From staff reports
The newly created Venango Region Catholic School Association has moved forward with plans for the future as it recently appointed its full board of directors.
For the first time since its inception, members of both the association and its board of directors met last month at St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie.
“I am really impressed and pleased with the commitment of the people on this board,” said Jim Gallagher, superintendent of Erie Catholic Schools. “They are jumping in and tackling the difficult challenges that the schools are facing.”
Erie Catholic Diocese Bishop Lawrence Persico is chairman of the association’s board of members.
Other members of the association are Gallagher; the Rev. Nicholas Rouch, vicar for education in the Erie Diocese: Msgr. Edward Lohse, vicar general in the diocese: Msgr. John Herbein, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Franklin; the Rev. John Miller, pastor of the partnered Oil City parishes of St. Joseph and St. Stephen; and Greg Merkel, who is also the chairman of the association’s board of directors.
Three at-large representatives of the board of directors were approved at the November meeting. They are Joseph Grunenwald, Michelle McGee Morrison and Robert Puleo.
Other directors on the board are Kay Hopwood, Ray Feroz, Deacon Richard O’Polka, Margaret Janidlo and Debra Sobina.
Merkel said last month’s meeting was the first chance for the directors and members to meet each other.
“We have certainly come a long way and have had good direction,” Merkel said. “We pulled together on something that we all feel is important.”
