FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Sally A. Oberski       
Director of Communications    
419-244-6711 x 148
soberski@dodiocese.org
www.toledodiocese.org

NEW CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO OPEN FOR 2010 ACADEMIC YEAR

Our Lady of Lourdes and Little Flower schools collaborate to create new school

January 20 - Toledo, OH - In an effort to secure and strengthen the opportunity for Catholic education in the Reynolds Corners area of West Toledo, Bishop Leonard Blair has granted permission for the creation of a new Catholic elementary school on the Little Flower campus beginning in the academic year 2010-2011. The new school is the result of collaboration between Our Lady of Lourdes and Little Flower elementary schools, and will offer pre-school through eighth grade Catholic education. The current school building at Our Lady of Lourdes parish will close at the end of the current academic year.

The pastors of both parishes presented a plan for the collaboration formulated by a joint school task force and the pastoral and finance councils of each parish for the bishop’s approval in December. Discussions for the collaboration began in 2007.

The significant declines in school enrollment have stressed parish budgets to a point where the viability of each school is no longer sustainable in its present operating model beyond the 2009-10 academic year. Over the 11 year period 1998 to 2009 both schools combined have a loss of half of their enrollment. Enrollment for 2009-2010 school year for Our Lady of Lourdes is 117 students and Little Flower is 146 students.

All school parents, teachers, staff and parishioners were advised of the potential change in November 2009. School principals have made themselves available to parents and have discussed the collaboration.

According to Reverend Joseph Steinbauer, pastor of Little Flower parish, “We have had positive feedback from parents of children in both schools, as well as grandparents and parishioners who no longer have children in school. The students also realize the opportunity to create new friendships.” Reverend James E. Brown, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish adds that “The pre-school option at the new school will offer a new opportunity for Our Lady of Lourdes families.”

According to Father Steinbauer, potentially 18-23 faculty and staff members at both schools could be affected, with the collaboration. A new principal will be hired for the yet unnamed school, and educators and staff will be the best candidates selected in accordance with the process established by the joint task force and its facilitator.
For more information contact Chuck Webb at 419-865-8506 or Sally Oberski at 419-244-6711, ext 148.

The Diocese of Toledo, established April 15, 1910 encompasses 8222 square miles in a mixture of urban and rural areas that spans 19 counties across Northwest Ohio, serving 321,516 Catholics in 128 parishes. The diocese includes Allen, Crawford, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Huron, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, and Van Wert, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties.

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