Assuring the Promise
A Case Statement
&
Feasibility Study
for
Saints Peter and Paul High School
and the
Future of Catholic Secondary
Education
for
Maryland’s Mid-Shore
High School Advisory Committee
December 2008Assuring the Promise
Dear Friend of Catholic Education:
With the permission of the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Wilmington, the Most
Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, and his Catholic Schools Office, a High School Advisory
‘Committee was formed in 2006 to examine the current status of Saints Peter and Paul
High School and to formulate recommendetions for the high school and for the future of
Catholic secondary education for Maryland's Mid-Shore region. It is the purpose of this
case statement to present an overview of those issues and to provide the
recommendations of the Advisory Committee.
John Paul II stated the fundamental purpose of Catholic education is the furtherance of
self-fulfillment of the young people entrusted to our care, so that they may “arrive at
the fullness of Christian life”. The responsibility of Catholic schools and their leaders is
to embrace that mission of guiding people in all facets of Catholic education and
ministry towards that truth. As the only Catholic high school on Maryland's Eastern
Shore, we remain committed to this whole person concept that defines the past,
present, and future of Catholic education.
While the current Saints Peter and Paul High School has embraced its ministry of
Catholic education for over 50 years, the financial, programmatic, and facility demands
of maintaining a quality Catholic high school have become increasingly challenging. The
Advisory Committee has been tasked in engaging the parish of Saints Peter and Paul,
other parishes in the Mid-Shore region, and the greater community in exploring options
for the short-term arrangement to the existing school and in developing a long-term
plan for Catholic secondary education.
The Advisory Committee has been tasked with reporting its recommendations back to
Saints Peter and Paul Parish, the Eastern Shore Deanery, the Catholic Schools Office,
the Office of the Vicar General, and the Office of the Bishop of the Diocese of
Wilmington. The Committee does not pretend to have all of the answers to the issues
presented, and recognizes that many factors may impact the recommendations, but we
endeavor to provide a vision and a framework from which collective dialog and action
can work together in assuring the promise of Catholic secondary education for the
future. We remain,
Faithfully in Christ,
The High School Advisory Committee
December 2008Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Table of Figures & Drawings
I. Purpose
A. Purpose of Case Statement
B. Role of Advisory Committee & Statement of Goals
C. Advisory Committee Membership
D. Initial Advisory Committee Process
II. Demographic & Location Analysis
A, Research Data
B, Parish & School Survey
C. Demographics & Location Data Findings
D. Commercial Property Analysis
E, Demographic & Location Recommendations
II Governance
‘A, Governance Overview
B. Governance Recommendations
1V. Finances
‘A. Financial Overview of Saints Peter and Paul High School
B, Financial Recommendations
V. Facilities
A. Facilities Overview
B. Parish Building & Facilities Assessment
C. Feasibility Study & Facilities Options
. Phase I: Improving the Present at 900 High Street
. Phase II: Assuring the Future
F, Facilities Recommendations
VI. Financing the Vision
‘A. Financing Overview
8. Financing the Vision Recommendations
VIT. Marketing & Advancement
‘A. Marketing & Advancement Overview
BB. Marketing & Advancement Recommendations
VIII. Assuring the Vision for the Future
List of AttachmentsAssuring the Promise
Table of Figures & Drawings
Figure 1: Parish Participation in Advisory Committee
Figure 2. Advisory Committee Membership
Figure 3. Saints Peter and Paul High School Total Enrollment 2002-2008
Figure 4: Saints Peter and Paul High School Enrollment by Grade 2004-2008
Figure 5: Saints Peter and Paul High School Enrollment by County 2004-2008
Figure 6: Population Trends on the Mid-Shore of Maryland 2000-2020
Figure 7 2000-2020: Mid-Shore Population Projection for Ages 0-4 & 5-19
Figure 8 Growth of Catholic Families of Participating Eastern Shore Parishes
Figure 9. Number of Baptisms for Participating Eastern Shore Parishes
Figure 10. Eastern Shore Parish Population of Saints Peter and Paul High School
Figure 11: 8" Grade Population for Area Public and Private Schools in the
Mid-Shore Region 2006-2007
Figure 12. Parish & School Survey
Figure 13: Parish & School Survey Results
Figure 14. Mid-Shore Demographic Hub Analysis
Figure 15: Revenue Sources FY 2007-2008
Figure 16: Expenditure Sources FY 2007-2008
Figure 17: Deficit and Parish Subsidy Levels 2003-2008
Figure 18. Comparative Catholic & Private Hich School Tuition Rates 2007-2008
Figure 19. Potential High School Needs Overview
Figure I-A; Phase I Overhead Drawing
Figure I-B: Phase I Front Rendering
Figure 20. Estimated Costs - Phase I
Figure I-A: Phase II Front Rendering
Figure II-B: Phase II Overhead Rendering
Figure II-C. Phase Il Overhead Drawing
Figure II-D: Phase I Overhead Campus Rencering
Figure 21: Estimated Costs - Phase II
Figure 22. Comparative SAT Results (2008)
Figure 23. College Acceptances 2000-2008
Figure 22: Graduate Scholarship and Awards 2002-2008Assuring the Promise
I. Purpose
A. Purpose of Case Statement
With the permission of the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Wilmington, the Most
Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, and his Catholic Schools Office, a High School Advisory
Committee was formed in 2006 to examine the current situation of Saints Peter and
Paul High Schoo! and to formulate recommendations for the high school and Catholic
secondary education for Maryland's Eastern Shore. It is the purpose of this case
statement to present an overview of those issues and to provide the recommendations
of the Advisory Committee.
