A RCHDIOCESE OF D ENVER C ATHOLIC S CHOOLS A NSWERS TO F REQUENTLY A SKED Q UESTIONS P RESENTATION OF O UR L ADY Q1: How are decisions made regarding the closure of a school? A decision regarding the closure of a school is taken very seriously and is not a reaction to isolated or recent events. It is a lengthy, prayerful, process, inclusive of numerous factors and individuals. In this case, the final decision was made by Fr. Edward Poehlmann, the pastor of Presentation of Our Lady Parish. Throughout the discernment process, Father Poehlmann consulted with his school principal, Parish Finance Council, Pastoral Council, and the School Advisory Council, as well as with senior management of the archdiocese. A number of archdiocesan offices provided key information for review and consideration by Father Poehlmann and his advisors. Q2: What factors have led to the closing of this school? Presentation of Our Lady School has been impacted by several factors, not unlike hundreds of schools across the country that have had to close. The primary factors affecting the school’s lack of viability are changing demographics, which has led to shortfalls in enrollment and the resources necessary for sustainability. The last 13 years have been a fragile time for Presentation School. Enrollment has dropped to its lowest count with less than 100 students. Consequently, Presentation of Our Lady Parish has provided substantial funding to school operations, an unsustainable situation for the parish. Despite every effort to build enrollment, make tuition affordable, and raise funds, the recurring and on-going struggle to make the school viable has taken its toll. Q3: What resources has the school received during these challenging times? The school has received a substantial investment of time, talent, and treasure for many years. Collectively, Seeds of Hope, The Catholic Foundation and the Archdiocese of Denver (through the disbursement of monies contributed by all parishes in northern Colorado to the Catholic Schools Assistance Fund) have invested more than $3.6 million in the last decade. Volunteers serve the school on a regular basis. The school community has worked hard to engage in these various opportunities and initiatives. Q4: Are there plans to reopen the school at some point? No, but the legacy of Presentation of Our Lady will be alive in the students, parents, and teachers who have been the life-blood of the school since the Sisters of Mercy opened it in 1924. Despite this wonderful legacy, it is clear that this school is not sustainable for the future. November 11, 2014 Page 1
Q5: What steps are being taken to facilitate the transition of students and teachers into other Catholic schools? An outreach plan has been developed by the Office of Catholic Schools to help address the needs and facilitate the transition of the various Presentation of Our Lady stakeholder groups — teachers, children, parents, parishioners, benefactors, and the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools community. For the 2015-16 school year, students from Presentation of Our Lady will be given priority for enrollment and tuition assistance at other archdiocesan schools. A full list of Catholic schools available in the Archdiocese of Denver are listed at: http://archden.org/school-locator/. A school fair will be held at Presentation of Our Lady School at 6p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, to provide families with information and an opportunity to begin the enrollment process for next year. Funding organizations including Seeds of Hope and ACE will be available to address tuition assistance needs. Page 4 outlines more information on the opportunity of enrolling in Escuela de Guadalupe, a private, dual-language, Catholic school. Q6: How many students are currently enrolled? Presentation of Our Lady is serving 97 students from 84 families in Kindergarten through eighth grade during the 2014-15 academic year. Q7: Which staff will be affected by this closure? Personnel issues will be addressed with each individual. Every attempt will be made to help the teachers serve in another Catholic school in a position for which they qualify. Q8: What are the demographics of the student body from the 2014-15 school year? Of the 97 students attending Presentation of Our Lady Catholic School during the 2014-15 school year, 86 percent are Hispanic/Latino and 11 percent are of two or more races. One hundred percent of the student body is Catholic; 53 percent of the student population is female; 48 percent is male. In addition, 100 percent of the students qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch based upon the Federal Income Guidelines. Q9: What has been the enrollment trend for the school? Since the 2000-01 academic school year, Presentation has averaged a student enrollment of 119 students per year with a high of 188 students in 2000-01 and a low of 78 students during the 2012-13 school year. November 11, 2014 Page 2
Q10: What was the maximum enrollment and when? Presentation of Our Lady Catholic School opened in 1924 as a three-room schoolhouse under the direction of the Sisters of Mercy. The parish and surrounding area grew rapidly and by 1950 a new brick church and school was built and student enrollment grew to 480 students in first through eighth grades for the 1956-57 school year. Ten more classrooms were added in 1963 and enrollment fluctuated between 350-450 students with a record 492 students during the 1964-65 school year. Just as in Catholic schools nationally, the 70s, 80s and 90s brought a decline in student enrollment; 308 in 1970-71 school year, 231 in the 1980-81 school year and 226 in 1990- 91. Q11: With the closing of Presentation of Our Lady School, will the Church and Catholic schools continue to serve the poor? Yes. The Archdiocese of Denver is committed to serving economically-disadvantaged families throughout our school system. Five (5) of the 37 parish elementary schools are located in the inner-city of Denver. An additional six (6) parish elementary schools are located on the edge of the inner-city or in rural-populated areas affected by demographic changes. These 11 parish elementary schools are referred to as the SUN and FOCUS schools for the Archdiocese of Denver as they have the largest concentration of families living at or below the poverty level. Fifty-five percent of the students attending these 11 schools qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch Program as part of the Federal Income Guidelines. Children need to be reassured through presence and actions that people care about them and will help them find their place in a new school. Students from Presentation of Our Lady who enroll and attend another Catholic school for the 2015-16 school year will continue to receive the same quality education they were provided at Presentation of Our Lady. In addition, parents of Presentation of Our Lady students will have the same tuition payment amount and plan in effect from the 2014-15 school year for the upcoming 2015-16 school year. The Archdiocese of Denver and its related organizations have and will continue to invest great effort and funds on behalf of Catholic schools. Since 1998, Catholic schools have received over $85 million in support. The majority of the available grant funds are distributed to the schools with the greatest need, which include the SUN and FOCUS schools. Q12: What is the parish going to do with the School building? Presentation school will cease operations at the end of the 2014-2015 school year, and welcome Escuela de Guadalupe to its campus beginning in June 2015. The building will be leased to Escuela de Guadalupe, a dual-language, independent Catholic school under the governance of its board of trustees. Presentation of Our Lady Parish will continue to use the gymnasium for parish events. November 11, 2014 Page 3
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