Exemplary cooperation among Catholic schools, public agencies

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Public and private schools have been weathering the storm of COVID-19 side-byside.

Dr. Erin Vader, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, said Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and most of the local education agencies in the diocese have done “an amazing job” of distributing federal funds from the 2020 CARES Act.

This money worked exactly as the lawmakers intended: helping the schools continue operating and paying their employees.

Principal Mike Aulbur of St. Pius X School in Moberly said a spirit of cooperation among St. Pius and the Moberly School District helped expedite the process locally.

Mr. Aulbur previously worked for the public schools for 27 years — 12 as a principal — before coming to St. Pius three years ago.

He believes maintaining a good working relationship among private and public schools and local health departments is always to everyone’s advantage.

When he was a public school administrator, he always wanted to work with St. Pius in matters ranging from curriculum to athletics to helping ensure a smooth transition from Catholic elementary school to the public high school.

“The value of that kind of partnership has never been more evident than it has been this year,” he said. “My advice to administrators throughout the diocese is always to keep building that relationship.”

Similarly, Mr. Aulbur appreciates how Catholic school principals throughout this diocese can lean on each other and offer support during these frustrating times.

“That trickles down into our schools and helps everyone do their job better,” he said. “That’s been something I will remember forever about this pandemic.”

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