Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, March 29, 2002 New schools superintendent By Lou Jacquet The new superintendent of diocesan Catholic schools paid a visit to the Diocese of Youngstown March 25 to meet with department staffers and members of the local news media. Dr. Michael Skube, 55, who will take over that position in June, is winding up his 13 years of service as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Charlotte, N.C. Warmer weather there was the topic of much banter on the morning of the press conference, which saw some six inches of snow blanket the Youngstown area and much of the diocese. But Dr. Skube, a native of Illinois whose wife is from Toledo, has previously worked in the Midwest and said he was looking forward with great eagerness to serving in the Diocese of Youngstown, whose Office of Catholic Schools serves more than 14,000 students in 44 elementary schools and six high schools in the six-county area. “What I really see taking place [in this diocese] is the building upon what has already taken place, which is attention to academics, that the schools are a mission of the Church, and to come up with types of programs such as those we have and build on those programs,” the new superintendent said. Catholic schools prepare students well for the workplace and to become “contributing members of local communities,” he said, adding that it is important to assure parents that “our schools continue to be a secure environment.” Dr. Skube pointed out how important Catholic schools are to the overall well-being of the communities they serve: “We contribute to the growth of that area. We save every county, we save the state taxpayers millions of dollars because of what we do every day. If our schools did not exist, taxes would certainly go up, because someone has to educate the students.” However, educating students is only worthwhile if “whatever you are doing adds to what everyone wants,” and Catholic schools do that by offering top-level academics in a safe and secure environment with a faith dimension, he added. Dr. Skube said he also sees the mission of Catholic schools as critical to their success. “In our schools,” he told those present, “we promote the mission of being involved in service to others. In doing that, we show parents of children – no matter what their faith tradition is – that we are really preparing them to become contributing members of society.” The new superintendent thanked diocesan department heads and education staffers for “a warm welcome” despite the weather conditions. He said he planned to meet with members of all diocesan departments to ask, “What do you do? Why do you do it? How can I help? How can our department help you do better what you are already doing? I know that what will come out of that process is a strong sense of mission for all of us in serving the local Church and the local community.” Dr. Skube praised the staffers of the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools, citing the “wealth of experience and the wealth of success available here” to help smooth his transition to the new role. He called a return to the Midwest “coming back home” and said that “we loved the South, but our background has been from these areas and we certainly look forward to coming back. I’m delighted to be a part of this community.” Asked if he expected to travel a great deal within the diocese in his first year or two, Dr. Skube responded that he does expect to visit diocesan schools. But the more compact nature of the Diocese of Youngstown (3,404 square miles) makes that a less daunting task than the three-or-four hour rides he took to reach some schools in the far-flung and mountainous Diocese of Charlotte. Dr. Skube succeeds Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, superintendent for more than 30 years, who left the position to assume the same role with the Archdiocese of Chicago, the nation’s largest Catholic school system. Dr. Skube was named to the position following a nationwide search. Wallace Dunne, director of Government Programs/Resource Development, has served as interim superintendent. Notre Dame Sister M. Brendon Zajac, executive director of the diocesan department of Pastoral and Educational Services, introduced Dr. Skube to the media. “We are honored that he would accept this important role in the diocese,” she said. “We look forward to working with him for many, many years to come.” Dr. Skube, a frequent presenter at national education conventions, will speak on “The Next Generation: A Study of Catholic School Religion Teachers” at the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) convention in April. He will represent the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June at a symposium in Dayton on “Catholic Educational Leaders Prepare Their Successors: A Conversation.” The new superintendent of diocesan Catholic schools paid a visit to the Diocese of Youngstown March 25 to meet with department staffers and members of the local news media. Dr. Michael Skube, 55, who will take over that position in June, is winding up his 13 years of service as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Charlotte, N.C. Warmer weather there was the topic of much banter on the morning of the press conference, which saw some six inches of snow blanket the Youngstown area and much of the diocese. But Dr. Skube, a native of Illinois whose wife is from Toledo, has previously worked in the Midwest and said he was looking forward with great eagerness to serving in the Diocese of Youngstown, whose Office of Catholic Schools serves more than 14,000 students in 44 elementary schools and six high schools in the six-county area. “What I really see taking place [in this diocese] is the building upon what has already taken place, which is attention to academics, that the schools are a mission of the Church, and to come up with types of programs such as those we have and build on those programs,” the new superintendent said. Catholic schools prepare students well for the workplace and to become “contributing members of local communities,” he said, adding that it is important to assure parents that “our schools continue to be a secure environment.” Dr. Skube pointed out how important Catholic schools are to the overall well-being of the communities they serve: “We contribute to the growth of that area. We save every county, we save the state taxpayers millions of dollars because of what we do every day. If our schools did not exist, taxes would certainly go up, because someone has to educate the students.” However, educating students is only worthwhile if “whatever you are doing adds to what everyone wants,” and Catholic schools do that by offering top-level academics in a safe and secure environment with a faith dimension, he added. Dr. Skube said he also sees the mission of Catholic schools as critical to their success. “In our schools,” he told those present, “we promote the mission of being involved in service to others. In doing that, we show parents of children – no matter what their faith tradition is – that we are really preparing them to become contributing members of society.” The new superintendent thanked diocesan department heads and education staffers for “a warm welcome” despite the weather conditions. He said he planned to meet with members of all diocesan departments to ask, “What do you do? Why do you do it? How can I help? How can our department help you do better what you are already doing? I know that what will come out of that process is a strong sense of mission for all of us in serving the local Church and the local community.” Dr. Skube praised the staffers of the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools, citing the “wealth of experience and the wealth of success available here” to help smooth his transition to the new role. He called a return to the Midwest “coming back home” and said that “we loved the South, but our background has been from these areas and we certainly look forward to coming back. I’m delighted to be a part of this community.” Asked if he expected to travel a great deal within the diocese in his first year or two, Dr. Skube responded that he does expect to visit diocesan schools. But the more compact nature of the Diocese of Youngstown (3,404 square miles) makes that a less daunting task than the three-or-four hour rides he took to reach some schools in the far-flung and mountainous Diocese of Charlotte. Dr. Skube succeeds Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, superintendent for more than 30 years, who left the position to assume the same role with the Archdiocese of Chicago, the nation’s largest Catholic school system. Dr. Skube was named to the position following a nationwide search. Wallace Dunne, director of Government Programs/Resource Development, has served as interim superintendent. Notre Dame Sister M. Brendon Zajac, executive director of the diocesan department of Pastoral and Educational Services, introduced Dr. Skube to the media. “We are honored that he would accept this important role in the diocese,” she said. “We look forward to working with him for many, many years to come.” Dr. Skube, a frequent presenter at national education conventions, will speak on “The Next Generation: A Study of Catholic School Religion Teachers” at the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) convention in April. He will represent the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June at a symposium in Dayton on “Catholic Educational Leaders Prepare Their Successors: A Conversation.”   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. 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