Parochial Schools Finances

Catholic school administrators across the San Fernando Valley are beginning the new year determined to do more with less, as enrollments increase and resources shrink. "The economy is making it very tight," said Mary Roehrick, principal of Our Lady of the Valley Elementary School in Canoga Park. "We just don't have money for extra things. We were hoping to add a part-time music program and buy new desks, but we just cannot do that this year."

Los Angeles police have long been aware of the financial woes at San Miguel Elementary, a small Catholic school in a crime-ridden section of Watts. But it wasn't until the parish hosted a police luncheon in the church hall last year that officers learned firsthand just how severe the school's money problems were. In the back half of the tiny auditorium--about the size of a basketball court--teachers were conducting first-grade and kindergarten classes behind a flimsy partition.

Los Angeles Archbishop Roger M. Mahony announced Monday that the archdiocese has raised half of its $100-million goal to support inner-city Catholic schools and needy students. The Los Angeles archdiocese's Education Foundation, in its three years of existence, has awarded more than $2.5 million in tuition to about 4,500 students. Mahony said the 100 inner-city Catholic elementary and high schools in the archdiocese still have 5,000 empty seats.

The school is getting the tower. The students are getting the shaft. That's the way parents are describing the decision to construct a 70-foot radio transmission tower on the playground of Holy Redeemer School in Montrose as a moneymaking venture for the campus. Parents are nervous about their children's safety and the loss of valuable playground space because of the tower--which would handle cellular telephone calls and things like private business dispatching services and personal pagers.

A broad "religious equality" amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would permit student-led prayers in public schools and public funding to parochial schools, was introduced in the House Wednesday. The amendment's proponents, including groups such as the Christian Legal Society, the National Assn. of Evangelicals and the Orange County-based Traditional Values Coalition, say the proposal is aimed at protecting the rights of all Americans to express their religion without discrimination.

Los Angeles police have long been aware of the financial woes at San Miguel Elementary, a small Catholic school in a crime-ridden section of Watts. But it wasn't until the parish hosted a police luncheon in the church hall last year that officers learned firsthand just how severe the school's money problems were. In the back half of the tiny auditorium--about the size of a basketball court--teachers were conducting first-grade and kindergarten classes behind a flimsy partition.

Pledging to maintain the Roman Catholic Church's commitment to South-Central Los Angeles and surrounding communities, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony on Friday announced a two-year, $10-million program to revitalize three Catholic high schools. The schools are the only remaining single-gender high schools in South-Central Los Angeles and Compton. They are Verbum Dei Boys High School in Watts, Regina Caeli Girls High School in Compton and St.

The school is getting the tower. The students are getting the shaft. That's the way parents are describing the decision to construct a 70-foot radio transmission tower on the playground of Holy Redeemer School in Montrose as a moneymaking venture for the campus. Parents are nervous about their children's safety and the loss of valuable playground space because of the tower--which would handle cellular telephone calls and things like private business dispatching services and personal pagers.

A broad "religious equality" amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would permit student-led prayers in public schools and public funding to parochial schools, was introduced in the House Wednesday. The amendment's proponents, including groups such as the Christian Legal Society, the National Assn. of Evangelicals and the Orange County-based Traditional Values Coalition, say the proposal is aimed at protecting the rights of all Americans to express their religion without discrimination.

Pledging to maintain the Roman Catholic Church's commitment to South-Central Los Angeles and surrounding communities, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony on Friday announced a two-year, $10-million program to revitalize three Catholic high schools. The schools are the only remaining single-gender high schools in South-Central Los Angeles and Compton. They are Verbum Dei Boys High School in Watts, Regina Caeli Girls High School in Compton and St.

Catholic school administrators across the San Fernando Valley are beginning the new year determined to do more with less, as enrollments increase and resources shrink. "The economy is making it very tight," said Mary Roehrick, principal of Our Lady of the Valley Elementary School in Canoga Park. "We just don't have money for extra things. We were hoping to add a part-time music program and buy new desks, but we just cannot do that this year."

Los Angeles Archbishop Roger M. Mahony announced Monday that the archdiocese has raised half of its $100-million goal to support inner-city Catholic schools and needy students. The Los Angeles archdiocese's Education Foundation, in its three years of existence, has awarded more than $2.5 million in tuition to about 4,500 students. Mahony said the 100 inner-city Catholic elementary and high schools in the archdiocese still have 5,000 empty seats.