Officials upbeat as Catholic schools merge to Wauwatosa Catholic

There are many ways to look at the recent decision to close the parish schools at St. Bernard and St. Pius X and combine them into one new school in fall.
Bruce Varick prefers to turn to television.
"I look at this as like being 'The Brady Bunch,' " said Varick, St. Pius X principal.
The parish communities - and Wauwatosa as a whole - should look at the situation not with sadness or anger, but from the point of view that the schools are combining "two good schools to create one great school," he said. Just like Mike and Carol Brady did with their extended family.
Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki recently approved the formation of the new school, called Wauwatosa Catholic, and those involved said they are excited by the opportunity.

Discussions accelerate

While discussions about a combined Catholic school in the city have been going on for years, activity ramped up earlier this year, said Dean Weyer, director of administration for Wauwatosa Catholic.
Pius X, St. Bernard and Christ King were approached with the proposal, but Christ King officials didn't want to pursue a consolidation. But Pius X and St. Bernard officials backed the plan.
Varick said declining attendance has hurt St. Pius X.
"We were getting to the point where it was becoming very challenging to continue to put forth a high-quality Catholic education because of our small enrollment numbers," he said.
The two schools saw great potential in working together, and the decision was made to close both parish schools and create the new Wauwatosa Catholic.

Dividing spaces

Classes will be held in St. Bernard's school building - there is little to no need for renovations or improvements at the site, Weyer said. Athletics and other activities will be held at St. Pius X.
The school will offer 3-year-old kindergarten through grade eight, and Weyer said about 200 students are expected to attend in the first year. There are 193 students between the two schools this year.
There will be one class per grade level, and students also will take specialty classes like art, music, technology and gym. Along with the merger will come a corresponding staff reduction affecting teachers and administrators now working at the two schools, Weyer said.
Wauwatosa Catholic will be financially supported by tuition and fees, as well as an equal contribution from the St. Bernard and St. Pius X parishes.
And while Varick said he has heard "a sense of a loss and a sense of sadness" from some parish members, he said he hopes the new school does well enough that two campuses will be needed within five years.
"We're going into this to grow the school and making sure that it lasts 50 to 60 years at least," he said.

School promotion beginsWeyer said he doesn't expect to retain 100 percent of the students now at the two schools, but he thinks enrollment should stay steady and hopes the new school will attract families interested in a Catholic education.
To that end, Wauwatosa Catholic will be updating its website over the next month, and families should be able to visit the site of the new school during Catholic Schools Week, which starts Jan. 30.
Varick is enthusiastic about the prospect of Wauwatosa Catholic.
"We're trying to take the best of two quality schools into creating something even better and financially stable for our future," he said.
St. Bernard Principal Bill Strube could not be reached for comment prior to press deadline.

Wauwatosa Now

Photo