The implementation phase for the reorganization of Catholic schools in Lackawanna, Wayne and Luzerne Counties is now underway. The final plan for these counties was announced by Bishop Joseph F. Martino at a news conference on Jan. 17.
Since that day, Diocesan officials and school principals have been working on a variety of implementation details. A process for the first phase of registration and tuition rates for the 2007-08 academic year have been finalized.
In addition, Bishop Martino has announced the new names for the following institutions:
Luzerne County
* Holy Redeemer High School will be the name of the Catholic high school to be located at the current Bishop Hoban High School site.
* Good Shepherd Academy will be the name of the K-8 elementary center to be located at the current Bishop O’Reilly High School site.
* Holy Family Academy will be the name of the K-8 elementary center to be located at the current Bishop Hafey Junior/Senior High School site.
Lackawanna County
* Bishop Hannan and Bishop O’Hara High Schools will operate as one institution under the name Holy Cross High School.
“These names reflect the unity of our Catholic Church and our Diocese,” Bishop Martino said. “We have entered a new era in Catholic education for the 21st century.”
Regarding the structure of Bishop Hannan and Bishop O’Hara, the 10-12 classes will remain at their respective sites for the coming year. The incoming freshman class will be located at one site. Both sites are being evaluated and the site to be used for the freshman class will be determined in the near future.
The first registration phase for the 2007-08 academic year will be held the week of Feb. 5-9. During this phase, students who are currently enrolled in a Diocesan Catholic school will be allowed to re-register at that school. In the cases where a particular school is closing, those students can register at the designated school that is combining with the school to be closed.
For example, Holy Rosary School in Scranton and St. Mary School in Old Forge will close and combine with All Saints Academy in Scranton. Students from Holy Rosary and St. Mary will be allowed to register at All Saints during this phase.
“Our intention during this first phase of registration is to give all of our current students the opportunity to secure a seat, either in their present school or the school that their former school is joining,” said Joseph G. Casciano, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education and Superintendent of Schools.
An open registration period will be held toward the end of February or the beginning of March. During this second phase, new students or current students who choose not to enroll under the above conditions can seek to register at any school with available seats. Details for this process will be announced when they are complete.
There is a $100 non-refundable registration fee for both phases. The fee is not for each student, but per family within the K-12 systems in Lackawanna/Wayne Counties and Luzerne County.
Mr. Casciano said the fee has two purposes. First, the Diocese needs funding for enhancements to facilities, repairs and technology upgrades at the schools. Second, the Diocese needs to ensure that it has firm registration commitments so that staffing needs and space utilization can be planned accurately.
Tuition rates for the Lackawanna/Wayne and Luzerne systems have been set for 2007-08. The complete tuition schedule is contained at the conclusion of this article.
Mr. Casciano said that eventually tuitions will be uniform. Because tuitions have been established by each school over the years, they have varied. Therefore, for this first year under the new system, adjustments have been made.
There is a $500 fundraising fee per family within a K-12 system.
Mr. Casciano noted that an additional means of financial assistance for those with the most financial need will go into effect for the coming year. An automatic scholarship of $200 per elementary student and $400 per high school student will be awarded to families who are eligible under the same income guidelines established by the federal government for the free and reduced lunch program.
This is in addition to the existing tuition assistance provided each year through the Diocese of Scranton Scholarship Foundation.
Information about all of these scholarships is available at each school.
“We recognize that many families are making a financial sacrifice to send their children to a Catholic school, so we are making every effort to alleviate the burden as much as possible,” he said. “We want everyone to be able to enjoy the benefits of a Catholic education.”
Mr. Casciano said that transitional teams at each school have begun to address other practical aspects of the reorganization and the particular issues that will affect their respective school communities.
Meanwhile, the Diocesan human resources director is working with teacher representatives to develop a fair and equitable policy regarding school personnel. After registration is complete and the number of personnel needed is determined, the policy will be completed.
Diocese of Scranton
2007-2008 Tuition
Families will now begin to register their children from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Pre-Kindergarten will be separate from the rest.
