Diocese of Covington - Education at PO Box 15550, Covington, KY 41015-0550 US - May 22, 2008

Staff: Dr. Lawrence Bowman

Excused Absences: Rev. Mr. James Bayne, Ms. Kim Halbauer, Mr. Peter Laterza, Rev. Thomas Robbins, Mr. Dennis Scanlon, Ms. Ann Ulbricht, Mr. Michael Ward

Reverend Doug Lauer, pastor of St. Edward parish, led the opening prayer and welcomed everyone. In attendance were members of the Board of Education: Ms. Kristy Barnes; Ms. Linda Mattmiller, former public school special education teacher; Jolynn Perraut, secretary; Ms. Sherri Sowder, business manager; Ms. Nancy Wright.

It was moved (Sr. Judith—Mr. Scheper) to accept the minutes of the April 23, 2008, meeting. All in favor

Ms. Mary Grable, principal of St. Edward, retired from the public school system where she was a special education teacher. St. Edward has an enrollment of fifty-three with three full-time teachers and a part-time teacher. Volunteers include: a retired Title I reading assistant who helps with reading; a local artist; a board member for physical education, 4-H personnel; and Conservation personnel. There are on-site speech therapy classes. Harrison County school buses collect the St. Edward children and take them to the middle school. From there a public school bus takes the children from the middles school to St. Edward’s. The Harrison County Fiscal Court reimburses the Harrison County Public School District for taking the St. Edward’s students from the public middle school to St. Edward’s. About two thirds of the students use the bus; a higher number do so in the afternoon than in the morning. Mass is celebrated four days a week at noon. Each class from the first grade on helps prepare the liturgy. To Mr. Lonneman’s questions, Ms. Gable replied that about twenty-four to twenty-nine of the fifty-three students take advantage of the federal breakfast program (though not every day). Non-Catholic parents like the structure of the school and the small class sizes, more attention. To Mr. Lonneman’s questions, Fr. Lauer answered that the active-parishioner tuition rate is $2200 with a significant subsidy for the second and third child in a family. The per-pupil-cost is $5500. About a third of the students are non-Catholic. Father stated that just about everyone in the parish feels the school is important. Alumni and parents help with funding; there is tuition assistance. Almost thirty children are in the CCD program. In response to Fr. Lauer’s question, Dr. Bowman said that most CCD teachers are volunteers; a few are paid.

Sr. Judith read for the second time proposed new policy P6670, Movies in the Classroom:

R-rated and objectionable movies are not to be shown in their entirety in any of the Catholic elementary or secondary schools of the Diocese of Covington.

Some portions of an R-rated movie may be shown as part of a Catholic high school course for "valid educational purpose" after an administrative review and approval process has been undertaken and as long as parental permission is granted prior to viewing.

Under no circumstances are clips or parts of edited R-rated and objectionable movies to be shown in the elementary schools of the Diocese of Covington.

The diocesan review and approval procedure, as established by the Department of Catholic Schools, must be locally adopted and implemented in each high school prior to the use of R-rated movie clips. The local high school must follow in detail the outline provided in guideline G6670 written by the Department of Catholic Schools for implementation of this policy. A copy of the local review and approval procedure is to be submitted annually to the Department of Catholic Schools.

It was moved (Sr. Judith—Mr. Scheper) to discuss the proposed new policy.

All then voted in favor of the policy.

Dr. Bowman reported that Bishop Foys approved the allocations of the Secondary Schools Funding Program. To Mr. Lonneman’s question, Dr. Bowman responded that parishes in Boone, Campbell, Kenton, and Mason counties participate in the Secondary Schools Funding Program. The Bishop also approved the recommendations of the Educational Endowment Committee. To Mr. Scheper’s question, Dr. Bowman replied that the Endowment started in 1997 when part of the Marydale property was sold. During the first part of the last week of June, Dr. Bowman will represent the Kentucky Non-Public Schools Commission at a meeting of the National Council for Private School Accreditation. From June 25-28 he will attend the annual Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education (SPICE) meeting at Boston College. SPICE is co-sponsored by NCEA, Boston College, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. On August 5 at St. Pius X parish, the sixty-second Annual Food Service Workshop will be held for cafeteria managers and staff. On August 6 and 7 new teachers of the diocese will have their annual orientation at Receptions. On August 8 at St. Pius X parish, principals will meet; the speaker is Dr. Beth Penn, professor of Education at Thomas More College. A committee to consider districting policies is being formed and hopes to convene this summer. In regard to the upcoming board year, Dr. Bowman noted that no present board members are scheduled to go off the board.

At the request of Sr. Rita Brink, executive director of ACUE, Dr. Bowman reported that, effective July 1, all of the business aspects (paying bills, collecting tuition) of the ACUE elementary schools will be in the ACUE office. A new board of ACUE trustees and advisors is being chosen. It is hoped that soon a significant fundraising project will begin.