Sacred Heart parents concerned for academic, financial, & athletic accountability.
28 Comments
C
Concerned Parent
9 years ago
After reading the petition and all of the comments, I still do not know what are the specific allegations. I work at a public institution and am not privy to budgetary matters. The auditors are responsible for determining impropriety. Sacred Heart has financial auditors and I'm willing to let them do their jobs. As I am not a principal and have no training in that, I am willing to let the Sacred Heart principals do their jobs. As I am not a teacher and have no training in that, I am willing to let the Sacred Heart teachers do their jobs, same for coaches and custodians. In order to do my own job, I need to trust the team. I know that, sometimes, it can be hard to trust the team, play our own positions, mind our own business. But in the absence of a specific and founded problem within the administration, this petition, all of the meetings and all of the gossip seem destructive in their nature and not in any way the Sacred Heart Way. So as for me and mine, we won't be a part of this.
C
Charlotte Sonnier-York
9 years ago
Freedom of speech! No one person should be punished or alienated due to their thoughts words or actions on behalf of their true word. This is the American way.
A
April McDaniel
9 years ago
No private emails were used or abused during this movement to make SHS a greater place to educate our children; freedom of speech is not criminal. Let's observe our constitutional rights. Our families in a small town in Hattiesburg, MS have noticed discrepancies at SHS. That does not make us criminals. In contrast, It shows the love we have for our school. Look at the petition. Fine intelligence family's have signed. These families run the school. Can you say 'criminal'? Whoever you are and, you posted anonymously. please don't be a coward and tell us your name... shame one you. It is our constitutional right to voice our opinion... we are the ones who fund this school... as I said ... make it right...
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
shparent1: You have illegally obtained and used private email addresses, as well as criminally misrepresented yourself under an authority you do not possess. Cease and desist.
A
April McDaniel
9 years ago
Get it right... from the top to the bottom.. SH is better than this.. and it shouldn't have to come to this.. when a privately funded school is held together by parents giving relentlessly from service hours, tuition, fund raising events, and amongst other extra monetary requirements, it should be a no brainer to show where those funds are going and what it's spent on.. you cannot effectively manage a school when funds are being held in a "general fund" and those funds are NOT going towards the improvement in the classrooms for enhancement of education for our children or to further our growth in the athletic fields in our school.. if we are to be effective with our children's future, we ALL have to come together as ONE, and have the FAITH that our administration will do their part, RESPECT the parents concerns and needs and HONOR what is the right thing to do in this situation....that is what we teach our children...faith, respect, honor.....
J
Jeff Flathau
9 years ago
I pray and am sure all parties can come together for the sake of the students. Go Saders
Jeff Flathau
J
John Desdichado
9 years ago
I DO HAVE SHHS kids. I STOPPED giving to the "booster club" and the San Antonio Foundation once I saw that my funds were being used to fund OTHER sports while I was told my kids' sports would have to wait.
I found a SIMPLE solution and I think it will work for everyone: I STOPPED making donations of money and started asking my kid's coaches: "What equipment would you LOVE to have for the team?" and "What is something you'd like to do for the team that I can PAY for?" I explain that I WILL NOT donate money into a "fund" where I cannot see it directly benefiting MY kids!! My ONLY requirement was that NO ONE know where it came from and if anyone asked, the coach was to answer: "the boosters" (which was an ambiguous answer which prompted people to think the booster club or San Antonio Foundation did it).
Let me ask you this, if some parent dropped $1,000 on Mock Trial or the Art Program and the School came in a just took it to buy new basketballs or shoulder-pads, that parent would RIGHTLY loose their mind and would dang-sure NEVER write another check for that activity! I think that is where we are now.
I want all the kids to do as many activities as THEY can afford, but to TAKE money form one program to fund another is just "re-distribution of wealth." This WILL cause more and more parents to offer less and demand more. Which is where I am - and when MY KID needs something for their team, I try to step-up and provide it physically, not monetarily.
T
Tery Johnson
9 years ago
Featured
As an ex-parent of SHHS, I have seen this school grow, to what it is today. These questions have been asked before and been ignored by the administration. Glad to see everyone standing together to get some answers. There needs to be accountability to where the money goes, and not just to the general fund.
C
Casey Mercier
9 years ago
My kids have received a quality education from Sacred Heart and I am grateful for that. I am confident the administration is more than willing to open up its financial books to address any concerns there may be.
K
Kathy Garner
9 years ago
Featured
I am a product of SHS. I believe the values brought to me then and my child now are critical to making our community all it can be. I am saddened that this has escalated to this point. I believe that SHS is stronger with more knowledgeable parents, so that we can be a part of the solution. SHS has grown; its management must as well. I hope mediation is possible.
