Panel Studies Future Of Catholic Schools In South Jersey
By David Madden
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) - The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Camden wants a group of experts to map out the future of church-based education in South Jersey.
There are a half-dozen high schools and 28 grade schools from Camden to Cape May, with just under 13,000 students. Bishop Dennis Sullivan wants Superintendent Mary Boyle and 18 others to come up with ideas by next June.
"The commission is intended to look at Catholic schools as a whole, to see where we're going and what we can do better," says Diocesan spokesman Peter Feuerherd. "And it has experts from education, finance, legal, investments…all these issues that impact on Catholic schools."
Many parents hear that, and start to worry that their child's school could close. Feuerherd says that's not their primary mission here:
"That can never be ruled out, but the goal of the commission will focus on Catholic school parents and how best to deliver Catholic school education to this group."
Feuerherd insists while the panel has not been given marching orders to find schools to close, he cannot rule out the possibility the panel may come up with a recommended list.
