Study to Begin for a New High School in Eastern Jackson County

The Catholic Key (Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph) – February 12, 2010

Catholic education is a priority in our Diocese. It is an extension of the mission of the Church to bring Jesus Christ to others and others to Jesus Christ. In our Catholic schools our precious young people are not only educated, but “formed” in a living and meaningful everyday faith. Because of this, so many sacrifice and work diligently in a variety of ways to secure the future of our schools. Among the many school related initiatives of my time as bishop, none have been as demanding as the Comprehensive Strategic Study of Catholic Schools in our Diocese.

The Study, which began in April 2008 continues to absorb many meeting hours, involving scores of people. Even now the chancery is the scene of some very animated discussions about how to stabilize weak schools, strengthen all schools, and ensure the viability of distinctively Catholic education in our Diocese. Soon I hope to meet with our priests and school leadership to discuss the recommendations of the Study on our Catholic Schools in a more conclusive way. We are not ready to do that yet because, as I wrote you in December of last year, we simply must take the time we need to “Get it Right.”

Although there remain some differences to be ironed out, there were quite a few of the findings and recommendations of the Meitler Plan that were received with good consensus. In my opinion, one of the most urgent of these new initiatives is a market feasibility study for a new high school in eastern Jackson County.

Today I am announcing the beginning of this market study. This announcement should go a long way toward assuring the concerned families of southern and eastern Jackson, and northern Cass Counties that I intend for there to be Catholic education readily available in their areas, on the elementary and secondary levels. If the results of this study substantiate our intuitions and the recommendations we have thus far received, we will enthusiastically work toward the establishment of a new high school in eastern Jackson County. It is expensive and time-consuming work, but I am dedicated to it if you are with me. This study will be your vehicle for letting me know how you feel.

This new high school study will take about four months to complete. It requires that much time because the study consultants, the O’Meara, Ferguson, Whelan, and Conway Company, need to interview a broad cross section of the Catholic population in the pertinent areas. These interviews will be accomplished through one on one meetings, online surveys eventually available through the diocesan website, and a number of focus group meetings. Interviews will attempt to gauge support for the idea of a new high school but they will also gather feedback on potential locations, most valued programs, workable tuition levels, feelings about co-educational versus single-sex institutions, and other salient points that will help the Diocese make the best decisions about the new high school.

In the coming weeks, if you are a student, teacher, family member, or priest in the current service areas of Saint Mary High School, Archbishop O’Hara High School, or the parishes in the aforementioned counties, you may be approached by O’Meara-Ferguson personnel for your input to this study. If so, please give them a warm welcome and recognize they are here to help us extend the mission of our Catholic high schools.

Thank you for all you are doing in your homes, parishes and schools, and workplaces to bring Jesus Christ into every facet of your lives, and to further the apostolic mission of the Church. I ask our powerful diocesan patrons: Mary the Immaculate Conception, St. Joseph, and St. John Francis Regis, to intercede for us.