Indianapolis City-County Council Votes to Transform Two Catholic Schools into Mayor-Sponsored Charters

INDIANAPOLIS, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of the six schools within the Mother Theodore Catholic Academies will officially transform into mayor-sponsored charter schools this fall – with new names. In a historic decision, the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County voted to approve the application to transform St. Anthony and St. Andrew & St. Rita into secular schools.

Facing many challenges, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Mother Theodore Catholic Academies developed an innovative plan to ensure all six schools remained open.

"Many urban Catholic schools are closing across the nation and we did not want to leave the students or communities we currently serve," said Msgr. Joseph Schaedel, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. "Through this transformation, an urgent and unmet need within urban Indianapolis will be filled."

A separate board, independent of the Archdiocese – ADI Charter Schools, Inc. – will oversee the two schools to ensure all aspects of governance and operational activities conform to Federal and State of Indiana laws. The Board consists of seven highly engaged community leaders representing several areas of expertise.

"ADI Charter Schools Inc. will prepare students for high school and life after graduation," said Holly McKiernan, ADI Charter Schools Inc. board member. "We collectively have a strong commitment to keep St. Anthony and St. Andrew & St. Rita in the communities they currently serve, but as secular charter schools."

Indianapolis Mayor Gregory A. Ballard is the only mayor in the nation who is able to sponsor charter schools.

"Choices for our students and parents are important especially when it comes to education," said Mayor Gregory A. Ballard. "I am pleased and honored to fully support the transformation of both St. Anthony and St. Andrew & St. Rita into charter schools and look forward to the quality of education the schools will provide."

ADI's application outlines five aggressive education performance goals including a plan for all seventh grade students returning to school in eighth grade to successfully complete Algebra 1 and pass the Algebra 1 exit exam. Additionally, the schools will focus on strong character values with an emphasis on community service.

Through robust community outreach, the transformation process has been discussed at more than 40 meetings with parents, teachers, church parishes, community leaders, elected officials and other key stakeholders.

"The overwhelming majority of people we have met with have provided support including the Indianapolis Charter School Board and Mayor Gregory Ballard," said Connie Zittnan, director of the Mother Theodore Catholic Academies. "We expect to be under a microscope as the schools transform and look forward to staying in the communities currently served."

ADI is also searching for a head of school for each location. As soon as the heads of school are determined, parent focus groups will be held to focus on branding, including the name of the school, and parent communication. All teachers and staff will be asked to reapply.

St. Andrew & St. Rita is not a typical private school with 77 percent of the student population on free and reduced lunch and only seven percent of the primarily African-American student body belonging to the Catholic faith.

St. Anthony consists of mainly Catholic students, its population is 90 percent Hispanic, and 98 percent of the students are on free and reduced lunch.

In December 2009, MTCA submitted a prospectus and letter of intent to the Indianapolis Charter School Board and the full application in February 2010. The Board unanimously voted in favor of the application. It then went before Mayor Ballard, who also approved the application. Next, the application was sent to the Rules and Public Policy Committee of the City-County Council, who unanimously voted in favor of the application. Finally, it went before the full City-County Council for the final vote and was approved.

SOURCE Mother Theodore Catholic Academies