The decision to shutter 13 of our Catholic schools may be the most unpopular decision ever by a bishop of our diocese. In the midst of this conundrum several varied events are playing out behind the scenes. They are as follows:

-It is reported that a wealthy and influential group of donors on the east side is threatening to withhold a promised multi million dollar donation to the diocese if their parish school closes. The donation is said to be over ten million dollars. The diocese projected a five million dollar deficit for the school system next year before the reorganization plan. The reorganization plan would save five million dollars in the school budget but could provoke a ten million dollar or more loss in donor income. Not a very good business plan. I don’t think the task force factored this into their recommendations.

-There is a reported massive withdrawal of pledge money for the CMA. This means that the CMA pledge thermometer on the DOR website is going to start going down instead of up. The CMA goal is a little over five million dollars. A substantial drop in giving will be another financial loss that the task force apparently didn’t factor in.

-Some of the schools that are not slated for closing are near capacity with current enrollment. There does not appear to be a coordinated plan to redistribute the 2,000 displaced pupils. Some schools may have to turn students away if they get overloaded with enrollment requests. Didn’t the task force foresee this possibility? It’s hard to know since up to now the process has been so secretive.

-Some east side students who are being displaced will no longer qualify for district bus transportation as the next closest school is too far away to meet district guidelines. Looks like another little oversight by the task force.

-The rumor that 13 schools were going to be closing was circulating long before the diocese had publicly named its task force. Is this another case of a diocesan committee rubber stamp on a plan that had already been formulated? It wouldn’t be the first time.

Perhaps the task force should have met with real people before they made their recommendations. Now the diocese is talking about going on a listening tour to the schools that are slated for closure. It is said that they will only be meeting with select parent representatives. Apparently they don’t want to expose themselves to the unruly crowds that would populate an open forum.

Of course the people could just show up and demand to be heard. Isn’t this what “representatives of the bishop” did just two weeks ago when they participated in a disruption of the closed meeting of the Monroe County Public Safety Committee? As they say, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.