Diocese of Covington - Education at PO Box 15550, Covington, KY 41015-0550 US - April 30, 2009

Members Present:Rev. Mr. James Bayne, Ms. Kim Halbauer, Mr. John Lonneman, Sr. Judith Niewahner, S.N.D., Rev. Thomas Robbins, Mr. Dennis Scanlon, Ms. Ann Ulbricht, Mr. Michael Ward

Staff: Dr. Lawrence Bowman

Excused Absences: Mr. Peter Laterza, Mr. Paul Scheper

Dr. Bowman led the opening prayer and thanked Mr. Robert Rowe, principal of Covington Catholic High School (CCH), for hosting the meeting. In attendance was Dr. Robert Otte, president of the Covington Catholic Board of Education.

It was noted that in the March 19, 2009, minutes, on page two an "s" was incorrectly added four times to the last name of Deacon Bayne. The minutes were then approved as corrected.

Mr. Rowe reported an enrollment of 580, with 29 full-time teachers and 4 part-time. This spring 4 CCH juniors were chosen as Governor’s Scholars and will participate in a summer enrichment program at a college or university in Kentucky. Next year the following will be implemented: advanced placement (AP) chemistry and availability of Academic Support to students. Next year advance mathematics will be offered to students who will be attending CCH or Notre Dame Academy (NDA). To Dr. Bowman's question, Mr. Rowe answered that he thought Holy Cross and St. Henry high schools would be contacting him about the program.

Ms. Rebecca Brown, principal of St. Joseph School in Crescent Springs, reported that the school's kindergarten program has increased so that for 2009-2010 there will be a second full-day kindergarten.

Ms. Elizabeth Trenkamp, principal of St. Pius X School, reported that this year the school celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with a theme of "50 Years of Faith Formation." As part of the celebration, a tile wall is being made, representing alumni, parents, students, and faculty. This year the school began a new technology program, using the interwrite system, a step-up from the Smart-Board system. One student received a silver medal in the National Scholastic Writing Award Competition; she will go to Carnegie Hall in New York City for recognition. Seven of the eleven students who took the Duke University Talent Search test are being recognized. Such recognition is exciting for the school.

Ms. Maureen Hannon, principal of Blessed Sacrament School, who was not able to attend, submitted a written report. Reverend Daniel Vogelpohl is the pastor; Ms. Marilyn Fenneman is the assistant principal. Enrollment is 572; student-teacher ratio, 16-1. Blessed Sacrament School received the Inclusive Education Award from the Diocese of Covington. For the past five years, the school has put much time and effort into meeting the learning needs of students. Students with learning challenges are being served through: differentiation of instruction, collaboration of classroom teachers, reading and math specialists, and a special education teacher. Teachers consider themselves lifelong learners in their profession; instructional goals and professional development impact the education of students. Divisions of teachers meet at six week intervals, learning new methods, creating and implementing lessons, and returning to discuss results. The principal, along with two teachers, have participated at Xavier University in the Initiative for Catholic Schools. Topics studied include: leadership, constructivist theory, and the integration of math and science. A project (Ascent) connected with this initiative consisted of eleven hands-on math and science stations which were visited by each grade level during scheduled times. It was a great success and will take place again next school year. The service learning curriculum was revamped with a focus on students taking the lead in creating and implementing service projects.

Ms. Linda Groh, principal of St. Agnes School, who was not able to attend, submitted a written report. Enrollment is 438 K-8, with 19 full-time teachers and 14 part-time. Seven scholarships were received from CCH and Notre Dame Academy (NDA). This year the school participated in the Xavier University and Archdiocese of Cincinnati initiative to increase math and science interest among students. The faculty has been very generous in accepting the salary freeze for the upcoming school year. She wrote that there is a good community spirit among our families, faculty, and students; she looks to the future with confidence.

