* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember D’Adamo
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Response to the Closure of 13 Catholic Schools
FOR the purpose of inviting His Excellency, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien to report to the Council on the benefits to taxpayers of tax exemptions granted to the Archdiocese and its related entities, to make a commitment to make the buildings of those schools slated for closing available to non-profit groups, and to retain the principals and faculties of closing schools to provide educational services to schools that are developed to serve the needs of displaced children; and requesting Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO, Baltimore City Public Schools to report on the process necessary to convert the closing Catholic schools into public charter schools.
body
WHEREAS, The expected closing of 13 Catholic Schools by the Archdiocese of Baltimore will have a devastating impact on working families and neighborhoods that have relied on those schools to attend to their educational, social, and spiritual needs; and
WHEREAS, The Archdiocese of Baltimore obtained a court decision in the 2001 case of Supervisor of Assessments v. Keeler that exempted the church from property tax on buildings and land, even if that land is not used for religious and charitable purposes; and
WHEREAS, The taxpayers of Baltimore will have to provide police and fire protection and other services to vacant Catholic school buildings without obtaining any charitable or religious benefits from those buildings; and
WHEREAS, The CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools served on the Blue Ribbon committee that assessed citywide educational needs and capacity in order to determine which schools should be closed and has particular knowledge regarding the educational needs of Baltimore’s children; and
WHEREAS, Other cities have successfully converted closed Catholic schools into successful public charter schools, and Dr. Alonso is best able to explain the process for Baltimore’s closing schools to similarly be successfully converted into public charter schools.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That His Excellency, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien is invited to report to the Council on the benefits to taxpayers of tax exemptions granted to the Archdiocese and its related entities, to make a commitment to make the buildings of those schools slated for closing available to non-profit groups, and to retain the principals and faculties of closing schools to provide educational services to schools that are developed to serve the needs of displaced children; and Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO, Baltimore City Public Schools is requested to report on the process necessary to convert the closing Catholic schools into public charter schools.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Archdiocese and its related entities are requested to make the school buildings slated for closing available for 5 years, at a cost of $1 a year, to any non-profit group that wishes to operate a charter school on the premises.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Archdiocese is urged to make every effort to retain principals and faculties of the schools slated for closing so that any non-profit group wishing to operate a charter school may continue to provide an excellent education to the children who have relied on Catholic schools for a quality education.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor; Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien; the CEO, Baltimore City Public Schools; the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council; and the Parent-Teacher organizations affiliated with the following schools:
• Ascension School
• St. Bernardine Catholic School
• Fr. Charles Hall Catholic School (elementary and middle schools)
• St. Clare School
• Holy Family School
• St. Katharine School, Queen of Peace Cluster
• Mother Mary Lange Catholic School
• Our Lady of Fatima School
• St. Rose of Lima School
• Sacred Heart of Mary School
• Shrine of the Sacred Heart School
• St. William of York School
• The Cardinal Gibbons School
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