UPDATE: Committee for the Development of St. John's School looks ahead (04/06/03)

UPDATE: Committee for the Development of St. John's School looks ahead

by Myron Martynetz

The prospect of closing the vibrant and nurturing St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School in Newark, N.J., after 63 years of academic excellence has brought together a team of concerned parents, friends and alumni who formed the Committee for the Development of St. John's School. The committee is examining both the commitment and desires of the Ukrainian American community in northern New Jersey, and the financial and enrollment needs of the school to determine a viable plan for the school's continued development.

When formed in late January, the committee did not anticipate the scope of the inquiry needed to answer the fundamental question of what it will take to have the school flourish in the future. The question requires an analysis of the educational needs, shifting demographics and financial strength of the community, and its future spiritual, cultural, as well as geographic make-up.

Financial condition

The committee's inquiry into the present financial condition of the school revealed that for many years the finances of the St. John Parish were intertwined with that of the school. When broken out for the January 1, 2002-January 1, 2003, fiscal year (which does not coincide with the academic year), the total parish expenses were $681,600 and the total income was $660,300, for a deficit of $21,300 - due primarily to a $65,000 shortfall in the school's budget of $364,000. (Income for the Church portion of the parish budget actually revealed a surplus.)

Interestingly, out of a total of $280,900 in envelope collections, $253,200 was donated to the church and only $27,700 to the school. This discrepancy can be accounted for due to the limited number of envelopes asking for donations to the school. The school's income is primarily dependent on the number of students paying full tuition (all students were required to pay at least half.)

Traditionally, tuition income was supplemented by donations. The school's financial situation also underscores the need for constant fund-raising and for the support of not only St. John's Parish, but the larger Ukrainian American community in northern New Jersey.

With the prospect of further deficits, St. John's Parish Council recommended that $250,000 be raised by April 15 to guarantee that there would be funds available for the school to continue into the future. The committee's primary goal, therefore, was to raise these funds and increase enrollment.

Recruitment and enrollment

St. John's School cannot continue without a constant flow of students year to year. In recent years, recruitment efforts have waned. Now the committee has set up a recruitment subcommittee headed by Volodymyr Stashchyshyn. St. John's students have presented concerts in Elizabeth, Jersey City and Whippany to showcase the school. Open houses have been held. Twenty new students have been recruited for next year, which will help replace the 13 graduating eighth graders. More students are needed to ease the financial burden.

St. John's School is blessed with a talented student body almost equally divided between American-born and Ukrainian-born children. The blend is beneficial to both groups, as the American-born children help the new immigrants assimilate, and the new arrivals facilitate improved use of the Ukrainian language. After several years, the distinction is lost on the children, as they socialize and grow up together.

The school's culture is one of each child helping others, with eighth graders often working with the kindergarten and first grade teachers. There is healthy competition in each class, with the overall goal of having each student achieve his or her potential.

Some of our strongest supporters are non-Ukrainian spouses who seem to appreciate the benefits of a Ukrainian Catholic education more than those steeped in our ethnic heritage. The uniforms, discipline and traditional education are highly admired. The supplemental instruction in Ukrainian dancing, playing of traditional musical instruments and instruction in folk arts such as pysanka-drawing and embroidery are praised. The teachers are even considering a cooking club next year. Recent immigrant parents are learning the American concepts of volunteerism, and the work and responsibility that come with having a private school.

A St. John's website (StJohn2000.org) has been updated and is currently managed by webmaster Corey Goldstein. The website contains the school calendar, enrollment information and photographs of school activities. An interactive alumni list allows alumni to contact the school and website to provide current e-mail addresses. Attempts are being made to form an alumni association to help in recruitment and also provide alumni with organized activities, group discounts to cultural events and further interaction regarding common concerns.

