New Catholic School May Be Coming to South Tulsa

Thursday, January 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Catholic Diocese of Tulsa may decide to build a new school in south Tulsa. The current schools operated by the diocese are all north of 51st street and most are at full capacity. On a rare day when students are not in uniform, a Catholic classroom looks much like any other. But unlike public schools, religion is part of the curriculum. The difference is what drives many parents to send their children to Catholic schools. So many parents in fact, that most of the Catholic schools in Tulsa have waiting lists. "Primarily the religious education is why I prefer a Catholic school,â€ said parent Paula Johnson. â€œIt's more in depth than what can be done in a once a week religious educational program at church."

Johnson has two children. She would like both of them to be in Catholic schools, but the classes were full. "We just decided to put them both in public school and see what came up,â€ she said. â€œIt could be several years down the road when they're ready to go to 6th grade that we get to place them in a Catholic school."

Tulsa area Catholic schools currently have an enrollment of 4,900 students. Each of the schools charge a starting tuition of $3,000 per year. There are 10 schools in the metropolitan Tulsa area and with one school each in Muskogee, Okmulgee and Bartlesville. The schools in Tulsa are scattered, but all are north of 51st Street, with none in the expanding area of south Tulsa where many young families live. "Our schools cannot really accommodate the numbers of families who are moving to Tulsa or who are moving particularly south," said Catholic Diocese school superintendent Arden Glenn.

Before the church can commit to building a new school, the superintendent says it must make sure parents will support it. â€œThat's another question yet to be fully explored,â€ he said. â€œWhen you take on such a project and the commitment is made to construct and to open a new school, then all the howâ€™s come forth -- how it will be financed, and the acquisition of land.â€

Johnson believes the support is there to build the school and fill it with students. â€œThere are enough families to for a Catholic school in south Tulsa," she said. The diocese has not yet committed to building the school, but the Dioceseâ€™s bishop agrees that it's needed. Many parents are hoping that within a couple of years, more Catholic classrooms will be available for their children.

The effort to get a new school centers on the parish of St. Bernardâ€™s, but no potential sites have been identified. The dioceseâ€™s bishop and school superintendent will meet with parents in early February to discuss potential plans.