H
Hollie Filce
9 years ago
Sacred Heart is, and I hope will always be, the best school for my children. The administration of any school, including a private school, is a very challenging task. However, there is a lack of communication and opportunities for real collaboration among administration and families that has prompted actions by families. The resignation of booster club leadership and the launching of this petition seem to be an attempt to more publicly ask for a discussion of these weaknesses.
I support this petition’s intent to prompt a conversation among parish & school leadership and families of students enrolled at Sacred Heart. Moreover, transparency in goals, action steps, and outcomes is crucial to maintain a positive working and learning environment for faculty and students alike.
I wonder why the school does not have an elected school board and/or finance council? These seem to be very common structures designed to provide guidance and accountability in schools around the country. These structures are, I believe, required of parishes – so why not our school as well? An elected school board (including or in addition to) a school finance council with elected representation would provide an avenue of shared leadership and accountability.
J
Joe Gibson
9 years ago
Athletic fundraisers are to support athletics. To have these funds taken for other purposes, without any explanation or details as to what the funds are being used for, at a minimum, raises the appearance in inappropriateness.
M
Mary Feagans
9 years ago
I look forward to seeing Sacred Heart School reach its full potential. Transparency and accountability are necessary for our school to be successful.
D
David Dunham
9 years ago
Featured
I am a little puzzled as to why parents of athletes are " taxed" $125 for participation in athletics and those funds are not utilized for athletic programs. It's discriminatory, unless students that don't participate in athletics are
" taxed" a non- participation in athletics fee.
If this fee is not utilized for athletic expenses it amounts to misleading people on the utilization of that fee. I definitely think money brought in by athletics should stay with athletics. Athletics is a tremendous vehicle to bringing recognition to a school. We have a great group of Godly men and women leading our students in our athletic programs, I pray the Administration doesn't ever take them for granted.
A
Arman Paige
9 years ago
Transparency
S
Shameika Partee-Easterling
9 years ago
We love Sacred Heart and we want the best for our kids academically and athletically! The Very Best
A
Angela Miller
9 years ago
These concerns have been ongoing. Parents of a privately funded school should see exactly where monies are allocated without hesitancy.
R
Robin Norval
9 years ago
Featured
As many have said...I want the best for my child. I truly love Sacred Heart School but we have to make it our mission to keep up with the changing times of academics and technology so that our children do not fall behind. With the concerns of it being a budgeting issue, I would like to explore deeper into how the fundraising monies are being allocated.
P
Peter Mistich
9 years ago
I love this school and is one of the reason I moved the family back to Hattiesburg, However, I want to see the school flourish in academics, athletics and financially for the befits of students and future students.
B
Brian Saffle
9 years ago
Featured
To have an entire Booster club resign should be a huge red flag. This group of people have taken this task on as volunteers and have raised more money in half a year than has ever been raised in this amount of time. The athletic budget should be made public for the parents to see where their money is being used. The same should be held true for the school operations budget.
After reading the petition and all of the comments, I still do not know what are the specific allegations. I work at a public institution and am not privy to budgetary matters. The auditors are responsible for determining impropriety. Sacred Heart has financial auditors and I'm willing to let them do their jobs. As I am not a principal and have no training in that, I am willing to let the Sacred Heart principals do their jobs. As I am not a teacher and have no training in that, I am willing to let the Sacred Heart teachers do their jobs, same for coaches and custodians. In order to do my own job, I need to trust the team. I know that, sometimes, it can be hard to trust the team, play our own positions, mind our own business. But in the absence of a specific and founded problem within the administration, this petition, all of the meetings and all of the gossip seem destructive in their nature and not in any way the Sacred Heart Way. So as for me and mine, we won't be a part of this.
Freedom of speech! No one person should be punished or alienated due to their thoughts words or actions on behalf of their true word. This is the American way.
No private emails were used or abused during this movement to make SHS a greater place to educate our children; freedom of speech is not criminal. Let's observe our constitutional rights. Our families in a small town in Hattiesburg, MS have noticed discrepancies at SHS. That does not make us criminals. In contrast, It shows the love we have for our school. Look at the petition. Fine intelligence family's have signed. These families run the school. Can you say 'criminal'? Whoever you are and, you posted anonymously. please don't be a coward and tell us your name... shame one you. It is our constitutional right to voice our opinion... we are the ones who fund this school... as I said ... make it right...
shparent1: You have illegally obtained and used private email addresses, as well as criminally misrepresented yourself under an authority you do not possess. Cease and desist.
Get it right... from the top to the bottom.. SH is better than this.. and it shouldn't have to come to this.. when a privately funded school is held together by parents giving relentlessly from service hours, tuition, fund raising events, and amongst other extra monetary requirements, it should be a no brainer to show where those funds are going and what it's spent on.. you cannot effectively manage a school when funds are being held in a "general fund" and those funds are NOT going towards the improvement in the classrooms for enhancement of education for our children or to further our growth in the athletic fields in our school.. if we are to be effective with our children's future, we ALL have to come together as ONE, and have the FAITH that our administration will do their part, RESPECT the parents concerns and needs and HONOR what is the right thing to do in this situation....that is what we teach our children...faith, respect, honor.....
