By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
ASHTABULA — A new marketing plan will put a new face on traditional values, as Ss. John and Paul Schools stretch technology to bring new students to the area’s only Catholic high school.
Area professionals and Ss. John and Paul alumni have formed a marketing committee to help spread the word of the school’s 100 percent graduation rate, high Ohio Graduation Test scores and advanced academic opportunities through Kent State University-Ashtabula campus, committee member Gerry Giangola said. According to Giangola, 97 percent of Ss. John and Paul High School students go on to college.
“We have had some wonderful discussions here,” Principal Albina Larson said. “We are doing more with less.”
Giangola said the school has frozen tuition for next year and the teachers took a pay freeze for the year.
“Everyone — from fundraising to teachers to administrators and students and parents — has a hand in keeping tuition affordable,” he said.
The school also has taken strides with wireless technology and has added computer-based classes to the curriculum, Giangola said.
The school also is enrolled in Option C, a program that connects parents with the classroom like never before, Larson said.
“This is an online student management service that allows parents to access their child’s grades every day,” she said.
Parent and school alumna Theresa Berrier-Pope said Ss. John and Paul schools offer a unique experience for parents and children.
“In a hard world, this school offers an education, sure, but also values they take with them,” she said. “Parents are absolutely involved at this school. I honestly feel like I have a say in how my child is taught.”
Larson said difficult financial times have all schools struggling.
“We need to increase enrollment — and we know we need to increase enrollment,” she said. “Ss. John and Paul really is Ashtabula County’s best-kept secret. It is time to let the secret out of the bag.”
To increase enrollment, Ss. John and Paul Schools will be awarding $64,000 in scholarships to new students.
In addition, Ss. John and Paul schools will be holding open houses at both schools Thursday, school public relations officer Christy Kovacs said. The events will be held 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the elementary school, at 2150 Columbus Ave., and at the high school, at 541 W. 34th St. Kovacs said registration information for the next school year will be available during the open houses.
For more information on the schools or the open houses, call Ss. John and Paul Schools (440-997-5531) or visit www.ssjp.org.
