Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, center, sees what students are learning at St. Wendelin Catholic School in Summit Township on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Five Catholic schools in Butler County were reorganized ahead of the school year, separating from the parishes whose jurisdictions they were under and joining a network of schools known as the North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools.

The organization, part of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, on July 1 welcomed Butler Catholic, Holy Sepulcher School, Saint Kilian Catholic School, St. Gregory Catholic School and St. Wendelin Catholic School. They join Holy Cross Academy, Blessed Trinity Academy and Blessed Francis Seelos Academy.

As part of the reorganization, two of the schools from the original region moved “to ensure the best possible alignment.” Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall moved to the Pittsburgh East Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, while St. James School in Sewickley joined the South Regional Catholic Elementary Schools system.

Operations previously overseen by the parishes now fall in the scope of the North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools.

Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, left, along with Assistant Principal of Saint Kilian Catholic School Maura O'Brien and Principal Kristy Pietrone visit a classroom at St. Kilian in Cranberry Township on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

“(School) names are staying the same, logos are the same,” said Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director. “We’re not trying to take anything away from (schools’) identities, or their culture other than on the operations side and giving them more resources.”

“Anything they would have done with the parish ... any kind of operations, finances, are all overseen by our office,” Zuccher said.

According to Zuccher, the changes mark the completion of a reorganization envisioned by the diocese in 2017, which also oversaw some schools and parishes merging.

This summer, changes were implemented to move away from a parish model in which schools were under the jurisdiction of parishes. Previously, a principal’s higher-up was a pastor. Now, the five Catholic elementary schools in Butler County are part of an organization not dissimilar to a school district led by superintendent Michael Killmeyer.

“This reorganization not only strengthens our community but also ensures that every child has the opportunity to receive a high-quality Catholic education,” Killmeyer stated in a news release.

Zuccher said the reorganization offers principals more guidance. Killmeyer, who has a background in education, is positioned to provide support when needed, she said. Teachers across the organization can also act as resources for each other.

The reorganization also is a financial decision.

Relying primarily on parishes for helping to finance the schools can be overwhelming, Zuccher said.

“When a parish is fully supporting a school ... it’s no secret that numbers at Catholic parishes are declining, attendance at mass is declining, which in turn means people at Catholic schools are declining,” she said.

Zuccher said leading up to the reorganization, she joined the superintendent and board president as they visited different parishes, spoke with parents and community members about the upcoming transition and asked questions.

“We were met with a lot of questions, and not a lot of resistance,” she said.

According to JoLynn Clouse, principal of St. Wendelin Catholic School, the schools have “maintained the same atmosphere” since moving into the larger organization.

“Parents and students have been informed through electronic correspondence and in-person meetings that the daily operations will continue without disruption from the normal routines,” she said. “Parents and students have experienced a seamless transition into the reorganization as a regional school.

“The regional office staff has been a presence in our school environments during the school day and outside events to promote a feeling of solidarity between the regional office and the families of each school.”

For John Hazur, principal of Butler Catholic School, the reorganization calls for adaptability and flexibility on the part of the impacted schools.

“During this transition, it’s likely that unforeseen challenges will arise, and as principal you have to have the ability to adapt, and that will be a big key to successful implementation of this regionalization process,” Hazur said.

Zuccher described this year as a “transition year” for the schools involved. Bank accounts, tuition accounts and student information is in the process of being transferred, she said.

“This is not like a flick of a switch,” Zuccher said.

“Change is always a challenge,” said Kristy Pietrone, principal of St. Kilian Catholic School. “However, it also helps us to appreciate all the good things and the support we have had through the years.

“Through this change, we are fortunate to continue to have the support of our school families, parish community, and Father (Charles) Bober, who helped establish the school’s strong foundation. The biggest benefit has been the ability to build relationships with fellow Catholic principals.”

Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, left, and principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School JoLynn Clouse walk by St. Wendelin Catholic School in Butler on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

JoLynn Clouse, principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School, helps students with math on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

JoLynn Clouse, principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School, helps students with math on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools checks in on students at St. Wendelin Catholic School in Summit Township on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, left, and JoLynn Clouse, principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School, sees what students are learning at St. Wendelin Catholic School in Summit Township on Tuesday, August 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

JoLynn Clouse, principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School, left, and Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, visits a classroom at St. Wendelin Catholic School in Butler on Tuesday, August 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

JoLynn Clouse, principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School, left, and Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, visits a classroom at St. Wendelin Catholic School on Tuesday, August 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools checks in on students at St. Wendelin Catholic School in Summit Township on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

JoLynn Clouse, principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School, left, and Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, visits a classroom at St. Wendelin Catholic School in Summit Township on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School JoLynn Clouse, left, and Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, pose in the hallway of St. Wendelin Catholic School on Tuesday, August 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

JoLynn Clouse, principal at St. Wendelin Catholic School, helps students with math on Tuesday, August 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Assistant principal of Saint Kilian Catholic School Maura O'Brien, left, principal Kristy Pietrone and Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, walk the halls of St. Kilian in Cranberry Township on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Saint Kilian Catholic School principal Kristy Pietrone, left, and assistant principal Maura O’Brien help students open their lunches in the cafeteria on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, left, and Saint Kilian Catholic School assistant principal Maura O'Brien visit a first grade classroom at Saint Kilian on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Saint Kilian Catholic School assistant principal Maura O’Brien helps students open their lunches in the cafeteria on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, left, and St. Kilian Catholic School assistant principal Maura O'Brien visit a first grade classroom at St. Kilian on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, left, and St. Kilian Catholic School assistant principal Maura O'Brien visit a first grade classroom at St. Kilian on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

St. Kilian Catholic School principal Kristy Pietrone, left, assistant principal Maura O'Brien, and Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, visit the art room at St. Kilian on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Assistant principal of St. Kilian Catholic School Maura O'Brien, left, Leigh Zuccher, regional advancement director of North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, and principal Kristy Pietrone visit the cafeteria at St. Kilian in Cranberry Township on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle