The Shenango Valley Catholic School System has passed one milepost in its effort to rescue Kennedy Catholic High and Middle Schools recover from what Bishop Lawrence Persico characterizes as a “vulnerable position”.

The system announced last week that it has reached the $800,000 fundraising goal to help offset a budget shortfall school officials blame on the COVID-19 pandemic.

To resolve the shortfall, the bishop said that the schools would have to raise $800,000 by the end of 2022.

The school system attained the goal through donations from alumni and others, as well as bingo, car washes, and other events.

In a letter to the Shenango Valley Catholic School System community, Bishop Persico responded in December to resignations of the school’s acting president, board chair and several directors by announcing the reinstatement of the Board Treasurer and the naming of four new board directors.

While acknowledging the school's fundraising earlier last month, Bishop Persico, diocesan administrators and the Catholic Schools Office noted that the Shenango Valley School System still faced challenges.

The letter expressed confidence that the board directors, several of whom have backgrounds in finance and small business, are the best chance for the SVCSS to remain viable.

In addition to raising the $800,000, the Diocese outlined what it calls “Urgent Performance Indicators” for the board to reach by January 27, 2023.

  • Obtain full board participation in training sessions
  • Institute protocols and procedures for board meetings
  • Establish and appoint members to the Executive, Finance, Mission Enhancement, Policy and Planning and Advancement committees
  • Provide transparency and regular communications to all stakeholders
  • Present a preliminary budget for the 2023-2024 school year

If the board is successful in completing the tasks by the deadline, the Diocese will instruct the board to implement a new set of strategic performance indicators by March 7, 2023. These include a plan to hire a president, manage the system's finances, stabilize enrollment, develop a sustainable fundraising plan and present updated projections to the 2023-24 budget.