Dear Monroe Catholic Elementary Families,

The pastors and principals of the three Monroe Catholic elementary schools are happy to announce a further development in the collaboration we began in June of this year. Building on the tremendous success we have had as three partners working to provide the best Catholic education in the city of Monroe, we have decided to move one more step forward. Beginning next academic year, the three schools, while retaining their own parish identities, will begin to specialize in the particular education we offer to our children as they progress through a Catholic School system.

Details regarding this new structure can be found in the brochure accompanying this announcement, as well as on our website at www.monroecatholicschools.com. Mrs. Melody Curtis will step into a full-time position as Executive Director of the new configuration. Mrs. Michelle Sontag will be appointed to the St. Mary campus as principal of the middle school, while Mrs. Jacqueline Mojeske will be appointed to the St. Michael campus as principal of the early elementary school. A principal will be hired in the near future for the St. John campus.

Our success in the current collaborative effort has allowed us to look critically at the way we provide Catholic education in Monroe. We have moved to eliminate competition between the three schools and increased accountability among our teachers, administrators and pastors for the services we provide. In the past year, all three parish schools have realized an economic benefit in the form of increased enrollments and greater financial stability.

We have also been able to discern that in working together, there are even greater opportunities for us ahead. Providing quality Catholic education is best done when our shared faculties and resources can focus on the particular population they seek to serve. Guaranteeing a better organizational framework will continue to allow us to best meet the needs of our families. We believe that this new model for using our school buildings will bring about the best Catholic education we can provide in this city.

The pastors of the Monroe parishes have received the blessing and approval of the Archdiocese of Detroit to proceed with this plan. We are convinced that this is an ideal time in the history of our three faith communities to move forward. Please join us as we usher in a new era in the work of educating our children within the Catholic tradition in the city of Monroe.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Marc Gawronski, St. Mary Pastor

Rev. James Smalarz, St. John the Baptist Pastor

Rev. Stephen Vileo St. Michael the Archangel Pastor