By Mary Morrell | Managing Editor

In a town meeting that was reflective of a “new day” for St. Denis School, Manasquan, some 150 members of the school and parish community met with a collaborative spirit Dec. 13 to discuss ways to build enrollment and increase revenue in response to the school’s budget deficit and the enrollment trends that have led to it.

Parents, teachers, administrators, and parishioners met in the school cafeteria in response to an invitation from the St. Denis school board and parish finance committee, expressing a clear commitment to take an active role in supporting new development and fundraising measures in order to help the school meet its financial goals. It is currently projected that $250,000 in additional funding each year will be needed to close the budget gap.

A Strategic Plan Proposal, drawn up under the leadership of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, was presented, offering a range of measures to raise needed funds and market the school to the broader community.  Among the proposed measures are additional revenue-generating events and programs, like dances, carnivals and auctions, instituting an after school program, obtaining corporate sponsorships and offering recruitment incentives. The St. Denis School Board will now work with the proposal, issuing a final plan sometime in January. 

Diocesan superintendent of schools, Joanne Tier, spoke to the group about diocesan guidelines which indicate that parishes must subsidize their schools in an amount not to exceed 30 percent of the parish’s ordinary income, in order to maintain the financial integrity of the parish. She also expressed a commitment on behalf of the Office of Catholic Schools to serve as a resource and to direct the school community to best practices in order to develop a comprehensive plan to effectively address the financial reality.

Parish accountant, Steven Kelleher, reviewed numbers from the current fiscal year which pointed to the need for a continued increase in the parish subsidy of the school. At the close of the 2012 school year, the parish subsidy for St. Denis School will have reached almost 50 percent of the parish’s ordinary income.

St. Denis has experienced many of the same enrollment challenges seen across the nation’s Catholic school communities, primarily wrought by the unforgiving economic climate, and general demographic shifts.  The K-8 enrollment has dropped by more than 50 students since the 2007-2008 year, to the current number of 153.  Brightening that picture is a  thriving pre-K class, bringing the overall enrollment to 175 and offering a hopeful sign for greater numbers in the coming years. 

“Enrollment is the best fundraiser,” Father Freer reminded participants, stressing that development, not just fundraising, is essential as the school moves forward with a plan to address the current situation.

St. Denis parents and alumni who offered testimonials during the town meeting were unanimous in identifying the unique strengths of St. Denis as a  strong Catholic moral foundation, excellent academics, superior test scores, leadership and community service, a welcoming family atmosphere, and outstanding technology and science programs.

Tier concurred that “St. Denis School is technically adept. Teachers step up to the plate with an ability to incorporate technology into all curricula areas.” She also noted that St. Denis students “consistently score in the top quartile in the Terra Nova standardized testing,” scoring 25 percent higher than the national average.

School principal, Trudy Bonivita, elaborated, “Technology abounds in every classroom, with activboards, laptops and Ipads available to all grades from Pre-K to eighth grade.  Technology buddies are established to help the younger students become more familiar with the computers while building personal relationships with the students in the upper grades.” 

Using an example of environmental issues and nutritional concerns which are tackled each year in every class, Bonivita demonstrated this multi-tiered approach as a strong learning tool, making academic lessons life lessons, as well. “This year our cafeteria is offering, low fat, nutritionally balanced meals, that incorporate locally grown and organic produce, as well as environmentally friendly trays and paper goods.  These meals are peanut and tree-nut free and carefully planned to meet the nutritional needs of students who may be allergic to other foods,” she noted.