage of lower pricing on items bought in bulk, thereby providing more funds for use in other areas.

•  Develop a region-wide marketing plan "to ensure the public is fully aware of the tremendous educational opportunities of the diocesan schools in the Troy area." The diocesan Catholic Schools Office will assist the four schools in developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing program.

"I am so impressed with the dedication of all of our teacher and administrators, and I am continually inspired by our students," said Bishop Scharfenberger. "These steps will help bring forward amazing new opportunities for our students, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade."

Mr. Pizzingrillo said the process looked at all aspects of the four schools.

"Through the dedication and hard work of the volunteer committee members, every idea and suggestion was considered," he said. "I have no doubt that these four directives from the Bishop, based in large part of the committee's work, will improve an already impressive educational program."

The four schools combined have a total enrollment of 897 students from pre-K through 12th grade.[[In-content Ad]]

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