TOP STORIES

Unsettling ‘transition’

To at least a handful of local families and educators, the future of Northern Chautauqua Catholic School (NCCS) in Dunkirk has been a contentious topic of discussion for several months. Even with the reassurance of the Diocese of Buffalo that the school "will remain open", the school's former principal, Paul Pinto, says that many families and staff members are not sticking around.

"We had such a perfect thing going," Pinto said. "... and I believe the Board is allowing it to deteriorate."

Pinto said he knows of five teachers that have departed from the school since the end of the school year, along with multiple teacher aides and at least 18 students. He believes those figures could be a lot higher, and that enrollment could end up being half of what it was a year ago.

Michael Baumann, Human Resources Manager for the Department of Catholic Schools with the Diocese of Buffalo, stated that as of Aug. 27, enrollment is around 100 students. With the declining enrollment of an already small school, the Department of Catholic Schools felt the staffing model at NCCS was out of line. As a result, two teaching positions were eliminated, one departing teacher was replaced, and other duties were reconfigured.

Baumann described the past few months as "a period of confusion" for NCCS and its families, especially following the departure of Pinto following the end of the school year. While there are discrepancies between what Pinto and the Department of Catholic Schools are saying, the overall message is similar. Enrollment at NCCS -- the only Catholic school in Chautauqua County -- has dropped, several teachers have left for public school jobs, some positions have been eliminated entirely, and the school is in a difficult position financially.

Pinto has not yet been officially replaced as a full-time Building Principal and Chief Operating Officer at NCCS. As the school year is about to begin, the school's Spanish Teacher, Ted Sharon, will handle some of the duties of a principal on a part-time, interim basis. Other duties of the principal are being handled by the Diocese of Buffalo.

The Department of Catholic Schools will support NCCS with organizing curriculum and instruction, as well as securing school supplies. The Department of Catholic Schools is also providing Human Resources support and supervising the operations. Once a new full-time principal is hired, those duties will be transferred back to the office of the school principal.

"It's a time of transition. We're working through it. We'll get it figured out, but it's going to take a little bit of time," Baumann said.

The Department of Catholic Schools wanted to concentrate on preparing for the upcoming year, so an interim principal was named until a permanent principal is identified. The search is currently on hold, but it will start up again later in the fall.

"The school is continuing to struggle with leadership. They can't find a Principal," Pinto said. Pinto voiced safety concerns of not having a full-time principal on staff in case of emergencies, such as a lockdown or a fire.

"I don't know how they can function that way," Pinto said. "You don't have a supervisor in the building. They're going to pay a teacher who might have a couple of prep periods to keep an eye on things. You can't operate a school that way."

The Department of Catholic Schools began working with the Board of Trustees in February to create a sustainable model for the school moving forward. Pinto then learned he would not be returning at the end of the school year shortly before graduation. He submitted his resignation, effective June 30, with several longtime members of the staff taking exception with the way he was being treated on the way out.

When Pinto departed from NCCS, Baumann said the Board of Trustees reached out to the Department of Catholic Schools and asked for more involvement in the day-to-day operations, at least until a permanent principal is hired.

"It's a mistake. This is just a recipe for disaster that will hit hard when the school year starts," Pinto said.

Pinto said he has "no trust for the Board that's currently in place" at NCCS. "The local Board is making these decisions and they don't seem to care," Pinto said. "These parents that care about the school need to take it a notch up to the Diocese."

The Department of Catholic Schools is taking on a larger role in managing elementary schools throughout the Diocese. The long-term strategic plan for the Diocese is that all of the schools will fall under direct supervision of the Department of Education. NCCS is not tied directly to a parish, like many other Catholic schools are. NCCS is the only Catholic elementary school serving students in Pre-K through Grade 8 in Chautauqua County.

"Bishop Michael Fisher and I remain deeply committed to Northern Chautauqua Catholic School and to its future," said Joleen M. Dimitroff, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Buffalo. "NCCS provides something of tremendous value to families in Dunkirk and throughout Northern Chautauqua County, a faith-filled education where children are known, loved, challenged academically, and formed in the teachings of our Catholic faith. Catholic education has a long and important history in this community, and we believe strongly that families in the Dunkirk area should continue to have access to that choice. Bishop Fisher and I are committed to working alongside the NCCS community to build a strong and sustainable path forward."

