Catholic Church and Paterson discuss converting parochial school into public academy
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
Church and Paterson school officials are collaborating on a deal that could transform Paterson Catholic High School into a public charter school.
The deal, confirmed by participants on Friday, could ease the space crunch in the public schools, provide lease money to the debt-burdened Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson and allow for many of PC’s students to stay put.
But because it calls for a measure of church involvement in what would be a tax-supported school, city educators said they were still reviewing whether the arrangement would fit under constitutional separation of church and state.
“There are some positives for us to consider,” said Paterson schools Superintendent Donnie Evans. “But there are long-term, short-term and church-state issues to consider.”
The charter plan was outlined in an announcement posted on the diocesan website.
The deal, confirmed by participants on Friday, could ease the space crunch in the public schools, provide lease money to the debt-burdened Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson and allow for many of PC’s students to stay put.
But because it calls for a measure of church involvement in what would be a tax-supported school, city educators said they were still reviewing whether the arrangement would fit under constitutional separation of church and state.
“There are some positives for us to consider,” said Paterson schools Superintendent Donnie Evans. “But there are long-term, short-term and church-state issues to consider.”
The charter plan was outlined in an announcement posted on the diocesan website.
