Rochester, N.Y. - Catholic schools in Monroe County are going back to their roots.
The Diocese of Rochester, which has run schools for two decades, has decided to let local parishes take the reins.
The Diocese started the centralized system in 1989, as a way to protect less-affluent schools.
It worked well, said Anne Willkens Leach, Superintendent of the Department of Catholic Schools. But now the economy has changed, and the Diocese is revisiting the way these schools are configured.
"We've also done some research, and discovered schools that do well have a close connection to their parishes," Willkens Leach said.
To reestablish that connection, parishes will take control in the fall, recruiting and registering students, and handling finances.
Members of the Peace of Christ Parish met at St. Ambrose Church Wednesday night, to form committees and get the process starting at St. John Neumann, an elementary school next door to St. Ambrose on Empire Boulevard.
"This is going to be an experience," said Dan Costello, co-chair of the Finance Committee. "The school is kind of in a trial run right now, and we're working with the Diocese to see what they spent in past years. We want to see what money we can save and be cost efficient. There's a lot of pressure to perform here."
The Diocese will still be involved setting the curriculum, certifying teachers and staff, and making sure schools meet the standards of the New York State Regents exam.
A majority of Monroe County's Catholic schools will make the transition in September of this year.
"There are a few exceptions," Willkens Leach said. "Two schools, St. Joseph's in Penfield and St. Lawrence in Greece have already reverted. Christ the King in Irondequoit has until September 2012."
The only exception, she said, is Sienna Junior High, which is considered a regional school and will not revert.