Lackawanna/Wayne Counties
Our Lady of Peace, Clarks Green; St. Mary of Mt. Carmel, Dunmore; LaSalle Academy, Jessup; All Saints Academy, Scranton; St. Clare/St. Paul, Scranton;
Marian Catholic; Scranton
Tuition Rate Fundraising Total Cost
(Per family)*
1st Child $2200.00 $500.00 $2700.00
2nd Child $2000.00 ———- $2000.00
3rd Child $1800.00 ———- $1800.00
4th Child $0.00 ———- $0.00
Non Catholic
1st Child $3000.00 $500.00 $3500.00
2nd Child $2800.00 ———- $2800.00
3rd Child $2500.00 ———- $2500.00
4th Child $0.00 ———- $0.00
Sacred Heart, Carbondale; St. Vincent, Honesdale
1st Child $2000.00 $500.00 $2500.00
2nd Child $1800.00 ———- $1800.00
3rd Child $1600.00 ———- $1600.00
The minimum for Pre-Kindergarten is $2200.00 for five full days (pro rate accordingly. If a Pre-Kindergarten is currently higher, it will remain as it is for next year. Example ½ day program $1100.00. If there is only a child in Pre-K there is no fundraising requirement.
Holy Cross High School
1st Child $4000.00 $500.00 $4500.00
2nd Child $3500.00 ———- $3500.00
Non Catholic
1st Child $5000.00 $500.00 $5500.00
2nd Child $4500.00 ———- $4500.00
*Fundraising will be per family. The new system will be from Kindergarten to 12th grade. A family with a child in high school will only be required to meet one fundraising fee of $500.00. If a family has a child in high school and child/ren in grade school the child/ren in grade school will become the 2nd and/or 3rd child rate and so on. Re-registration fee per family is $100.00 non-refundable.
Luzerne County
Holy Rosary, Duryea; Wyoming Area Catholic, Exeter; St. Mary Assumption, Pittston; Good Shepherd Elementary Center, Kingston; Gate of Heaven, Dallas;
St. Nicholas/St. Mary, Wilkes-Barre; SS. Peter and Paul, Plains;
St. Jude, Mountaintop
Tuition Rate Fundraising Total Cost
(Per Family)*
1st Child $2200.00 $500.00 $2700.00
2nd Child $2000.00 ———- $2000.00
3rd Child $1800.00 ———- $1800.00
4th Child $0.00 ———- $0.00
Non Catholic
1st Child $3000.00 $500.00 $3500.00
2nd Child $2800.00 ———- $2800.00
3rd Child $2500.00 ———- $2500.00
4th Child $0.00 ———- $0.00
St. Aloysius, Wilkes-Barre
1st Child $2000.00 $500.00 $2500.00
2nd Child $1800.00 ———- $1800.00
3rd Child $1600.00 ———- $1600.00
Holy Family Academy, Hazleton
1st Child $1900.00 $500.00 $2400.00
2nd Child $1700.00 ———- $1700.00
3rd Child $1500.00 ———- $1500.00
The minimum for Pre-Kindergarten is $2200.00 for five full days (pro rate accordingly. If a Pre-Kindergarten is currently higher, it will remain as it is for next year. Example ½ day program $1100.00. If there is only a child in Pre-Kindergarten there is no fundraising requirement.
Holy Redeemer High School
1st Child $4500.00 $500.00 $5000.00
2nd Child $4000.00 ———- $4000.00
Non Catholic
1st Child $5000.00 $500.00 $5500.00
2nd Child $4500.00 ———- $4500.00
*Fundraising will be per family. The new system will be from Kindergarten to 12th grade. A family with a child in high school will only be required to meet one fundraising fee of $500.00. If a family has a child in high school and children in grade school the children in grade school will become the 2nd and/or 3rd child rate and so on. Re-registration fee per family is $100.00 non-refundable.
Bishop O'Reilly/Central Catholic Alumni 
Tuition for my children is going up. I thought this was supposed to make things better.
Holy Family Academy 06-07 tuition: $1750.00
Holy Family Academy 07-08 tuition: $2400.00
Realizing that everyone and everything you ever believed in, all your life, was just a lie, told by liars who profess to represent our Lord: Priceless.