I pray and am sure all parties can come together for the sake of the students. Go Saders Jeff Flathau
I DO HAVE SHHS kids. I STOPPED giving to the "booster club" and the San Antonio Foundation once I saw that my funds were being used to fund OTHER sports while I was told my kids' sports would have to wait. I found a SIMPLE solution and I think it will work for everyone: I STOPPED making donations of money and started asking my kid's coaches: "What equipment would you LOVE to have for the team?" and "What is something you'd like to do for the team that I can PAY for?" I explain that I WILL NOT donate money into a "fund" where I cannot see it directly benefiting MY kids!! My ONLY requirement was that NO ONE know where it came from and if anyone asked, the coach was to answer: "the boosters" (which was an ambiguous answer which prompted people to think the booster club or San Antonio Foundation did it). Let me ask you this, if some parent dropped $1,000 on Mock Trial or the Art Program and the School came in a just took it to buy new basketballs or shoulder-pads, that parent would RIGHTLY loose their mind and would dang-sure NEVER write another check for that activity! I think that is where we are now. I want all the kids to do as many activities as THEY can afford, but to TAKE money form one program to fund another is just "re-distribution of wealth." This WILL cause more and more parents to offer less and demand more. Which is where I am - and when MY KID needs something for their team, I try to step-up and provide it physically, not monetarily.
As an ex-parent of SHHS, I have seen this school grow, to what it is today. These questions have been asked before and been ignored by the administration. Glad to see everyone standing together to get some answers. There needs to be accountability to where the money goes, and not just to the general fund.
My kids have received a quality education from Sacred Heart and I am grateful for that. I am confident the administration is more than willing to open up its financial books to address any concerns there may be.
I am a product of SHS. I believe the values brought to me then and my child now are critical to making our community all it can be. I am saddened that this has escalated to this point. I believe that SHS is stronger with more knowledgeable parents, so that we can be a part of the solution. SHS has grown; its management must as well. I hope mediation is possible.
Sacred Heart is, and I hope will always be, the best school for my children. The administration of any school, including a private school, is a very challenging task. However, there is a lack of communication and opportunities for real collaboration among administration and families that has prompted actions by families. The resignation of booster club leadership and the launching of this petition seem to be an attempt to more publicly ask for a discussion of these weaknesses. I support this petition’s intent to prompt a conversation among parish & school leadership and families of students enrolled at Sacred Heart. Moreover, transparency in goals, action steps, and outcomes is crucial to maintain a positive working and learning environment for faculty and students alike. I wonder why the school does not have an elected school board and/or finance council? These seem to be very common structures designed to provide guidance and accountability in schools around the country. These structures are, I believe, required of parishes – so why not our school as well? An elected school board (including or in addition to) a school finance council with elected representation would provide an avenue of shared leadership and accountability.
Athletic fundraisers are to support athletics. To have these funds taken for other purposes, without any explanation or details as to what the funds are being used for, at a minimum, raises the appearance in inappropriateness.
I look forward to seeing Sacred Heart School reach its full potential. Transparency and accountability are necessary for our school to be successful.
I am a little puzzled as to why parents of athletes are " taxed" $125 for participation in athletics and those funds are not utilized for athletic programs. It's discriminatory, unless students that don't participate in athletics are " taxed" a non- participation in athletics fee. If this fee is not utilized for athletic expenses it amounts to misleading people on the utilization of that fee. I definitely think money brought in by athletics should stay with athletics. Athletics is a tremendous vehicle to bringing recognition to a school. We have a great group of Godly men and women leading our students in our athletic programs, I pray the Administration doesn't ever take them for granted.
Transparency
We love Sacred Heart and we want the best for our kids academically and athletically! The Very Best
These concerns have been ongoing. Parents of a privately funded school should see exactly where monies are allocated without hesitancy.
As many have said...I want the best for my child. I truly love Sacred Heart School but we have to make it our mission to keep up with the changing times of academics and technology so that our children do not fall behind. With the concerns of it being a budgeting issue, I would like to explore deeper into how the fundraising monies are being allocated.
I love this school and is one of the reason I moved the family back to Hattiesburg, However, I want to see the school flourish in academics, athletics and financially for the befits of students and future students.
To have an entire Booster club resign should be a huge red flag. This group of people have taken this task on as volunteers and have raised more money in half a year than has ever been raised in this amount of time. The athletic budget should be made public for the parents to see where their money is being used. The same should be held true for the school operations budget.