Noah Benjamin is an eighth-grade graduate of Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.

I would respectfully but stridently disagree with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Bill Gates or anyone else who might suggest that remote learning is an effective way to reimagine education. It has never been more apparent. There is no substitute for a willing student, in the classroom of a good teacher, at a fine school. Nowhere is that truth more certain than at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.

NCCS’ teachers, staff, students, parents and families have done a remarkable job teaching, learning and working remotely ever since this Covid shutdown sent them all home to stay on March 16. There have been google classroom assignments, Zoom classes, Zoom meetings, virtual field trips and parades. The outreach continues. Quality instruction and learning is still taking place. Although our school family has done a commendable job managing this most difficult at home learning situation, praying together, playing together, learning together, working together and growing together is an onsite, face to face and in person endeavor.

Currently a one size fits all blanket approach has kept all New York schools shuttered until at least September. School closure decisions and now reopening decisions have seemingly been made based on the enrollment numbers of large city school districts like New York, Buffalo and Albany.

One has to wonder, if the governor and his decision makers know that a small and special school like NCCS even exists? It’s time to welcome our students back to school, if not for summer classes and tutoring, then at least for onsite classes in September. A small school like NCCS will certainly be able to provide a contagion safe face to face learning environment for our students. Northern Chautauqua Catholic School will soon be ready for small summer events and a Sept. 8 onsite reopening for the 20-21 school year.

Without the support of the diocese, our school families and generous benefactors and without the tireless efforts of our Board of Trustees, Northern Chautauqua Catholic School would have closed two years ago. Catholic Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Michael LaFever has been instrumental in NCCS’ rebirth and resurgence. The NCCS family continues to be grateful for the lifesaving support of so many. Most recently, the Trustees have managed NCCS’ finances extremely well. Our school is poised to survive the economic crisis caused by the pandemic shutdown but the subsidy cut recently announced by the Diocese of Buffalo really hurts.

Given the Diocese’s continuing financial struggles, Bishop Scharfenberger’s desire to reorganize Western New York Parishes and Catholic Schools is understandable and necessary. One has to wonder though, if cutting 100% of Diocesan Catholic School funding was the last and only cost saving option available? The future of the Catholic faith lies in Catholic Education and Catholic Schools. At some point, an investment must be made in the future.

In the press release, made at a questionable late hour and on the Friday afternoon before a long holiday weekend, the Bishop promised that, after the Diocese’s reorganization, the church will not relinquish its’ “greater obligation to promote a culture that truly reflects Christ’s Gospel of love, caring and relentless service to young and old alike.”

When regular masses resume and the Diocese is once again receiving regular offerings and assessments, schools like Northern Chautauqua Catholic will be counting on the Bishop to keep his promise and resume the funding of Catholic Schools. Our future and the future of our faith depend on it.

Andrew Ludwig is principal of the Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.