Entering into this process, the Advisory Committee was guided by two conflicting yet
connected premises. First, that as the only Catholic high school on Maryland’s Eastern
Shore, and the only one within the Maryland portion of the Diocese of Wilmington,
Saints Peter and Paul High School, or some future variation of secondary education,
must exist in support of the Catholic educational ministry of young people. Second, that
the ability of a single Catholic parish to sustain a quality, Catholic high school into the
future is problematic in terms of facilities and finances. Therefore, the parish of Saints
Peter and Paul must reduce its sole responsibility of providing the only Catholic
secondary educational experience to the greater Mid-Shore region of Maryland. It is the
focus of this report to examine those issues and propose potential recommendations.
To that end, the work of the Advisory Committee and its ultimate recommendations
focused on the governance, fiduciary responsibilty, facility improvement, and effective
marketing and development for a quality Catholic high school experience. While each
issue is discussed separately within the context of this report, the Committee recognizes
the interdependence of all areas in addressing the immediate and long-term needs for
Saints Peter and Paul High School and any successive Catholic high school experience.
B. Role of Advisory Committee & Statement of Goals
While Saints Peter and Paul High School has embraced its ministry of Catholic education
for over 50 years, the financial, facility, and programmatic demands of maintaining a
quality Catholic high school have become increasingly challenging. The Advisory
Committee has been tasked with engaging the parish of Saints Pater and Paul, other
parishes in the Mid-Shore region, and the greater community in exploring options for
the short-term arrangement of the existing school and in developing a long-term plan
for Catholic secondary education.
The High School Advisory Committee serves in an advisory capacity,
1) Providing short-term recommendations for financial, facility, and marketing
planning for Saints Peter and Paul High School;2) Examining opportunities for greater inter-parish collaboration and mutual support
for Catholic secondary education on Maryland’s Mid-Shore;
3) Developing and recommending a long-term strategic plan for Catholic secondary
education on Maryland's Mid-Shore; and,
4) Advocating within the local and greater community on behalf of Saints Peter and
Paul High School and Catholic secondary education on Maryland's Mid-Shore.
The Advisory Committee is tasked with reporting its recommendations back to Saints
Peter and Paul Parish, the Eastern Shore Deanery, the Catholic Schools Office, the
Office of the Vicar General, and the Office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington.
C. Advisory Committee Membership
Members of the Advisory Committee were invited and appointed to the committee by
the Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church and other participating pastors. The
following Eastern Shore parishes were asked by Bishop Saltarelli to support the
activities of the Advisory Committee:
Parish Participation in Advisory Committee
(Figure 1)
or [rT] Brrr ee)
ete
Saints Peter and Paul Easton/St. YES YES
‘Michael's/Cordova ‘School/Parish
(Talbot) Reported
St. Francis De Sales | Salisbury YES YES
(Wicomico) ‘School/Parish
Reported
Mother of Sorrows Centreville YES Yes
(Queen Anne's) Reported
Our Lady of Good | Secretary YES Yes
Counsel (Dorchester) Reported
‘St. Christopher's Chester YES YES YES
(Queen Anne's) Reported
‘St. Benedict’s/St. Ridgely/Denton | NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE | NO RESPONSE
Elizabeth's (Caroline) |
Lady of Lourdes ‘Seaford PRAYERFULLY, but | NO NO
(Gussex-DE) will not participate
due to location
Sacred Heart Chestertown: YES, but will not | NORESPONSE | NO RESPONSE
(Kent) participate due to
location
St. Mary's Refuge Cambridge YES YES YES
(Dorchester) Reported
Due to distance, the pastors of Sacred Heart (Chestertown, MD) and Our Lady of
Lourdes (Seaford, DE) declined participation in the activities of the Advisory Committee.
