One of the more interesting ideas outlined in the AWHS Strategic Plan involves the hope of more students from the Seneca Nation of Indians, many now attending in the Salamanca School District. This article ("On the Reservation and Off, Schools See a Changing Tide") from the New York Times evokes some of the possibilities worth considering.
Still, I find myself posing questions about which factors most appeal to Seneca families living between Salamanca and Jamestown who might be inclined to send their children on the long commute to AWHS in Olean.
(Moreover, I find myself wondering, in this time of high fuel prices, what factors might spur non-SNI families, from even farther away than some do now, to send their children on the long commute from communities to the north, east or south of Olean.)
Given the modern technology for distance learning and the growth of private home-based schooling, it would seem to follow that SNI parents who want non-public education for their children might instead establish their own private high school much closer to home.
Or, in the alternative, they could establish a smart-tech virtual high school with lessons available to other tribes (and perhaps to non-tribal individuals) beyond Western New York.
Such an alternative, it would seem, also is available even to non-tribal families (near and far) finding merit and value in home-based education focused on Catholic tradition and values.
Changing populations and the resulting changes in local economics appear to be the larger forces at play shaping the creation and the "de-creation" or end of physical-space schools. Some of these same forces are shaping the rise of virtual schools. Make no mistake, interested learners working synchronously or asynchronously can receive a serious, valued and real education in either sphere. Check out more on virtual high schools here.
As far-fetched as some of these ideas may sound at first, I'm still waiting to hear more from AWHS administrators or trustees as to what's next.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Walsh 500: Update
As Tim said, the goal of the Walsh 500 is to obtain the commitment of at least 500 individuals to donate $1,000 to the school each year for the next five years. As of April 29, we have received donations and pledges from alumni and friends of close to $350,000 for over the next five years. However, that is from the people who have made full 5-year commitments. I would like to clarify here that individuals can make "one-time" donations of any amount towards this goal. And many have.
In addition to the 5-year commitment total, we have raised an additional $25,000 from one-time gifts. All in all, we have received donations or pledges from 152 people and organizations since this fundraising campaign began on March 8. Also this year, we have made another $41,000 through the Walsh Fund for Excellence (annual fund), $31,000 in major gifts and $28,000 in donations to our scholarship fund.
While we've certainly had a great year in the advancement office, those monies raised -- in addition to tuition money and the dwindling dollar figure we get from the Diocese -- still fall short of our annual budget, which is now approaching $825,000. We're not getting the tuition money we once were, so this money will have to be made up through fundraising efforts. This is why we are asking our loyal graduates and closest friends to consider making a donation to the Walsh 500. Please don't feel that if you can't commit $1,000 a year for five years, then you can't join the Walsh 500 -- because even the $10 and $25 donations put us closer to our goal.
After seven weeks, we are still getting a positive response from our alumni and the Olean community. The envelopes have not stopped coming. Please consider joining your fellow grads and making a contribution.
- J.P. '03
In addition to the 5-year commitment total, we have raised an additional $25,000 from one-time gifts. All in all, we have received donations or pledges from 152 people and organizations since this fundraising campaign began on March 8. Also this year, we have made another $41,000 through the Walsh Fund for Excellence (annual fund), $31,000 in major gifts and $28,000 in donations to our scholarship fund.
While we've certainly had a great year in the advancement office, those monies raised -- in addition to tuition money and the dwindling dollar figure we get from the Diocese -- still fall short of our annual budget, which is now approaching $825,000. We're not getting the tuition money we once were, so this money will have to be made up through fundraising efforts. This is why we are asking our loyal graduates and closest friends to consider making a donation to the Walsh 500. Please don't feel that if you can't commit $1,000 a year for five years, then you can't join the Walsh 500 -- because even the $10 and $25 donations put us closer to our goal.
After seven weeks, we are still getting a positive response from our alumni and the Olean community. The envelopes have not stopped coming. Please consider joining your fellow grads and making a contribution.
- J.P. '03
Monday, April 28, 2008
Death in the family
James Jude Cunningham, known to most as Jude, but to some as Jay, is my brother. He attended Walsh High School briefly (1964-1965). A victim of cancer, he died, age 57, in Anniston, Alabama, on April 24, 2008. The Cunningham family will be gathering for a memorial service on May 1 in Anniston.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Walsh 500 raising funds
The Development Office at Walsh has undertaken a fundraising campaign called the Walsh 500. The goal of the effort is to obtain the commitment of at least 500 individuals to donate $1,000 to the school each year for the next five years. According to JP Butler (see elsewhere in this blog), since early March the school has received donations and pledges from alumni and friends of more than $300,000 for over the next five years. That puts the campaign at about 13% of the total goal of $2.5 million over five years. I'm hoping JP will report gains here as the campaign advances.
Questions to alumni and friends: Did you receive one of the letters asking you to join the Walsh 500? How about one of the phone calls via the phone-athon underway in April? If you haven't been contacted yet, and you're inclined to participate, give Walsh a call. If ever there was a time to call, it appears that now is that time.
