Opinion: The Diocese Failed the Austintown Catholic Merger

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Written by Michael Metzinger | January 29, 2010

On January 18^th, 2009, I publicly came out in support of the proposed merger of St. Joseph's and Immaculate Heart of Mary School's in Austintown. As the population has fallen in Austintown, so has the enrollment of these fine schools. The inevitable had to occur, the two schools needed to be merged to preserve Catholic Education in Austintown for decades to come.

When I wrote that piece two months ago, I expected the Diocese of Youngstown to handle the merger process in a timely and responsible manner. To my dismay, the Diocese failed to do just that. In the last two months, the Diocese rushed into a decision that needed much more time to review and make.

When the Diocese decided to merge the two schools into one, they made the wise choice of creating a building committee from members of each Parish. This building committee was formed to recommend which school building would be used to house the new school.

In a letter sent to parents on March 11th, the Pastors from the two Parishes announced that the building committee came to a 52-48% decision in favor of one school building. The two priests declined to name which building the committee decided would be the most feasible to house the new school. The Pastors went onto a say an architect for the Diocese determined that Immaculate Heart of Mary School would be the best facility to house the school.

Although that could be a legal dispute in itself if the committee did decide on St. Joseph's, I can't seem to fathom how an outside architect was given the sole responsibility to decide which building to use without the parents, teachers, and staff being notified? After a number of meetings the past two months the committee made a decision, but apparently the 52-48% decision was not significant enough in the eyes of the Diocese to yield a decision.

In the eyes of many, the Diocese rushed this crucial judgment and it will cost them immensely in the years to come. What the building committee needed was more time to make a stronger, more feasible choice than what we know was actually done.

Suggestion By the Committee

What 'should' happen is St. Joseph's should house the Pre-K through 4^th grades, while Immaculate Heart should house the 5^th through 8^th Grades for one additional year. By doing just this, you give the building committee much more time to study the merger and field a stronger decision. In addition to that, parents can become accustomed with the teachers, students with their fellow classmates, and the parents can work together for the betterment of all.

I spotted a petition on the Vindy.com Discussion Boards against the Diocese's reckless merger process, asking those associated which each school to voice out against the incompetence of the Diocese. I urge you to read the petition, consider signing it, and informing others about it as well. Let it be known I am in favor of the merger, but I am strongly against the way the merger process was conducted.