One of the major hurdles on that sustainable path forward is the financial aspect, especially regarding tuition. Pinto, himself, is a product of Catholic education at Most Precious Blood Parish in Angola, where he attended Catholic school from Pre-K through eighth grade. He is still a member of the parish and has taught religious instruction. "I've been a part of it my entire life," Pinto said. "I just can't accept what I'm hearing and seeing."

Several parents have contacted Pinto directly since his departure to voice their concerns with the future of the school. Pinto said he has so many distraught parents reaching out to him that he "can't get off the phone." Pinto said many families are struggling to meet the cost of tuition at NCCS, and they are not getting the assistance they believed they would get.

Six months after launching its Adopt-A-Student Campaign earlier this year, NCCS announced it had surpassed $100,000 in donations and pledges. The program was launched by alumni of Cardinal Mindszenty High School and Northern Chautauqua Catholic School, together with friends and supporters of Catholic education. It was aimed at offsetting the loss of approximately $1,800 per student in diocesan tuition assistance following the Diocese of Buffalo’s bankruptcy proceedings.

Pinto says that has not been the case. Parents have told Pinto they are unable to secure "any sort of financial assistance."

Pinto claimed that roughly 25 families have left the school, and 10 families spoke with him directly to state their frustration with a lack of tuition assistance.

"It's discouraging," Pinto said.

Baumann said part of the problem stems from the messaging to parents in recent years regarding finances and tuition assistance that "were not sustainable and were not things that the school could afford to do." Baumann said NCCS would make assurances to families that tuition concerns would be alleviated when the school was not in position to do so.

"All of our Catholic schools are financially stressed, there's no doubt about that. Northern Chautauqua Catholic School is no different," Baumann said.

Baumann noted that tuition is a major source of revenue for the school, and what is being charged in tuition does not cover the costs of operating the school. Local organizations are relied upon to raise funds to support tuition costs and operational costs of the school. He cited the Adopt-A-Student program and the Angel Fund, which are overseen by the Board of Trustees.

Pinto took specific issue to the Adopt-A-Student Campaign because he believes it is raising money under the name of the Diocese, a bankrupt entity, rather than funds being raised by a private organization for purposes of supporting families – especially considering that he says those families are not receiving any support.

"They are now a Diocesan school. Apparently, they are no longer a regional school. That change is taking place," Pinto said. "As a Diocesan school, how does the Diocese of Buffalo permit that school to raise $100,000 of private money, and allow that money to not go toward the sex abuse victim fund?"

Pinto said that a Diocesan school should not be permitted to profit due to bankruptcy rules. A school being permitted to fundraise under the umbrella of the Diocese would need to be approved through bankruptcy court proceedings.

"That should be a concern from the Diocesan perspective and from current parents. They're claiming to raise all this money, but none of it is being used to offset tuition," Pinto said.

The Department of Catholic Schools refutes those claims. Baumann said it is up to the Board of Trustees at NCCS to see that families are being supported by the locally raised campaign funds, and that the Diocese is not involved with the Adopt-A-Student program.

Baumann highlighted another resource available to families, the Bison Children's Scholarship Fund, a program not directly affiliated with the Diocese that provides up to $3,000 per student for K-8 across western New York for families contributing at least $500 toward tuition.

Dimitroff said, "We recognize the financial challenges facing the school, and we are working closely with its leadership and community to strengthen its long-term sustainability."

Pinto hopes that local families will advocate for the changes they want to see at NCCS by going straight to the Diocese of Buffalo. He said to families of NCCS, "Get more involved with the school ... because if you don't voice concerns from a parent perspective, no change will happen. There are so many parents who have reached out, called me, texted me for the last couple of months. They need to take that to the local Board at NCCS or to the Diocesan level. ... That's the best chance of forming a successful academic environment for so many wonderful children for next year and beyond. That's the only way that's going to happen."

Baumann and Dimitroff stand behind the Diocese of Buffalo's involvement with NCCS through the Department of Catholic Schools. They believe that their involvement with the school in recent months proves that NCCS has the backing of the Diocese as a whole.

"We wouldn't be down here, we wouldn't be doing this if the Diocese wasn't committed to maintaining an educational presence in the Dunkirk and Southern Tier area for our families," Baumann said. "Bishop Fisher is fully aware that NCCS is the only outpost of Catholic education in that region. We are 100% committed to making sure that it continues to be accessible to our families and our students."