The “they” to whom Ludwig referred is a dedicated group of parents who transformed a seemingly hopeless situation into a stronger, flourishing school that attracted more students, more teachers and new board members last year than in the past decade.

Recently, NCCS Board of Trustees President Jennifer Askar, Principal Andy Ludwig, Canonical Administrator Fr. Daniel Walsh and Roger Pacos, former assistant principal and dedicated volunteer sat down with the OBSERVER to share an update on the school, including recent victories, current challenges and plans for the future.

Positive Changes

Askar, whose four children attend NCCS, was part of the group that saved the school from closure in 2018. “Jennifer, Jessica Milliman-Estus and Jill Spayer were the biggest difference makers as far as keeping this place alive,” Ludwig told the OBSERVER. “We wouldn’t be sitting here right now if it weren’t for them.” All three, who are now board members, were instrumental in creating the Angels Campaign, which raised over $100,000 in just a few months to keep the school open.

OBSERVER Photos by Mary Heyl Last year, NCCS launched its new STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math)curriculum, which is bolstered by the school's computer lab and in-classroom technology, such as SmartBoards (pictured above).

Now, Askar is excited to kick off year two of the campaign, which calls on individuals in the community and area churches to not only support the school’s mission but to make an investment in their community. “Definitely we’re on a rebound, and Mr. Ludwig has certainly been the main catalyst for that,” she said. “We have new leadership that has transpired into changing the way things go around here… We’ve had a year and a half with a new board, and there’s a bit more accountability. I think more are invested into making sure we have a bright future.”

According to Ludwig, the changes on the board are the most significant signs of progress. “I first joined this organization as a board member, and there was a little bit of dysfunction,” he said. “We convinced some board members that weren’t very positive to move on, and we added some very positive and productive board members, and I think that positivity has been contagious.”

Ludwig noted that over the summer, the school replaced only two teachers who recommended qualified friends to the positions. “Part of the mission of the board is to try to make strides and work towards equitable and fair pay for our teachers,” Askar explained. “We’ve made some very positive changes in that direction because we do realize the importance of retention with our teachers. I believe that they’re happy here and committed. They love the environment; they have autonomy as educators with an administrator that respects and values them.”

Not only has NCCS retained the majority of their teachers, but also their students. “Our first grade class was the biggest as kindergarteners and we kept every one of them this year,” said Askar of the class of 20 students. “Our retention rate was above 95% last year to this year.”

Ludwig added, “We have about a dozen more students now than this time last year.”

A group of volunteers led by board member Steve Pantano worked hard over the summer to sand and repaint classrooms, hallways, and cubbies in school colors (purple and gold).

What accounts for the increase in enrollment? According to Askar, “I think good news has spread. With the help of promoting the school, being out in our community more, and trying to keep up positive communication, we’ve allowed individuals to see that we still are on the radar; we still are an option.”

Ludwig agreed: “People will call me up and say, ‘I never even had a second thought about sending my kid to your school because it wasn’t on our radar. It dawned on me that there was an alternative. It is affordable, and things have gotten so bad at the public school where my kid is, I’m going to make the sacrifice and send them to you.”

An excellent option

Walsh noted that at one time, there were about as many Catholic primary schools in Dunkirk and Fredonia as there were public schools — eight, in total — plus one in Silver Creek. In its historic three-story brick building on Fourth and Washington Streets, NCCS is the only Catholic school remaining not only in Dunkirk but all of Chautauqua County, and the opportunity it provides to area students cannot be overstated, according to Walsh. “We’d like to see more students here to share the wonderful gifts, environment and Christianity — our faith — that we share here,” he said. “What a gift, a blessing, to have a Catholic school in the area. We do have kids that struggle in other environments because public schools are public schools, and this school is more of a family.”

Askar emphasized the security and trustworthiness of NCCS, vital qualities to her as a parent. “When I send my kids here, I know that they’re taken care of,” she said. “Because it’s a smaller school, these kids are known; they’re loved. They’re taken care of and nurtured. We have a PreK teacher who knows every eighth grader by name and an administrator who walks the hallways when the bell rings to make sure everybody gets to their classroom.”

Ludwig noted that NCCS is a great option for Catholic and non-Catholic students alike, and currently there are approximately 10 non-Catholic students at the school. Non-Catholic students are welcome, but not required, to participate in mass, prayers and confession. “It’s very inclusive, and the children really don’t feel separated,” Askar noted. “The faith-based curriculum is about God, but it’s more about teaching values and encouraging good behaviors — everything that’s applicable to any child.”

Pacos said that another reason why NCCS is an important option for local families is that smaller class sizes mean greater flexibility. “One of the biggest frustrations I heard at Fredonia Central School — I was union president and tech. ed. teacher there — was the frustration that teachers had to adhere to ‘the plan,'” he explained. “If the students were struggling, you couldn’t stop and revisit that because they had to keep up with the pace and other teachers. Whereas here, if teachers need to spend more time on anything, they do it. Why move on if the students need more practice?”

Pacos said that this is one of the reasons why he believes Catholic education results in greater success in high school and college. “Our teachers don’t have to keep up with five other third grade teachers,” he pointed out. “We’re not as rigid, and teachers here have a lot more flexibility.”

Looking ahead

According to Askar, one of the biggest challenges she faces is communicating to area parents the value of an NCCS education.

“Some believe that maybe we are out of their range as far as affordability is concerned. There are resources; there is a scholarship fund that many of our parents are awarded through the diocese’s Bison Fund,” she explained. “There are means to help families that do have some financial burden. Come in and talk to us. We are available to review payment plans and see what you qualify for. Many are surprised because the standards aren’t necessarily what families assume they are.”

Ludwig said that the challenges he faces are not surprising but always at the forefront of his mind. “We’re driven to increase our enrollment, be sustainable and financially solvent,” he said. We need to be on the radar and I think that that’s been the biggest difference: To keep the awareness out there that we’re here, we’re doing okay, but we need all the help we can get because we could be doing even better.”

While tuition and financial donations are vital to keeping the school open, Ludwig said that other donations — of time, sweat and materials — make an incredible difference. “The enthusiasm is contagious and the outreach is exponential,” said Ludwig. “It blows my mind that all summer, one of our trustees, Steve Pantano, and his buddies and friends of all ages were in here sanding walls, painting and donating hundreds of hours of time to try to make this place look better and be more usable simply because they went to a Catholic school or sent their kids here 20 years ago.”

Ludwig said that his most important job is to tap into that spirit of generosity and let others know of the opportunities to serve. “Steve found some money for us and got us new chairs, desks. He and Roger (Pacos) got together to talk about the plumbing, and Roger spent two days here clearing out the water lines. Positivity is the idea: Instead of saying, ‘We can’t do that,’ we’re saying ‘How can we do that? And let’s make it happen.'”

Embracing the new year

Monday kicks off Catholic Schools Week, an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It’s also a great time for prospective families to visit, but they can enroll their children at any point during the school year. “Come on in and visit,” said Pacos. “Bring your child with you. See what the classes are like; see what the kids are doing. Besides the core classes and religion, see the computer classes, Spanish classes, sports and the music.”

In addition to kindergarten through grade eight, NCCS offers full or half-day PreK 3 and full-day PreK 4. Students living outside Dunkirk can be bussed to NCCS by their local district. There is also after-school care available until 5:30 p.m.

On Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., NCCS is hosting a soup cook-off, dessert contest and basket raffle, which is open to the public. With over 100 raffle baskets, which include jewelry, toys, lottery tickets, local wines and more, the fundraiser promises to be an exciting — and delicious — time.

To learn more about NCCS, visit www.nccschool.us or call 366-0630.