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Question why do the local districts have to provide this? I had no idea. Shouldn’t they have to provide these things themselves?
They also provide some special Ed services too.
When we lived in GC we had neighbors who sent their kids to the grammar school across town. Neither parent worked and every morning a full size bus came to pick up the two kids. Only ones on that bus. Neighborhood grammar school for the other church in town was walking distance away. Can’t make this stuff up.
When we lived in GC we had neighbors who sent their kids to the grammar school across town. Neither parent worked and every morning a full size bus came to pick up the two kids. Only ones on that bus. Neighborhood grammar school for the other church in town was walking distance away. Can’t make this stuff up.
That's on the district for not sending a more efficient vehicle.
That's on the district for not sending a more efficient vehicle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by twingles
They also provide some special Ed services too.
When we lived in GC we had neighbors who sent their kids to the grammar school across town. Neither parent worked and every morning a full size bus came to pick up the two kids. Only ones on that bus. Neighborhood grammar school for the other church in town was walking distance away. Can’t make this stuff up.
They phased out the use of Suburbans so so much for that. We take 1 sp ed kid from central nassau to western suffolk to a program few others attend. It costs $73,000 per year (10 months). To take a few kids to Chaminade, we spend over $60k per year. Added up my tiny district spends $1.6m in transportation. Also, if sp ed kids go to any private or alt school, we provide trans and pay the tuition. If we send kids to ANOTHER public district for services, we pay the tuition there (yes the districts bill each other for services, it's actually A LOT of revenue). It's a financial tightrope act. The parochial parents are pissed they pay school taxes for schools they don't use (although they do use many of the amenities likes parks and fields) and the schools are mandated to pay for everything, including unplanned private school transportation costs, under a 2% tax cap.
The idea anyone would ever end all private schools and "roll" them into publics is far from any reality. Just because the Catholic church has shot itself in both feet, many other private secular and non-secular (some are nationality based) continue to open. America is still frighteningly religious and some people fear public schools for legit and/or perceived reasons (violence, bad education, too secular, too liberal, etc).
To Nut's point though, they are likely paying $30-50k in tuition and taxes and getting back maybe $20k in services. The school is getting $15k tax and delivering $20k in services. Still onerous to both parties. Welcome to LI!
Last edited by monstermagnet; 03-26-2021 at 05:19 AM..
While not directly on Long Island, I know of some Long Islanders who sent their boys to Regis.
Regis is an academic powerhouse...another black eye for the church/Catholic schools but it seems the victims weren't underage boys/students.
Quote:
"We received information regarding the school’s President, Rev. Daniel Lahart, SJ, that raises serious questions about his ability to continue to serve this critical function. Specifically, we learned of allegations that Fr. Lahart may have behaved inappropriately in his interactions with certain adult members of our community.
Just recently the Diocese of Rockville center closed 2 more catholic Grammar schools.
Now we can come up with 101 reasons as to why, the Pandemic, the Diocese going bankrupt to settle molestation cases, less clergy/nuns more lay people as teachers (which drives up overhead cost) declining enrollment/church attendance for years etc
but it got me thinking will any be left in 30 or 50 years from now?
I know people, family members in fact that are genuinely worried that their children and possibly grandchildren won't have a these schools to go to.
Now granted I am not one of them, I feel that the overwhelming majority of these schools are a scam and I also feel I pay enough in property taxes so why add more to that bill and I am equal opportunity I also do not think my Tax dollars should be sending kids to college either. Education is a to each their own decision, you pay based on the district you live in.
But I digress, with a lot of these changing factors do these schools have a future?
Catholic schools like hospitals and other church affiliated institutions have been in decline for decades now.
First and foremost the waves of Catholic immigrants and families from Europe that fed many of these places began to decline post WWII, and certainly after Kennedy immigration changes.
When I was growing up in 1980's it still wasn't unusual for my Irish, Italian, German, Polish and few others of European background to come from large families. Nowadays things are not so much. Having all those kids is expensive, and many Catholic women both in Europe and USA just aren't interested in having large families because the Pope wants them to.
Church is still working through upheavals caused by Vatican II. Convents and monasteries began emptying out by 1970's or so as new vocations dwindled and current sisters and brothers aged and began dying off. Schools, hospitals and other places were forced to rely less on "dedicated servants", but had to hire lay people at increasingly competitive compensation rates.
