Diocese spokesman said to have facts wrong

The following letter to the editor of the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader appeared on May 27, 2009:

Diocese spokesman said to have facts wrong

In the May 15 letters to the editor section, Diocese of Scranton spokesman Bill Genello asks why the newspaper gives Michael Milz, the president of the Catholic teachers’ union, so much press since he hasn’t been employed by the diocese for two years.

Milz was, in fact, a teacher at Holy Redeemer High School until last June – less than one year ago. Milz is still the president of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, which Bishop Joseph Martino is unsuccessfully trying to crush. As such Milz is an important voice to be heard when discussing the problems of Catholic schools in the diocese.

The statement about Milz’s employment shows either Mr. Genello is poorly informed about what is happening in the Catholic school system or he is a prevaricator.

The Scranton Diocese apparently had been telling the teachers that the diocese had no problem with the teachers union – seemingly right up to the day the diocese announced it would never recognize the union. Teachers were told, in case of layoffs, they were able to “bump” in order of seniority – right up to the day the diocese decided to get rid of Milz.

Teachers with more than 30 years experience can simply be told to pack their things and get out; teachers with only a few years experience will be kept. It would seem that no reason, nor consideration of the years serving the church, need be given.

Does anyone besides Bishop Martino think this is what teachers want, or what they deserve? 

Bishop should aim to heal wounds

The following letter to the editor of the Scranton Times appeared on May 25, 2009:

Bishop should aim to heal wounds

Editor: All religions have basic truths that you must believe if you wish to be a member of that faith. If you do not agree with those basic truths, you should find a religion that more accurately reflects your beliefs.

In the Roman Catholic faith the bishop has absolute authority in his diocese, granted to him from Rome. While you may not like that your home parish or school gets merged or closed, the bishop's say is final and as a good Catholic you believe he is acting as the Lord would wish and in the best interests of the church. Emotions run high when it comes to these topics. But some of the bishop's actions have been long overdue and, for some, it is very hard to see your home church shuttered, even if it is necessary progress.

When it comes to education, this area owes a great debt to the Roman Catholic Church. The church blazed trails in opening opportunities for learning to those in the coalfields and surrounding areas. The selfless sacrifices of many priests, brothers and sisters allowed for the creation of grade schools, high schools, colleges, hospitals and orphanages.

In days gone by the majority of those working at Catholic institutions were under the direct authority of the bishop by virtue of their vows, for most of those teaching at the Catholic schools were priests, sisters or brothers.

Today the overwhelming majority of those teaching at Catholic institutions are lay people, most of whom could very well find work at public schools. The bishop and teachers' reps, chosen by the teachers, should work together to do what is best for all concerned. The bishop may not "legally" have to recognize the union, but he needs to reach out to those teaching in the Catholic schools and begin to heal any wounds that remain.

The bishop has criticized public figures whose actions seem to go against what the church teaches. I believe that an active, ongoing dialogue should be opened between the bishop and those Catholics in public service. It should be made absolutely clear what types of actions or inactions would jeopardize remaining in good standing with one's church. The bishop knows as well as anyone, even Sen. Bob Casey, that just because something is legal that does not make it right.

JOE BROGENSKI

Jefferson Twp.

Welcome to the Flock

Diocese closing two schools in Plains, Wilkes-Barre

The following article appeared in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, May 7, 2009:

Diocese closing 2 schools in Plains, W-B

The Diocese of Scranton on Wednesday announced that St. Aloysius School in Wilkes-Barre and Ss. Peter and Paul in Plains Township will close at the end of this school year.

The diocese released five-year enrollment data to back up the decision, which appeared in an unattributed news release posted on the diocese Web site.

According to the numbers, Ss. Peter and Paul enrollment dropped steadily from 180 in 2004-05 to 120 this year, a loss of 60 students over the span, or 33 percent. St. Aloysius dropped from 208 to 160, or 23 percent, in the same time frame.

The diocese statement also says St. Aloysius has run budget deficits for the past several years. “Particularly given current economic realities, there is no evidence to suggest recovery at either school,” the statement said.

