Dear WWCS Families,

 

We are so blessed to have a very active and engaged community, with very legitimate and understandable questions and concerns for the upcoming school year. Please know that the administration, teachers, staff, and Board members care about the learning of each and every child at the school. These children are precious to God, they are the future of this world, and the mission of WWCS is to ensure that each child reaches his/her potential, spiritually, physically, mentally and academically, whether online or in person.

 

Important Note: The answers below reflect the position of the Board as of Thursday (8/27). However, given the updated timeline and metrics released by Fr. Seidel earlier today (9/1), some of the information presented may no longer be applicable to the current situation. 

 

 

School administration, faculty, and staff worked collaboratively with the Walla Walla County Health Department to develop a plan that would allow students to begin in-person instruction in the fall. Unfortunately, these plans were derailed on August 6, 2020 when Governor Jay Inslee announced the Washington State Department of Health’s new recommendations for resuming in-person instruction. 

 

These recommendations were directed to both public and private K-12 schools, and advised that schools in “High Risk” counties should revert to remote learning. Walla Walla County is considered “High Risk” because we have had, on average, more than 75 new cases per 100,000 people in the last 14-day period. Currently, Walla Walla County’s “Rolling Average” sits at 287.8 on the state dashboard.

 

On August 13, 2020, Bishop Thomas Daly and the Diocesan Office of Education informed us that “Schools within the Catholic Diocese of Spokane will continue to follow the guidance from Governor Inslee’s office and the local Spokane Department of Health (DOH) as a minimum standard.” The Diocese recommended a “phase in” model, which is more fully described in this letter. In order to get additional time to determine what that meant for Walla Walla Catholic Schools, Father Curtis Seidel immediately announced that the new start date for School would be delayed to September 8th, placing us on a similar timeline to other Walla Walla schools.

 

In addition, the School began receiving conflicting information from its insurance carrier about the risk it would face if it reopened in the fall in contravention of state, local, and diocesan guidelines. The School’s insurer advised that it is “of the utmost importance that [its] guidelines be followed in addition to state and local government guidelines.”  After consulting with local health officials and the Diocese, it became clear that the plan to fully reopen the School would need to be delayed. 

 

Faced with these challenges, Father Seidel announced on August 20th that school would begin in-person for grades K-2, and remotely for grades 3-12.

 

On Wednesday (8/26), Fr. Seidel spoke directly with representatives of Catholic Mutual, the school’s insurance company, and learned that departing from the state’s COVID-19 case rate recommendations would not itself invalidate the school’s insurance coverage. Fr. Seidel shared this information with the Board the following day (8/27) at the monthly Board meeting.

 

This was an administrative decision made by Father Seidel and Principal John Lesko.

 

The Board was advised of the Administration’s decision. Because this decision resulted, in part, from Diocesan directives, no vote was necessary to approve the administrative change. Additionally, the Board felt that additional information and public comment was necessary before any vote could be taken.

 

The formal position of the Bishop was set forth in the August 13th letter from the Diocesan Office of Education, which indicated that the State’s guidance is a “minimum standard” for Diocesan schools and that a return to in-person instruction should be “phased-in.” Father Seidel and Mr. Lesko have been working closely with the Bishop to determine how fast we can accomplish a “phase-in” for all grades at the School. In fact, even at the writing of this letter, new developments from the Diocese are forthcoming.

 

No. Though the Articles of Incorporation that created the School allow the Board to manage the School’s “temporal affairs,” the School’s Bylaws clearly state that the Bishop has authority over school activities beyond the spiritual.  These Bylaws are online for all to review.  Among other things, they say that the “educational work” of the School “shall at all times be conducted in accordance with the…policies of the Diocese of Spokane pertaining to Catholic Schools.”  See Bylaws at Section 1.2.  They also specifically say that the Board is required to follow all of the Bishop’s directives:

It shall be the obligation of the Board of Directors…to see to it that Walla Walla Catholic Schools acts in conformity with Canon Law and, in particular, with the following Canons:

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See Bylaws at Section 6.1. Because the Diocese issued a directive about using the State’s guidance as a “minimum standard,” the Board and the Administration are required to follow it until changed.

 

Father Seidel has been meeting with the Bishop about the School’s reopening plans and the speed in which we can “phase in” in-person instruction. He has the best chance of pushing towards a reopening approved by the Diocese. In any event, the priests (including our Canonical Administrator Father Nicks) are designated as the proper liaison between the School and the Bishop. See Bylaws Section VI. Fr. Seidel went to Spokane on Friday (8/28) to continue this conversation and met with the bishop

 

We are not in the same situation as every other school in the Diocese. Some of the Catholic schools designated to reopen are located in counties that are not designated high-risk or have health departments that are willing to specifically approve a variation.  Unfortunately, those circumstances don’t apply to us.  Moreover, other schools are not “Diocesan” schools” that are subject to fidelity to the Bishop as we are.

 

In any event, these schools are not fully reopening. For example, Gonzaga Prep has 1 day in-person and 4 days remote learning. While Tri-Cities Prep has students phased in by class, starting with smaller cohorts, and only going 2 days a week in person. As our unique situation allows us to open up, we will be pursuing a phase-in approach.

 

The Diocese developed a Risk Acknowledgment form that the Administration is revising to meet our local needs. The waiver will be updated as needed to reflect changing circumstances.

 

We are reminded that we are to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. Matthew 22:21. Although we may think that the State is mishandling the COVID-19 response and may disagree with the COVID-19 risk, the State does retain the authority to direct that response. It appears that this is part of what animated the Bishop’s August 13th letter. But whatever his reasoning, standing up for our faith also means that we show fidelity to the Bishop and his decisions.

The fundamental mission of the Walla Walla Catholic Schools remains unchanged:

 

 

At no other school in the Walla Walla Valley will children be formed in accord with a Catholic worldview for fulfillment in this life and the life to come. While the method of that formation must adjust to changing circumstances the purpose of our schools continues to stand firm.

 

The WWCS Board of Directors has continually monitored the financial state of the schools. The emerging COVID-19 pandemic further intensified the Board and administration’s concerns. To address part of these concerns, the Board asked the administration to investigate all options including the reduction of staff. The financial report on Thursday (8/27) did not present any substantially new information, which is why there was not greater discussion. The Board will evaluate the tuition schedule at the special Board meeting (9/10) in light of changing educational modalities. 

Our steadfast intention continues to be teaching your children in a fully in-person environment. While we are starting in a hybrid model due to the COVID-19 risk in our area, we have prepared to transition seamlessly and as quickly as is safely possible to an in-person teaching environment. We are also prepared to seamlessly transition between all modalities of instruction, as the situation with COVID-19 dictates throughout the year.

The Board would like to extend its immense gratitude to both Father Seidel and John Lesko. During the past month, we have seen them fight hard for in-person instruction, while maintaining a commitment to providing the safest possible teaching environment.  Despite setbacks, they never gave up. Our community is blessed that they are working for us. 

Respectfully,

The WWCS Board of Directors