Increasingly the idea that Catholics had to send their kids to church schools or use only RC healthcare began to go by the boards. Worse for hospitals and schools as areas around them changed many places went from solid Italian, Irish, or whatever to mix of other populations including often many with low incomes revenue base began to dry up.
No, not every parish was wealthy, but even working or middle class Italian or Irish parishes held up their end either by donations or work in kind. Maybe a guy couldn't donate $$$$ but he could swing a hammer or lay bricks so contributed to building a school, church or whatever.
What is happening out in LI and other suburban areas is delayed from what played out in urban areas like NYC, Jersey City, Newark....
In era of "white flight" out of cities that began post WWII and gained steam with race riots/civil unrest of 1960's saw Catholics flee say NYC for suburbs of LI and Westchester. That prompted a shift of resources as the church followed money. Now those parishes are seeing same declines in population and finances that hit urban. Again Catholics aren't having huge families anymore, and many who are paying huge tax bills to live in suburbs also have excellent local public schools.
Finally what is happening across the board with many Catholic schools is they are full of kids who aren't Catholic and more to point whose parents cannot afford to pay full tuition.
Yes you have schools that have high enrollment numbers, but half or more of the kids are getting some sort of scholarship or financial aid. Back when parishes had high numbers of active congregants appeals could be made for donations to keep a school afloat. Today you're asking what's left of active members to pony up for kids who likely are minorities and not even Catholic.
The last bit speaks to another large issue; going back a few decades POC and others discovered Catholic schools provided a great low cost alternative to their local public schools. More so if they could wring financial aid or scholarship packages. The middle class and above Irish, Italian, German, etc... kids have been replaced by minorities who even when Catholic (as with many Latino/Hispanic), cannot afford to pay full tuition.
Leaving aside the scandals (and there are far too many) Roman Catholic church is in decline not just in North America but most of Europe as well for many good reasons.
A case could be made that Church USA expanded far too much in late 1800's and up until say middle of 1900's to accomodate waves of immigrants all who wanted their own Catholic churches and institutions.
Within same geographical areas you had parishes for Italians, Germans, Irish, Polish, French, etc... That's when everyone stuck to their own kind, you know when Irish guys beat up on Italians (or vice versa) or your Italian grandmother turned pictures and statues of saints upside down because one her grand-kids was dating an Irish person.
That's largely all over, what you're left with is various communities that may or may not have a wealthy enough base to support even just one parish.
It is interesting that Jewish schools, healthcare networks, etc... are all doing well or at least holding their own (Northwell formerly North Shore-Long Island Jewish is one of if not the wealthiest healthcare system in NYS), but it's all Catholics can do to keep what they've got from closing.
Large part of this is simply cafeteria Catholics only show up and or part with money when they want something (marriage, burial, etc...), but otherwise don't go near.
Leaving aside the scandals (and there are far too many) Roman Catholic church is in decline not just in North America but most of Europe as well for many good reasons.
A case could be made that Church USA expanded far too much in late 1800's and up until say middle of 1900's to accomodate waves of immigrants all who wanted their own Catholic churches and institutions.
Within same geographical areas you had parishes for Italians, Germans, Irish, Polish, French, etc... That's when everyone stuck to their own kind, you know when Irish guys beat up on Italians (or vice versa) or your Italian grandmother turned pictures and statues of saints upside down because one her grand-kids was dating an Irish person.
That's largely all over, what you're left with is various communities that may or may not have a wealthy enough base to support even just one parish.
It is interesting that Jewish schools, healthcare networks, etc... are all doing well or at least holding their own (Northwell formerly North Shore-Long Island Jewish is one of if not the wealthiest healthcare system in NYS), but it's all Catholics can do to keep what they've got from closing.
Large part of this is simply cafeteria Catholics only show up and or part with money when they want something (marriage, burial, etc...), but otherwise don't go near.
Huh?!? One word: Rape. That is what has decimated the church. Lots of other issues, but all easy to deal with. The rampant sex abuse has been a financial and PR nuclear bomb the RC Church will never fully recover from. Not ever. Too far reaching, too rampant, too much coverup, too many lawsuits lost. You want to teach or coach for a Catholic school? Prepare for an inquisition and hours of Virtus training. Part of the settlement. All but the most religious are done with it. Hard to claim moral superiority and piousness when you leave a trail of molested kids behind you. It is what it is.
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