Teachers and staff were informed of the decision by Susan Dennen, director of the Holy Redeemer Regional School System (the system that covers all Luzerne County diocesan schools), and Joseph Casciano, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education and Superintendent of Schools, at a meeting after school on Tuesday. Letters were mailed to parents that afternoon, according to the statement.

Students at Ss. Peter and Paul can attend Wyoming Area Catholic in Exeter or another school in Luzerne County. Options for St. Aloysius students include Good Shepherd Academy in Kingston, St. Nicholas-St. Mary School in Wilkes-Barre, or other schools in the county, the statement notes, adding that transportation is available depending on where a student lives.

The statement does not clarify the issue, but public school districts must, by state law, provide bus transportation for students within their district boundaries to any private school within 10 miles of those boundaries. The diocese does not provide transportation.

The statement also says that teachers will maintain their seniority and will be eligible to fill positions as needed in the Holy Redeemer system. The diocese also will work with other school employees regarding employment opportunities in the system.

Michael Milz, a former diocesan teacher who has spearheaded a drive to unionize teachers, said there are at least eight teachers at each school and probably a few more. Milz said he has talked to teachers who were at the meetings Tuesday, and “they were very upset about the fact that their school was closing and it was unclear what the future was for the teachers.”

Students had an early dismissal Wednesday because of a teacher in-service day. A teacher leaving St. Aloysius School late that afternoon declined comment, saying the closing was “too hard” to talk about.

Principals at the schools did not return messages left with school secretaries on Wednesday. Neither did the Rev. Joseph Greskiewicz, pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul Church.

The Rev. J. Duane Gavitt, pastor of St. Aloysius Church, declined comment on the decision to close the school, except to note that it was a diocese decision and that the parish had not had control of the school since the diocese restructured the school system two years ago.
According to the diocesan statement, enrollment, finances and educational benchmarks were established as the criteria to determine future decisions regarding school viability when the reorganization was implemented in 2007.

“After evaluating the situation, the Holy Redeemer System Board recommended to the Diocesan Schools Corporate Board that these schools were no longer viable. The Corporate Board then made the difficult decision to close the schools,” the statement said.

Milz contends that despite “whatever they say about these corporate boards, there are only a few people who are making the decisions, and who they are remains a mystery.”

Milz said the entire school consolidation process has been “bungled and mismanaged since the start. … They shut out the teachers by shutting out the unions. They shut out the parents. All these unilateral decisions are being made with no input. They don’t want to hear from the people in the trenches – the teachers and the parents.”

Milz taught at Bishop Hoban High School before the 2007 restructuring, which included closing the four high schools and reopening Hoban as Holy Redeemer. The diocese laid off Milz and another teacher at the school, claiming it was due to declining enrollment and done through a seniority system approved by teachers. Milz contends it was retaliation for his efforts to unionize teachers under the new system.

Milz is president of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, which represented teachers in several area schools prior to the restructuring. He has spearheaded an ongoing fight to unionize under the new system, but Bishop Joseph Martino has said the decision not to unionize is final and that a new Employee Relations Plan offers fair representation to all school employees in the diocese.

Milz said the closing of the two schools rebuts claims by the diocese that unionizing would bankrupt the system and force more schools to close. “They keep saying the union will close schools. We’ve been out of the picture for more than two years and we had nothing whatsoever to do with these closings,” he said.

Currently, union supporters have pinned their hopes on a bill in the state House of Representatives championed by Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, which would give Catholic school and other private school teachers protection under the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act. That would mean they could petition the Labor Relations Board, and if enough teachers agreed, the board could force the diocese to hold a secret-ballot election among teachers on unionization.

The diocese and other organizations have vigorously opposed the bill, saying it interferes with the separation of church and state.

The diocese statement says that the letter to parents cites the tradition of the two schools and that “it is truly unfortunate that the circumstances of enrollment and finances have brought us to this point. Be assured of our prayerful support during this difficult time.”

A thousand words more about Bishop Martino