La Crosse Diocese: All Catholic schools to stay open for now

Jan 30, 2011 (The Leader-Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- No Catholic schools will be shutting their doors in Eau Claire or Altoona -- at least not in the immediate future, the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse has announced.

A letter from La Crosse Bishop William Callahan to local priests and Catholic families addresses recent speculation that one of two Catholic elementary schools -- St. James School on Eau Claire's west side or St. Mary's School in Altoona -- could close soon. The letter was dated Friday.

"All of the Regis Catholic Schools will remain in operation," at least for the time being, Callahan wrote.

"I am convening an Episcopal Commission to further study the Regis Catholic Schools," Callahan said in his letter.

He said the commission would meet by the end of March and would make a recommendation -- presumably about the future of local Catholic schools -- by the end of the year.

A local priest, who wished to remain anonymous because he didn't have authority to speak about the matter, said Callahan has said all Catholic schools in Eau Claire would remain open through the end of next school year, regardless of the commission's recommendation.

Regis Catholic Schools officials made a recommendation about closing one of the two elementary schools before Christmas, the priest said. He declined to specify what that recommendation was.

Last year, Regis officials proposed closing St. James or St. Mary's because of budget issues. Closing one of those schools was projected to save $300,000 a year.

Some parents of Regis students have been critical of the perceived lack of transparency in the recommendation process and questioned whether there were other ways to save money besides closing a school.

Parents also had expressed concerns that closing St. James or St. Mary's, which feed into Regis middle and high schools, could curb enrollment and threaten the private school system's future.

Hundreds of people contacted Callahan's office late last year, requesting he allow more time to discuss alternatives to closing one of the schools. Parents filled out surveys seeking direction on which school to shut down.

"I have reviewed a number of various kinds of communication sent to me over the last few months from parishioners and students," Callahan wrote in his letter. "I write, now, to inform you that some issues and information still remain unclear and unanswered." Callahan didn't specify what information still needed clearing up but noted that "the gravity of the decisions that are expected" demand information be "as clear and transparent as possible." The bishop added that he has asked the diocese's director of Catholic schools, Diana Roberts, "to make whatever changes or modifications are necessary in the budget in order to keep the schools open during this time." Bennett can be reached at 715-830-5832, 800-236-7077 or mclean.bennett@ecpc.com.

 Leader Telegram