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Schools accreditation reaches critical phase The Diocese of Knoxville school system is being reviewed by AdvancED for certification as a system of excellence
By Bill Brewer
EMILY BOOKER
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iocesan-wide schools accreditation, a project Diocese of Knoxville education leaders have been working on for two years, reaches a critical phase this month. The diocesan school system is officially being reviewed by AdvancED for certification as a system of excellence. During February a team of education professionals will visit all 10 schools in the diocese. The team’s lead evaluator, Louisville Archdiocese schools Superintendent Leisa Schulz, who made a pre-evaluation visit to the diocese Nov. 21, returns with her entire team of superintendents, principals, and other central office personnel from various dioceses and archdioceses to evaluate the schools Feb. 21-22. The categories under which Diocese of Knoxville schools will be assessed include mission and Catholic identity, academic excellence, governance and leadership, and operational vitality. Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, superintendent of diocesan schools, recently submitted a final report from the diocese to AdvancED on the 10 schools. Immediately following the review team’s evaluation later this month, a culminating exit report will be presented to Bishop Richard F. Stika, priests, school leaders, and other stakeholders Feb. 23. Following the quality assurance review, the team will make its final accreditation recommendation. “The review team will tell us what we’re doing well and what we need to work on,” Sister Mary Marta said. “We know we need to improve our marketing. But I’m confident we will be accredited.” While nine of 10 Diocese of Knoxville schools already are accredited by AdvancED, Sister Mary Marta has said it is equally important for the school system as a whole to be accredited by AdvancED. “We’re trying to move from a system of schools to a school system. That will make us all aware as a diocese of where we’re going and what our focus is,” Sister Mary Marta has said, noting that the diocese recently approved new mission and vision statements for
School visit Bishop Richard F. Stika meets with Sacred Heart Cathedral School students in January before Catholic Schools Week. Sacred Heart will be among the 10 diocesan schools to be evaluated during the AdvancED accreditation process this month. the school system as part of the accreditation process. The mission is “The Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Knoxville prepare scholars, leaders, and saints.” The vision is “Empowered by the Holy Spirit and recognizing the vital ministry of Catholic education to the future of the Church and nation, we will provide a learning environment that emphasizes quality education and spiritual growth for all.” The 10 schools currently serve 3,185 students in 36 counties throughout East Tennessee. Students come from both Catholic (84 percent) and non-Catholic (16 percent) families, with an ethnic mix that is approximately 87 percent Caucasian, followed by 9 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Asian, and the remaining ethnic groups at 1 percent or less than 1 percent each. Approximately 47 percent of the students are male and 53 percent female. Schools data also show that the socio-economic status of families with children in school ranges from wealthy to poverty levels, with 30
percent of the students receiving tuition assistance through parishes or diocesan regional funds. The schools strive to hold down the cost of tuition to make Catholic education affordable for all families while still trying to provide a just wage for school personnel. Even though tuition is the main source of funding, schools have additional revenue through fundraising efforts largely conducted by parent and school communities. St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation grants have recently awarded some schools monetary grants for school improvements and upgrades such as technology upgrades and equipment purchases. According to diocesan schools data, preschool programs have increased the number of potential students for elementary schools, as well as providing an important service to Catholic communities. All eight elementary schools have a preschool program. There are regional differences in the diocese that affect enrollment levels in schools. These differences include competition, a rise in
secularism, population size, family financial need, and a lack of a complete preschool/kindergarten through grade 12 for students in certain regions. The vast majority of students who attend a Catholic elementary school continue on to a diocesan high school. However, there is not a Catholic high school available for students in the TriCities area. Sedonna Prater, director of curriculum and instruction for diocesan schools who is chairing the accreditation process, explained that AdvancED accredits schools throughout the United States and internationally and works in conjunction with its affiliate, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which has accredited Diocese of Knoxville schools on a regional basis. Mrs. Prater has said it is important for the diocese to align itself with the AdvancED system and standards, which include a wide spectrum of academic benchmarks as well as criteria specific to Catholic schools. Mrs. Prater, Knoxville Accreditation continued on page B6
State Knights of Columbus membership efforts are paying off
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he Tennessee Knights of Columbus’ membership efforts are paying dividends. In the first six months in the 2016-17 fraternal year, the Knights in Tennessee have recruited about 330 new members, which ranks the state 11th among the order’s 74 jurisdictions around the world, said State Deputy Steve Comm of Nashville. Mr. Comm, the Knights’ top official in Tennessee, announced at the Knights’ Mid-Year Meeting held Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Nashville, that Tennessee is one of only three jurisdictions to have at least 75 percent of its councils recruit at least one new member so far this fraternal year. In Tennessee there are 94 councils, most based at parishes across the state. “Last year, I doubt we were much more than 50 percent of the councils,” compared with 78
percent that have added a new member this year, Mr. Comm said. Tennessee’s goal of the year is to recruit 640 new members. “Our plan is to far exceed that,” he said. “The key to me has been Kevin Petitte, our membership director,” Mr. Comm said of the past Grand Knight of Council 9317 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cordova, a Memphis suburb. “Obviously, the councils have to do the work or nothing gets done. But Kevin has embraced the concept of communicating with the councils directly in a way that hasn’t been done in a very long time.” The message has been to help prospective members become better men, better husbands, better fathers, better Catholics, Mr. Comm said. “It resonates with the local councils in a way just throwing out numbers never would,” he added. The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit organization of
By Andy Telli
BILL BREWER
Tennessee Knights councils have recruited 330 new members in first six months of the fraternal year
Leading the way Members of the Knights of Columbus with the Diocese of Knoxville lead the Knoxville March for Life on Jan. 22. Catholic men, and with 1.9 million members in 17 countries, it is one of the largest lay Catholic organizations in the world. The order was
founded in 1882 to help take care of the widows and orphans of deceased members. From that mission Knights continued on page B6