St. Elizabeth’s/St. Benedict's Parish (Ridgey/Denton) did not respond. It was the goal of
6Assuring the Promise
the Advisory Committee to represent a broad base of interests, experience, and
relationship to Catholic education. Committee membership has changed since the
committee's inception, with new committee members joining and others resigning
participation. The Committee attempted to engage a cross section of parents, alumni,
business, religious denomination, and parish affiliation that is reflective of the current
high schoo! culture. The following is a list of active or previously active committee
members (former members denoted by italics):
Advisory Committee Membership
(Figure 2)
(eee ee GD CCaETTn
Mr. Bill Griffin (SSPP)
Parent/Grandparent of Alumni/Retired Business
Mr. Douglas Broujos (SSP)
SPP Parent/Marketing
Mr. Thomas Mitchell (SSPP)
‘SSPP Parent/Business
Mrs. Anne Warpinski (Mother of Sorrows)
‘SSPP Parent
Mrs. Mary Ellen Bauer (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
‘SSPP Parent
Mr. Kevin Greaney (SSPP)
‘SSP Parent/Commercial Real Estate
Mr. George Hatcher (Episcopalian)
‘SSP Parent & Parent of Alum/Business
‘Mr. Robert Lacaze (SSPP)
S5PP Parent/Real Estate
Mrs. Renee Smith (Methodist)
SPP Parent/Banking _
Mrs. Diana Waterman (St. Christopher's)
Parent of SSPP Alumni/Real Estate
Mr. Mark Record (St. Francis)
Parent of Alum/Education- Principal ~ st. Francis De Sales
‘Mr. Bernie Grove (SPP)
Parish Finance Council/Building Comm/Business
Brother James Malone, CFX ~ Consultant
Former Diocesan Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Kathy Walsh (St. Mary's Refuge of Sinners)
‘SSP Parent and Parent of Alumni/Real Estate
Mrs. Connie Webster-School Principal
Parent of Alumni/Education- Principal ~ SSPP ES
Mr. James Nemeth-Schoo! Principal
St. John’s-Archdiocese of Balto/Principal ~ SSPP HS
D. Initial Advisory Committee Process
The Advisory Committee utilized the following process in initially examining the issues
presented to it.
1) Committee existence and membership was established (May-June 2006). This
was the first officially sanctioned advisory group for the high school in over a
decade;
While the issue of the tenuous continuation of the high school was known, the
process of examination and formulation of recommendations in dealing with
that situation evolved through the interaction and work of the committee;
All initial options for the future of the high school were developed and
presented by members of the Advisory Committee to the former Bishop, VicarAssuring the Promise
General, and the Superintendent of the Catholic Schools for the Diocese of
Wilmington at an October 2006 meeting in Wilmington. These included,
‘a. Create quasi-regional parish high school on property of Saints Peter
and Paul Parish with other parish support;
. Create a regional Catholic high school at location to be determined that
is mutually supported by parishes impacted by or potentially impacted by that
educational service;
. Create diocesan supported Catholic high school on Maryland's Fastern
Shore at a location to be de:ermined;
|. Sponsor a private, Catholic high school under the auspices of the Diocese
of Wilmington;
e. Maintain existing structure and governance as a parish high school;
f. Close Saints Peter and Pau High School.
Please refer to Attachment A: Scenarios for Future of Catholic Secondary
Education on Maryland's Eastern Shore for an assessment of each option.
From this initial meeting, the above options were reviewed, prioritized, or
eliminated, with the following results remaining:
a. Create a regional Catholic high school at location to be determined that
is mutually supported by parishes impacted by or potentially impacted by that
educational service;
. Create a quasi-regional parish high school on property of Saints Peter
and Paul Parish with other parish support.
The other options were tabled, including the option to close the high school
that was removed at the request of Bishop Saltarelli.
Members of the Advisory Committee were invited by Bishop Saltarelli to present
an initial case statement to the Eastern Shore Deanery in January 2007.
Concurrent to this process, members of the Advisory Committee were assigned
to research and present information back to the Committee on the
demographic, facility, and financial impacts of the various proposals.
