As many of you already know, there have been a number of staffing changes since the start of this school year. To be precise, nine faculty and staff members who were with us in August are no longer employed by the school. That is a high turnover rate for any organization. For a small school like Father Lopez, this may seem to be a matter of epidemic proportions.

The purpose of this message is not to explain the departures. Each situation is different, and I would not want my words to be misinterpreted and reflect poorly on anyone. That would be a disservice to those who have served our school community. I respect and honor the decisions that have been made, as well as an individual's right to privacy. These are good people, and I wish each of them well as they pursue other opportunities.

Changes happen every day in life. Adjustments are made. Life moves on. And so it is at Father Lopez. However, sudden changes in a school setting can be unsettling. When a teacher leaves during the year, schedule changes occur. In some cases, a domino-effect happens. Consequently, some of our students may have had as many as three different instructors for a math or a social studies course.  That can be a daunting experience for the students--and for the teachers.

I want to apologize to our parents and students for any angst these changes may have caused. You should expect better from us, and I am sorry that we may have let you down.

On a more positive note, I believe that we were most fortunate to find exceptional faculty and staff who were available to join our school family. That is not an easy task, especially since the school year was already underway. I know that you join me in welcoming these newcomers to Lopez.

In closing, I want to reassure all of our Lopez family members of our ongoing commitment to our mission of pursuing excellence within the Catholic tradition.  I ask for your prayers and support as we continue to guide our students down those twin pathways of academic excellence and faith formation.