It's nice to see people respond to this expressed need. Even so, I believe I would find the requests more attractive if I had some sense of the projected operating budget for each of the upcoming five years? Surely the rising cost of fuel has affected the school's expenses, as has been the case for individual household and business expenses. What other factors are in play as administrators develop a budget? So, what does it cost to operate this school for a year, especially in the face of declining enrollments. Even if recruiting efforts are very successful in the first year, what is the optimal enrollment? What will it take in bodies to reach this state? Increases on the order of 30%, 50% or more? While a 100% increase in enrollment sounds great as a percentage, that's still well below the total student population when AWHS was at its peak.
So, I find myself asking, even as the need has been identified and expressed: Whither comes the optimism?
Questions to alumni and friends: Did you receive one of the letters asking you to join the Walsh 500? How about one of the phone calls via the phone-athon underway in April? If you haven't been contacted yet, and you're inclined to participate, give Walsh a call. If ever there was a time to call, it appears that now is that time.
It's nice to see people respond to this expressed need. Even so, I believe I would find the requests more attractive if I had some sense of the projected operating budget for each of the upcoming five years? Surely the rising cost of fuel has affected the school's expenses, as has been the case for individual household and business expenses. What other factors are in play as administrators develop a budget? So, what does it cost to operate this school for a year, especially in the face of declining enrollments. Even if recruiting efforts are very successful in the first year, what is the optimal enrollment? What will it take in bodies to reach this state? Increases on the order of 30%, 50% or more? While a 100% increase in enrollment sounds great as a percentage, that's still well below the total student population when AWHS was at its peak.
So, I find myself asking, even as the need has been identified and expressed: Whither comes the optimism?
Saving Catholic Schools
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute in Ohio has issued a report, "Who Will Save America's Urban Catholic Schools?" This is interesting reading for anyone interested in saving Archbishop Walsh High School.
Of particular note, seen in the executive summary on case-study findings (Page 5), is the idea that the primary causes of massive Catholic School closures have been demographics and economics.
While some cities actually are opening new Catholic high schools (as recently announced here in Austin, TX), demographics and economics are decidedly large factors in such growth.
In the case of AWHS, if the large circumstances of demographics (too few students, fewer parishes) and economics (higher costs for salaries and for fuel to warm facilities and run buses), the question remains: What next? What say you?
Of particular note, seen in the executive summary on case-study findings (Page 5), is the idea that the primary causes of massive Catholic School closures have been demographics and economics.
While some cities actually are opening new Catholic high schools (as recently announced here in Austin, TX), demographics and economics are decidedly large factors in such growth.
In the case of AWHS, if the large circumstances of demographics (too few students, fewer parishes) and economics (higher costs for salaries and for fuel to warm facilities and run buses), the question remains: What next? What say you?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Phone-A-Thon Underway
Hi everyone,
As I mentioned in my last post, we have been working with some of our students and teachers on sending information about Walsh to all of the bishops in the United States. We sent the last of those letters out last week, and are now waiting for a response. The students included personal stories about what Walsh has done for them, as well as pictures of different things going on at the school. We are hoping there are a few bishops out there interested in helping save a Catholic high school.
While we await response, we have started a phone-a-thon to contact various alumni and friends. Fr. Barry and myself, as well as some board members, teachers and other volunteers will spend this week contacting different constituents about what they might be able to give to Walsh. Tonight was our first night and already we had a handful of people commit to giving $1,000 each year for five years.
While the money side of the issue is being tackled from every possible angle, I still have yet to receive word about enrollment for next year. Brother Mike has been meeting with many families in Bradford and Wellsville (where there are Catholic elementary schools), but I have not heard an official number of students registered for next year, or how interest has been in the Bradford and Wellsville areas. Hopefully I can post an update on that in the coming days.
On another positive note, I am happy to report we will officially be resurrecting the Walsh Alumni golf tournament this summer. I have been meeting with '71 grad Tim Flanigan, who works at Holiday Valley golf course in Ellicottville, and it looks like we'll be holding the event at that course on Saturday, August 2, the day after the reunion dinner and dance. We still have yet to work out the details, but the date is set in stone, so start spreading the word.
J.P. '03
As I mentioned in my last post, we have been working with some of our students and teachers on sending information about Walsh to all of the bishops in the United States. We sent the last of those letters out last week, and are now waiting for a response. The students included personal stories about what Walsh has done for them, as well as pictures of different things going on at the school. We are hoping there are a few bishops out there interested in helping save a Catholic high school.
While we await response, we have started a phone-a-thon to contact various alumni and friends. Fr. Barry and myself, as well as some board members, teachers and other volunteers will spend this week contacting different constituents about what they might be able to give to Walsh. Tonight was our first night and already we had a handful of people commit to giving $1,000 each year for five years.
While the money side of the issue is being tackled from every possible angle, I still have yet to receive word about enrollment for next year. Brother Mike has been meeting with many families in Bradford and Wellsville (where there are Catholic elementary schools), but I have not heard an official number of students registered for next year, or how interest has been in the Bradford and Wellsville areas. Hopefully I can post an update on that in the coming days.
On another positive note, I am happy to report we will officially be resurrecting the Walsh Alumni golf tournament this summer. I have been meeting with '71 grad Tim Flanigan, who works at Holiday Valley golf course in Ellicottville, and it looks like we'll be holding the event at that course on Saturday, August 2, the day after the reunion dinner and dance. We still have yet to work out the details, but the date is set in stone, so start spreading the word.
J.P. '03
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