Priorities for the Department of Catholic Education, Office of Catholic Schools and Office of Religious Education were presented to the Archdiocesan Board of Education as it convened September 9, for the first meeting of 1975-76.

Some priorities for the Department of Education include medium-range planning, to determine 5- to 20-year projections for Catholic schools, and to determine if schools are meeting the needs of the community. The staff hopes to determine how Catholic schools can be maintained at a reasonable cost to parents and to the Church, and to recommend action to the board concerning consolidation of some schools, alternate forms of financing schools, and closing of some schools.

Priorities for the Office of Religious Education include the Parish Bicentennial Discussion programs, and catechesis for the new Rite of Penance.

For the Office of Catholic Schools, priorities incorporate those goals set by the NCEA for the Bicentennial year, as well as a cooperative effort with the Office of Religious Education to strengthen the religion programs within the Catholic schools.

Among the general aims of the Archdiocesan Board of Education is that of improved communications with parish boards, education department staff and other archdiocesan boards and committees. Relative to this goal is the scheduling of a series of deanery meetings with education personnel.

Open meetings are scheduled for: September 30, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Atlanta; October 1, St. John the Evangelist School, Hapeville; October 14, St. Michael's Church, Gainesville; October 15, St. Mary's School, Rome. All meetings begin at 8 p.m. and are open to all in the archdiocese.

The closing of St. Joseph High School in June 1976 has prompted the board to consider total youth ministry as a major topic for the year. At the November meeting, the board will concentrate on St. Pius High School, examining the existing admissions policies for possible modification in light of the closing of St. Joseph's.

During the year, position papers will be presented to the board on 1) elementary and secondary schools; 2) youth ministry and campus ministry; 3) religious education and 4) continuing education in ministry. Standing committees on budget review and long range planning will be activated, together with committees on scholarships, youth ministry, salaries and publicity.

At the first meeting, Dr. Howard McMahon, chairman, introduced new members to the board. Representing the Priests' Senate will be Father Anthony Curran. Mrs. Christopher Serauskas is the board member for Archdiocesan District Four and Sister Mary Margaret O'Hara is the representative of the Atlanta Conference of Sisters.

The next meeting of the Archdiocesan Board of Education will be October 8 at 6 p.m. The meeting is open, and will be held at the Catholic Center, 756 West Peachtree St., N.W.