Teachers at Catholic schools lose jobs due to consolidation

Twenty-five full-time and 11 part-time teachers received layoff notices last week as part of the “regionalization” of Catholic elementary schools in the North Hills.

The number of teaching positions available at the soon-tobe-consolidated schools is based on current enrollment numbers, which could change, according to a statement the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese released Thursday.

“Teachers currently not offered positions at this time may be recalled as enrollment continues to increase,” said Michael Killmeyer, the regional administrator for the 11 diocesan schools in the North Hills.

The layoffs were determined through a “process set forth by the teachers’ contract,” according to the diocese. Officials said 180 full- and part-time teachers are currently employed at the North Hills schools.

In a letter to parents Monday, Mr. Killmeyer urged them to complete the registration process as soon as possible.

“I understand and appreciate that everyone is eager to find out what teachers will be teaching in the various buildings,” he wrote. “This responsibility was not taken lightly by anyone involved in the hiring process.”

The diocese announced last fall that the 11 schools in the North Hills would “regionalize” in an effort to consolidate resources and address rapidly declining student enrollment.

The school changes are part of the larger On Mission for the Church Alive restructuring plan, in which the diocese is attempting to combine an evangelistic push with the need to get leaner amid declining membership and Mass attendance. A similar model eventually will be put in place at all

schools throughout the diocese, which has seen a 50 percent drop in overall elementary school enrollment since 2000.

St. Alexis in McCandless and St. Alphonsus in Pine will merge, with the prekindergarten students based at St. Alexis and students in kindergarten through eighth grade at St. Alphonsus.

St. Sebastian will merge with St. Teresa of Avila, both in Ross, with students in first through eighth grade based at St. Sebastian and the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at St. Teresa of Avila. St. Mary of the Assumption in

The layoffs were determined through a “process set forth by the teachers’ contract,” according to the diocese.

Hampton, St. Bonaventure in Shaler and St. Ursula in Hampton will combine, with the pre-kindergarten students at St. Bonaventure and students in kindergarten through eighth grade at St. Mary. St. Ursula school, founded in 1911, will close in June.

The 10 schools that will stay open will be overseen by a nonprofit called North Hills Catholic Elementary Schools, which will be run by a board of five pastors and four laypeople.

St. James School in Sewickley and Christ the Divine Teacher Academy also will be included in the new governance structure. Assumption and Northside Catholic schools will be included in the regionalization and spend the next year developing strategic plans, but no changes to those schools are planned for the next school year, diocesan officials said.