Ms. Rita Dreyer, School Food Service Director, presented an in-service to the board on the government's School Lunch Program. In 1946 the government found itself with surplus food because the war ended much sooner than they thought it would. At this time they also conducted a survey to see why so many men were turned down for the draft. Many of the problems found were connected with malnutrition. Therefore, they decided to use the food for a School Lunch Program. Food was then disbursed to schools for their use under the School Lunch Program. The program is one of the government’s biggest and is under the Department of Agriculture. (The program also answers to many different state offices.)

Thirty-five of our schools participate. Only one school chooses not to participate. Since the diocese does not force any school to participate, it is their choice. The total enrollment of the thirty-five schools in the School Lunch Program is 9,951; average daily participation in the lunch program at these thirty-five schools is seventy-six percent. That means on-average each day 7,284 meals are served at the students' choice through the School Lunch Program. Nutritional value of meals is very important; food managers at each school have to watch fats, concentrated fats, and salt and must offer meals with selections from the five food groups. Students are encouraged to eat vegetables, but they are not made to. Students can refuse up to two of the groups, and the meal will still be counted as a reimbursable meal. Ms. Dryer encourages student participation in the program. This year the schools have received $320,290 in U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) commodities. The school receives commodities based on the number of students it feeds. Government reimbursement received this year is $609,900. There are 130 employees in the program who receive wages. Two schools are on the breakfast program; seven schools have a kindergarten program. The program is self-supporting; no support is received from the schools, except for items like electricity. To Miss Halbauer’s question, Ms. Dreyer replied that yes, there are many volunteers and that is part of the report that each school must send in each year (volunteers and hours worked). It is sent to the state each year. The cafeterias would not be able to operate without the volunteers. Since in Kentucky private schools receive no help from the state government, the federal government is the only way private school parents get some of their tax dollars back.

Of benefit to the schools who participate are the free and reduced-price meals. There are 464 applications for free meals and 257 for reduced-price meals (@$0.47). Some schools have as low as two percent of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals; some as high as eighty percent. When these students go through the line, anonymity must be assured. Ms. Dreyer and state auditors check. To Mr. Lonneman's question, Ms. Dryer answered that an application for Free or Reduced-Price Meals can be turned in at any time during the school year. To Ms. Dryer’s comment, Mr. Quigley responded that many urban districts use the Free and Reduced-Price Applications to determine how much federal funding a school will receive for Title I (remedial reading and math).

Mr. Lonneman read for the second time the amended policy (P3220) on high school tuition:

1. In-Diocese Tuition—A base tuition is to be established for students who are registered and participating members of parishes in the Diocese of Covington.
2. Out-of-Diocese Tuition—Students who are not registered and participating members of parishes in the Diocese of Covington shall be charged a tuition rate that is higher than the In-Diocese base rate. This rate shall approximate the actual cost per student in the school.

Tuition rate schedules may make allowance for multiple children in the same family attending the school.

It was moved (Mr. Scanlon—Deacon Bayne) to vote on the proposed amendment. Dr. Bowman passed out a letter to the members of the diocesan board of education from J. David Bender, Chair, Villa Madonna Academy, and Sr. Mary Catherine Wenstrup, O.S.B., Prioress, St. Walburg Monastery so that board members could read it. The letter asked that the resolution not be approved. Mr. Ward said that under the present circumstances, he was in favor of the present policy. If a school like Holy Cross High School loses roughly $50,000 in surcharge monies, services might have to be cut. Ms. Halbauer felt the only solution for schools was to cut their budgets. Dr. Bowman stated that the change in policy 3220 means that qualifying students will not be inhibited from choosing any high school. The resolution passed: five in favor, two opposed.

Mr. Lonneman read for the second time the proposed new policy (P1328) on Catholic Identity:

Each school shall implement the Diocesan Catholic Identity Process and shall conduct the annual Catholic Identity Review Survey to highlight areas of strength and to identify appropriate themes for the school year.

The executive committee will meet on May 15; the next regular meeting is on Thursday, May 28 at Holy Trinity Junior High School. It was moved (Sr. Judith—Ms. Ulbricht) to adjourn the meeting which ended at 8:56 p.m.

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