A new initiative has been developed to financially support Catholic elementary education in the Diocese of Buffalo. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec has given his approval to The Catholic Elementary School Funding Plan, scheduled to take effect this September for the 2007-2008 school year.

"This is a concept of shared responsibility, with parishes without schools contributing to a central fund," the bishop said. "This policy supports the 2005 message from the U.S. bishops, when we stated, ‘The burden of supporting our Catholic schools can no longer be placed exclusively on the individual parishes that have schools and on parents who pay tuition. This will require all Catholics, including those in parishes without schools, to focus on the spirituality of stewardship. The future of Catholic school education depends on the entire Catholic community embracing wholeheartedly the concept of stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, and translating stewardship into concrete action.’"

The bishop added, "The impact of Catholic education on the development of future leaders in the Church is profound. The moral development of our Catholic youth and faith formation is woven into the daily life of Catholic schools. The continued success of Catholic schools is critical to the future of the Church."

The new Plan was presented to the Council of Priests and reviewed and approved by the Diocesan Finance Council. Workshops with pastors, principals and parish business managers were held in February and March to obtain input on how best to design and implement the Plan. The final Plan reflects certain recommendations received at the workshops.

The unequal distribution of the financial responsibility for elementary education support has caused some parishes to spend in excess of 75 percent of their regular receipts to support their school, while other parishes without schools contribute a small percentage or nothing to Catholic elementary education. Based on a new revenue formula, the new school funding plan will change that.

Steve Timmel, executive director of financial administration for the diocese, noted, "The Plan will provide financial support for regional Catholic elementary schools in the form of direct subsidy. It will provide tuition grants to Catholic students from parishes without a school so they can attend a parish-affiliated school. The tuition grants, payable to the school, will replace subsidy currently provided by the family’s parish, and families who have a demonstrated financial need may apply for tuition assistance for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade."

Income generated by contributions from parishes without a school is projected at $5.8 million. The formula assesses parishes without a school at the following rates based on parish regular receipts: 

$4 million will be used to provide direct subsidy to the 13 regional Catholic elementary schools. $1.5 million will fund $1,000 tuition grants for approximately 1,500 Catholic students from parishes without a school to attend a parish affiliated school. Additionally, $250,000 will be set aside for K through 8 need- based tuition aid to assist approximately 500 Catholic and non-Catholic students to attend a diocesan Catholic elementary school of their choice.

Father Michael Rock, OdeM, canonical administrator of Holy Family School in LeRoy, is enthusiastic about the plan, noting, "The support of the Diocese and all its parishes sends a huge signal that breaks down parochialism and tells everyone that we are one family in Christ, helping each other, supporting one another, carrying each others burdens. As one of the schools that will benefit from the new program, it will help us feel both connected and responsible to every parish and every Catholic in the diocese."

At the start of the 2007-08 school year there will be 53 diocesan Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Buffalo, including 13 regional schools:

Msgr. Vincent J. Becker, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Wellsville, said the new plan will have an immediate, positive impact. "For decades Allegany County residents, both Catholic and non-Catholic, have taken advantage of the option of Catholic school education. In a small town like Wellsville, parishioners and neighbors alike welcome the good news of diocesan support that will assure the future of our ‘Home Town School.’"

Parishes are also being advised that the cost per student should be supported, at a minimum, by 60 percent tuition and fees, a maximum of 25 percent parish subsidy and 15 percent fundraising and other income. Tuition income must be raised over the next three years so that at a minimum, 60 percent of the cost per student is supported by tuition.

 The annual budgeted per pupil cost to educate a student in a Catholic elementary in the Diocese of Buffalo is $3,900 in the 2006-2007 school year. The annual cost to educate a public school student is significantly higher according to data supplied by the Education Department of the NYS Catholic Conference.

Recommendations from the diocesan Strategic Planning Commission challenge schools to increase funding to a level where tuition and fees better cover operating expenses. "The present funding level required of certain parishes is not sustainable," Timmel said. "Through restructuring efforts we are striving to reduce the per pupil cost and control tuition increases. The Catholic Elementary School Funding Plan will allow us to better support schools through shared support of Catholic education among all parishes without a parish school."

During the current 2006-07 budget year, parishes and the diocese will have invested approximately $60 million in Catholic elementary and parish-based religious education programming.

Catholic students from a parish without a school that attend parish affiliated schools can receive $1,000 towards their tuition through the Catholic Elementary School Tuition Grant Program (CTGP). The pastor from the students’ parish will verify that the family applying for the grant meets the criteria for active parishioner status, including parish registration, regular Mass attendance, active participation in parish ministry and stewardship/financial support of the parish. The family will pay the parishioner tuition rate. The CTGP grant will replace the subsidy currently provided by the family’s parish.

"The new funding process has been examined and re-examined so that the optimal procedures will assure financial stability for our schools," said Sister Carol Ann Kleindinst, SSMN, principal of DeSales Catholic School in Lockport.  "What seems most helpful to me is the pastor verification process which helps every family to know that they need to actively participate in the communal and sacramental life of the parish in order to receive the parish tuition assistance.  Most of our pastors have told me that their most active parishioners are involved with our Catholic school.  This clearly can be attributed to the verification process."

Diane Vigrass, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese, said, "Our best efforts continue to support parents who choose Catholic school education for their children. Whether advocating for tuition tax credit, reconfiguring the funding structure of our schools, or creating opportunities for tuition aid, the Diocese is facing the needs of the 21st century."

Applications for the needs-based Catholic Elementary School Tuition Aid Program (CTAP) will be available beginning April 2 at the principal’s office at all regional and parish-affiliated Catholic elementary schools. CTAP applications can also be downloaded through two Web sites: www.wnycatholicschools.org and www.FRCDB.org

The application deadline is May 15, 2007. Families receiving funding from CTAP will be notified beginning July 13.

The program will be administered by an oversight committee composed of four pastors on the Diocesan Finance Council, two trustees from the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and two former members of the diocesan Board of Catholic Education. Diocesan staff will assist the committee.

Bishop Kmiec said, "By implementing The Catholic Elementary School Funding Plan and offering the Tuition Grant Program and the Tuition Aid Program, the diocese is taking steps to ensure that a Catholic education remains affordable and accessible for families in Western New York."