Oakland Diocese unveils new plan to save Catholic schools

Published: 2007-09-13

OAKLAND, Calif. (CNS) -- In an effort to keep struggling Catholic schools open in the Oakland Diocese, diocesan officials have developed a plan inviting eight schools to function as part of a consortium enabling schools to lower expenses by sharing resources. Rick Kruska, school superintendent, said the new Oakland Catholic Schools Consortium will function as a "one stop" administrative umbrella to take the pressure off principals so that they can concentrate on academic performance. Consortium staff will manage finances and facilities, development and marketing, curriculum standardization, purchasing consolidation and personnel. The consortium will cost $200,000 per year to operate and will be financed through national and local foundation grants as well as fundraisers, said Kruska, who plans to hire the consortium's executive director by October. Three additional directors in charge of finances, development and academics will be in place by January 2008, he said. Their first joint assignment will be to increase enrollment for the 2008-09 school year.

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