Rescue effort under way

Here's the latest from the Olean Times-Herald on AWHS efforts to sustain itself. Looks like much work remains to be done. Here's the sense I'm getting: the money-raising part may be easy while the getting of students could be difficult. Disappeared students = disappeared school. Apparently, more will be evident in April, at least according to this article.

Quote: Brain drain's effects

“We do not have a job for all the people in the field or the majors that they graduate with. So we have individuals that get educated and then decide to stay either in the college community they went to school in or take jobs our community does not offer. It’s a personal choice to move out and try other communities.” –– John Sayegh, chief operating officer of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, OLEAN TIMES-HERALD, March 20, 2008

Population declines on Southern Tier

From this news report in the Olean Times-Herald, it appears Cattaraugus County leads New York State in population decline. No doubt, this is a big factor as AWHS considers its future. Potential for gathering additional students appears limited by this one fact of life: the pool of potential students is smaller than ever, it seems. Thus, AWHS administrators consider casting a wider net (recruiting well beyond the bounds of a reasonable commute) or adding more grades (including a middle school, for starters). Parishes all over the Buffalo Diocese have consolidated and some have disappeared. Key reason appears to be population loss.

I was especially taken with the quote in the article about the effects of the "brain drain" from Cattaraugus County. Hey, where the jobs are, people will follow. Except for the snow, I suppose, I'd love to still be living in western New York close to family, but that won't happen for many of the reasons outlined in the article. I'm finding it best to be near family here in Austin and creating community where I am, not where I've been.

Back in the late 1960s, as we neared graduation from high school, many of us were encouraged by mentors to do exactly what we did, that is, move away for employment and life opportunities. It appears that many, many, many of us took that advice. What's your story?

Time to contact Walsh?

It's been more than a week since the big Thursday meeting that was scheduled at the school. Media coverage of the gathering has been VERY sparse and the school's website doesn't seem to offer an update. So maybe it's time to contact AWHS directly to find out what's happening. Click here for the school's contact info via its website. If you find out anything, please be sure to share with the rest of us.

AWHS considers its future

The story in this week's Olean newspaper makes it pretty plain that financial hard times are upon Archbishop Walsh High School. Emails have come forth from alumni to other alumni sharing the news. Challenges have come forth to raise funds, either from individual alums or to be gathered from entire class years. A big meeting is scheduled at the school tomorrow to weigh whether AWHS has a future beyond this year. Enrollment today is below 100 students. [Hey, my graduating class in 1967 was larger.] Fact is, parishes in Western New York have closed and there appear to be far fewer potential recruits to attend the school. What's to be done? Let the discussion begin; your comments are welcome.