Assumption Academy and St. Albert the Great partner to solve each school’s problems

School and pastoral leaders from Assumption Academy in Broadview Heights and Saint Albert the Great Catholic School in North Royalton have been meeting for weeks to develop a plan to halt Assumption’s dropping enrollment and deal with Saint Albert’s growing waiting list.

According to the developing agreement, St. Albert the Great will manage Assumption Academy for the 2019-2020 school year, including evaluating staff, budgets and programming needs. The partnership is not a merger, as other schools in the Dioceses of Cleveland have done, but an alliance to help sustain Assumption Academy as a stand alone school funded by Assumption Parish.

“Now, as we all look back, we see that us working together is such a logical thing,” said Father Ed Estok, pastor at St. Albert the Great. “However, this isn’t the approach that other Catholic schools have taken, so we’re working to pave a new way to help Assumption Academy remain a viable campus and potentially offer a model for other struggling schools.”

St. Albert Principal Ed Vittardi will use his years of experience to work closely with Assumption Academy leaders, parents and students to identify what is working and what changes should be implemented. During Vittardi’s time at Saint Albert, the school has been recognized as a top workplace by a local publication four times, and enrollment has increased by 230 students. St. Albert the Great has a waiting list for nearly every grade for the 2019-2020 school year.

“It is our hope that this partnership will help to sustain Catholic education at Assumption Academy for next year and beyond,” said Father Justin Dyrwal, pastor at Church of the Assumption. “We look forward to the advice, partnership and assistance from a neighbor in our time of need.”

On Giving Tuesday, the diocese hosted its annual 24-hour online day of giving. Assumption Academy raised $107,190 in one day, the most raised of 194 participating organizations.

Open enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year has begun. The school educates students in grades pre-K-8. To schedule a personal tour, contact 440-526-4877 or sch_assumption@dioceseofcleveland.org. Learn more by visiting assumptionacademy.org.

For questions or additional information, contact Jodie Varner, parent volunteer, at 440-221-1829.