[StBernard] Archdiocese Meeting Notes

[Westley Annis]

1. SCHOOLS: Catholic Schools Superintendent Father William Maestri 
briefed an overflow crowd of parents Tuesday, Sept.13, at the Catholic 
Life Center Auditorium to on plans for six satellite elementary schools 
and one satellite secondary school in the Baton Rouge Diocese. Father 
Maestri said he expects Jefferson Parish Catholic schools to resume 
operations by Oct. 3, although the timetable may not be exact. He asked 
those parents with children in either elementary or secondary schools in 
Jefferson Parish not to register their children in Baton Rouge-area 
Catholic schools because they will be able to return to their original 
schools and complete a full academic year by going on an extended 
schedule. Father Maestri said parents whose children attended schools 
that were heavily damaged needed to have preference for the available 
slots. St. Tammany Parish’s three Catholic high schools – St. 
Scholastica Academy, St. Paul’s and Pope John Paul II – are set to 
reopen on Sept.19. St. Margaret Mary Elementary School in Slidell will 
be expanding enrollment to help those from heavily damaged schools such 
as Our Lady of Lourdes, Slidell. As of Wednesday, Sept. 14, all schools 
in St. John and St. Charles civil parishes will be open. After the 
briefing, parents filled out forms indicating their willingness to 
register at Baton Rouge Catholic elementary and secondary schools, and 
Father Maestri said that would help quantify the need. St. Michael’s 
High School will offer coed evening sessions for 1,000 students. If more 
high school slots are needed, other discussions will take place to find 
additional space.

 From Archdiocese website