Committee members were also assigned to initiate discussion with other
dioceses/Catholic schools that have, or are engaged in, school building
activities. A Catholic School Building Assessment was developed and shared
with schools in the dioceses of Pittsburgh (PA), Arlington (VA), and Tucson
(AZ). Please see Attachment B: Catholic Schoo! Building Assessment for a copy
of the assessment questionnaire. That process is ongoing and may prove useful
should the community embark on any future building campaign.Assuring the Promise
8) An informal demographic analysis was undertaken to examine the potential
target audiences that may potentially be served by a Catholic high school on
Maryland's Mid-Shore. The following demographic populations were targeted
and assessed:
a. Saints Peter and Paul Hign Schoo! Total Enrollment 2002-2008
b. Saints Peter and Paul High School Enrollment by Grade 2004-2008
. Saints Peter and Paul High School Enrollment by County 2004-2008
|. Population Trends on the Mid-Shore of Maryland 2000-2020
_ 2000-2020: Mid-Shore Population Projections for Ages 0-4 & 5-19
Growth of Catholic Families of Participating Eastern Shore Parishes
. Number of Baptisms for Participating Eastern Shore Parishes
|. Eastern Shore Parish Population at Saints Peter and Paul High School
8" Grade Population for Selected Public and Private Schools in the Mid-
Shore Region 2006-2007
Parish Survey to assess interest in Catholic high school education for
Maryland's Mid-Shore was created and shared with participating
parishes for their feedback. Six of the nine parishes participated in this
process.
The initial focus of the research and the work of the committee centered on the
immediate and long-term financial and facility issues.
The Advisory Committee engaged the services of BMK Architectural Consultants
(BMK) of Frederick, Maryland to conduct a feasibility study of the existing high
school property and structures and a sample property adjacent to Saints Peter
and Paul Church on Route 50 in Easton and to make recommendations as to
potential facility use.
The Advisory Committee used this demographic, financial, and facility information in
formulating its recommendations. What follows within this report is a review of the
issues and the recommendations that the Advisory Committee is presenting in response
to the demographic, financial, facility, and marketing issues that it examined during this
process.Assuring the Promise
II. Demographic & Location Analysis
Demographics are the lifeblood of any current or future school planning process. As
enrollment and birth information determines potential enroliment demand, the Advisory
Committee gathered and assessed a number of demographic factors and trends that
may impact the need for Catholic secondary education on Maryland’s Mid-Shore.
A. Research Data
Over the history of the high school, the enrollment has seen various peaks and valleys
impacted by demographics, finances, public perception, lack of facilities, and
programmatic issues. The case statement demonstrates a potential enrollment pool for
the high school in the years ahead. However, the Advisory Committee acknowledges
the need to effectively address the issues above if the school is to remain competitive
as a quality, Catholic secondary school.
‘The following is a seven-year enrollment trend for Saints Peter and Paul High School.
Saints Peter and Paul High School Total Enrollment 2002-2008
(Figure 3)
The enrollment of the high school has fluctuated throughout its history. The recent
trend in enroliment is reflective of the limited facility and programmatic challenges the
school is dealing with, as well as the recent overall economic climate.Assuring the Promise
Saints Peter and Paul High School Enrollment by Grade 2004-2008
(Figure 4)
a LLCS TSE ra
a 54 50 36 61 201
2007-2008 52 41 66 55 214
2006-2007 40 66 57 45 208
2oas-2006) 66 58 50 33 (207
2004-2005
58 51 35 48 192
‘Source: Diocesan and School Tracking and Demographic Reports
The core geographic area that Saints Peter and Paul High School attracts prospective
families from includes Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, and Queen Anne’s Counties. To a
lesser extent, the high school has also historically served Kent (MD), Wicomico, and
Kent (DE) Counties. The school does not provide Catholic educational service to families
‘on the Western Shore.
Saints Peter and Paul High School Enrollment by County 2004-2008
(Figure 5)
Sens
Year jot Queen Dorchester | Kent-MD
2008-09 | 117 35 7 25 1
2007-08 | 124 a 20 2 iz
2006-07 | 125 36 19 24
2005-06 | 122 34 22 25
2004-05 | 114 7 18 26
“Source: Diocesan and School Tracking and Demographi- Reports
Overall, the counties on Maryland's Mid-Shore have shown recent and projected
population growth. This includes the 0-4 and 5-19 age demographics, which impacts
potential high school student population in the years ahead (See Figures 6 and 7).