[StBernard] Archdiocese says it's committed to Hannan High School

[Westley Annis]

Archdiocese says it's committed to Hannan High School

By Jenny Hurwitz
St. Tammany bureau 

Responding to complaints from agitated Archbishop Hannan High School
parents, the Archdiocese of New Orleans reiterated its dedication to the
high school community this week, while vowing to take steps to improve its
still-unfinished temporary campus near Covington. 

In a prepared statement released Wednesday, the Rev. William Maestri,
superintendent of the archdiocese's Catholic schools, addressed a number of
issues pertaining to the school, which moved to the north shore last August
after Hurricane Katrina wrecked its campus in Meraux. 

Parents have complained that the modular classrooms at St. Joseph Abbey are
missing a gymnasium, cafeteria, library and science lab, all of which were
promised as part of the original site plan. 

Maestri said the office of Catholic Schools is in the process of
coordinating with community entities for use of a nearby gymnasium, as well
as buses that will ferry the students to and from the site. 

He also said that the school administration is working to purchase modular
facilities to house a library and science labs, as well as furniture and
equipment to furnish them. And the principal is coordinating with the
Archdiocesan Food Service Program to introduce a lunch program. Students
currently bring their lunches to school. 

Archdiocese officials expect the principal to deliver a status report on all
temporary campus issues on Feb. 10. 

In addition, Maestri promised laptop tablets for each student enrolled at
Hannan next year. The computers will come equipped with wireless Internet
connections and access to a research library database.

To improve communication, the archdiocese has asked the school community to
form a committee by Feb. 15 made up of students, faculty, staff,
administrators and parents, to serve as liaisons to the archdiocese. 

Maestri reaffirmed his commitment to Hannan and its permanent campus near
Goodbee, which he hopes will open by Fall 2008. 

"The Archdiocese is resolute in the building of Archbishop Hannan High
School and is purposeful in taking the necessary steps to make this happen
in a timely manner," the statement reads. 

But if Maestri touched on a number of concerns plaguing Hannan parents, he
failed to mention the most controversial one involving founding principal
John Serio, who recently announced he would be stepping down at the year's
end. 

Serio has not given a reason for his departure, saying only that "it was the
right time for me to move on." 

But parents believe he resigned in protest, upset by the lack of progress
made by archdiocese officials at the temporary site. They have suggested the
principal might reclaim his position, if the archdiocese would only approach
him and ask him to return. 


Randy Lambert, who has emerged among Hannan parents as a leader, was
unimpressed with the archdiocese's announcement.

"They're throwing us a bone," he said. "They probably think 20 to 30 percent
of parents will be satisfied with the laptops." 

To Lambert, computers and campuses come second in the grand scheme of
Hannan's future. 

"The main goal right now is to get Mr. Serio to remain," he said. 

(Jenny Hurwitz can be reached at (985) 645-2848 or
jhurwitz at timespicayune.com.)