Rutland Catholic Schools

Bishop Matano Announces New Board Structure for Rutland County

The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington announced a major change in the governance of Mount St. Joseph Academy and Christ the King School, the Rutland region’s two Catholic educational institutions. The new governance model, which has received the enthusiastic support of area Catholic pastors and members of the Parish Councils from the Rutland Deanery, will dissolve the current School Boards. The new Board of Directors is expected to include representatives of parents, parishioners, local business leaders and education professionals from the greater Rutland area. Bishop Matano will appoint members of the newly constituted governance upon the recommendation of Sister Marie Kelly, SNDdeN, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Burlington. This Board will have limited jurisdiction with some reserved powers given to a Board of Directors appointed by and under the vigilance of the Bishop in accordance with the Code of Canon Law.

“Mount St. Joseph Academy and Christ the King School have brought out the best in my children. They provide a total education that stresses academic fundamentals and includes essential moral and spiritual development,” said Anne Robertello, a parent with students at both schools. Speaking about the schools’ contribution to the local educational community, Ms. Robertello continued, “These two schools add to the richness and diversity of our region. Educational opportunity in our area would be seriously diminished if these schools weren’t here. They bring out the best in each child.”

The decision to move to the single Board of Directors was infl uenced, in part, by a limited institutional assessment recently conducted by Catholic School Management, a Catholic educational consultancy firm from Connecticut. The study identified current strengths and weaknesses in both schools and made comprehensive and specific recommendations that would lead to the long-term viability of Catholic school education in Rutland. A critical conclusion reached by the CSM researchers was that there is strong support for Catholic schools in Rutland and that the history and traditions that the Sisters of Saint Joseph brought to both Christ the King School and Mount St. Joseph Academy were clearly valued by current families and graduates as well as the schools themselves. CSM also concluded that both schools have played a major role in the history of the greater Rutland area community.

Christ the King School and Mount St. Joseph Academy offer a program of studies integrating faith formation with a curriculum that challenges students to reach their full potential. Both schools cite their desire to continue their tradition of excellence through Catholic education which was begun by the Sisters of Saint Joseph more than 125 years ago. Rev. Reid Mayo, Pastor of Christ the King parish cited the willingness of the two longstanding area schools to work together in the best interests of their Catholic faith as well as the best interests of both current and future students saying, “This ushers in a new era of cooperation, strength, and commitment to Catholic school education in the Rutland region. All parishes in the deanery have pledged their support for the new Rutland Catholic Schools entity.”

The Diocese, the pastors, present Board members, faculty and staffs have stated that they are encouraged by the results of the Catholic School Management study and the possibilities for growth and development. “As an alumnus of Rutland Catholic Schools, I appreciate the education and values that I received. Our schools are invaluable and I want to share my enthusiasm for all these institutions have given and continue to accomplish,” stated Rev. Joseph Romano, pastor of St. Alphonsus Liguori Church in Pittsford.