By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays is among the 1 percent of cities in Kansas that have Catholic schools for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior and Senior High School, along with Holy Family Elementary, have a combined record enrollment of 779 students.

Still, the Catholic schools are looking at a potential $400,000 deficit for the next fiscal year, according to the Strategic Planning Committee and Finance Council, which was created a year ago. The group presented its “State of Our Catholic Schools” address last week. Advancement Director Jeff Brull said representatives within and outside of the schools have had input.

“We had a whole array of people that had an interest in the direction the schools are going, the particular situations we’re facing right now — the budget and the residency situation. … They really took a look at how those situations affect each other. Everything we do is interdependent,” Brull said.

TMP-Marian is closing its residence halls and transitioning to a host family program for nonresident students beginning this fall, which will save an estimated $275,000 dollars.

Parents of students attending the three Catholic schools have been notified that school fees will increase in the next academic year to help close the budget  gap — increasing to $575 for each Holy Family enrollee and $675 per pupil at TMP-Marian. The fees are capped at $1,800 per family. The higher fees are projected to generate approximately $145,000.

Brull said the cost per pupil is kept low “thanks to the stewardship of many people who volunteer their time, their talent, or give of their ‘treasures’ — including donations, endowments and gifts of land.”