Fund-raising activity

Given the short time in which it needed to raise $250,000, the committee has created the St. John's School Fund administered by Walter Kovbasniuk. Requests for donations have been sent out to all alumni (although many addresses are no longer current), all members of the Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union in Newark (many thanks to the credit union for allowing the committee to enclose pledge letters with their monthly statements), and to 6,000 individuals who identified themselves as Ukrainian in the 2000 U.S. Census.

Requests for donations and sponsorships were recently sent to various Ukrainian American organizations, corporations and community groups. Advertisements have been placed in the Ukrainian American press. E-mail messages and the Church bulletin have also been utilized. With less than a month to go, donations, pledges and in-kind contributions total close to $150,000. We still have $100,000 to go and request that those concerned readers who have not contributed do so now.

In addition to the direct contributions, several families and organizations have expressed an interest in providing scholarships to those children who cannot afford a St. John's education. Our aim is to keep tuition at a reasonable price (in the $3,000 range) and seek scholarships and donations from those in a position to help financially strapped newcomers. This type of activity will truly create a more united St. John's community.

A telethon has been started, headed by Ross Milanytch, with alumni captains seeking financial support from their classmates. Hopefully, this will also increase class spirit and rekindle grammar school acquaintances. The media has been kept advised of our efforts by Kristina Rak-Brown, and has shown support through articles and editorials.

Long-term goals

In anticipation of raising the necessary funds, the committee has submitted a proposed business plan to the pastor, the Rev. Bohdan Lukie for his consideration. Also, a strategic plan has been developed for the growth and continued improvement of the school. Dr. Ross Robak, professor of psychology at Pace University, has been working with the teachers to enhance their teaching awareness and implement new teaching ideas and curriculum.

The teachers are dedicated and excited about future prospects. One longtime teacher, Luba Batka, has donated her teaching services for the upcoming year in order to help St. John's through its financial crisis. The teachers are foregoing various opportunities in order to teach at this Ukrainian Catholic school with its entrenched cultural traditions and positive learning environment. The camaraderie among teachers is truly outstanding.

The Rev. Lukie has agreed to have a fiduciary board help run the school and take some of the administrative and financial pressures off the pastor's hands. The board will help in distributing the scholarship funds, looking for donations and grants in new places, and enhancing the overall quality of the school. The Mother's Club and Father's Club will continue with day-to-day fund-raising activities such as dances, concerts, Christmas wrapping paper sales, raffles and other traditional fund-raising efforts.

Another issue that will have to be addressed in the near future is whether the school can survive long-term in its present location. Many parents refuse to send their children to an urban area for education and prefer a suburban setting. Contemporaneous with our school fund drive, St. John's Parish in Whippany, N.J., is laying plans to build a church and cultural center to provide for its growing congregation. Many of the new parishioners in Whippany are transplants from the Newark Parish. The committee has met with representatives of the Whippany Church's Building Committee to discuss the possibility of moving St. John's School to Whippany if and when a cultural center is built. The cultural center would be able to accommodate a grammar school.

Whether a Ukrainian Catholic school will be viable in either Whippany or Newark in the coming decades will have to be addressed in the next several years. A comprehensive demographic study is under way and a survey will be conducted. We have enlisted the data-mining skills of Ethnic Technologies Inc. to obtain preliminary demographic information, which will be supplemented by lists from other organizations. The committee is working with the Whippany parish to conduct a meaningful survey and analyze its results.

Although answers are not yet available, it is clear that St. John's School must survive over the next several years in order for the question of relocation to even be relevant. If St. John's School does not survive, it is doubtful that an everyday school will be created in Whippany from scratch. If St. John's School is allowed to close, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for it to re-open. Teachers and students will be scattered in various directions to the detriment of all. An anchor of the Ukrainian American community will be lost.

Please help support the school with a donation to St. John's School Fund, c/o Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, 734 Sanford Ave., Newark, NJ 07106. Potential donors may call Mr. Kovbasniuk for further information at (973) 373-7839.

Myron Martynetz is chairman of the Committee for the Development of St. John's School.

| Home Page |