Hard Times

In January we tested 612 prospective students for our incoming freshmen class. The administration was very worried that the current recession would significantly reduce the number of applicants, but we held our own, attracting only a few percent less than last year. Other schools in the archdiocese were not as blessed. Of the students who took the exam, 501 scored high enough to be admitted and were sent letters of acceptance. The hard economic times we face will surely cause a drop in enrollment, but times are tough everywhere and we are still holding our own so to speak. Several other local private schools are in much worse shape; being on the brink of closing even before our economic crisis.

An unknown number of our current students will probably have to drop out because of financial problems, the worst case predictions say that we could lose 200-300 of our 1500+ enrollment. Many parents will make significant sacrifices in other areas to keep their children here; those students we lose will leave reluctantly, wishing they could stay.
It is everyone’s hope that when the economy recovers, so will our enrollment. A private education of the quality we offer is an investment in a child’s future, not just a luxury for the affluent.

The administration had already decided not to replace any teachers/staff that decided to leave at the end of the year, preferring to cut their positions and redistribute their students/duties. Unfortunately, the employment consultation forms that everyone filled out in January indicated that no one is planning on leaving. There will be very little turnover in teaching positions through the area, teachers at most schools trying to hold on to the positions they have for now. Our teaching contract defines a full-time teacher as someone with five classes, and a supervision period. Many of the staff teach a sixth class for extra money, but the principal has already decided to stop this for the time being so as few people as possible have to be let go.

Tomorrow is the beginning of 4th quarter and some parents have decided to transfer their kids now, being unable to cover the tuition costs for the rest of the year. I am losing one boy whom I wrote about last month. He is failing all of his classes and the parents have decided to cut their loses and save the $2000 still due for the rest of the year. He will be going to his local public school. I spoke to him on his last day (Friday) and he told me about the new school he will be attending. They wear a uniform because of gang problems, carry their books around in a “clear” back-pac so all its contents are visible, and have to go through a metal detector each day. I told him I was sorry to see him go and reminded him that his parents would have kept him here if he had only studied—he is very bright and capable of straight A’s if he worked. He just shrugged, indicating that he really didn’t care one way or the other, even commenting that he may be back next year if he doesn’t like it. I spoke with his guidance counselor last week when I heard about the transfer. She has been working with him all year, trying to get him motivated, but found nothing that worked. Being a minority student, we could have gotten him a full ride to college if he only put out the effort. He is easily the brightest student in my 5th period class. I am hoping that he sees the error of his ways and turns into the student he can be.