Faith-based school leaders, state lawmakers gather to support student safety needs

Leaders of Catholic, Jewish, Christian and Islamic schools joined state and local officials on Sept. 18 in St. John Vianney High School Holmdel, to affirm their unity in protecting students across New Jersey’s non-public schools.

The event, hosted by the New Jersey Council for American Private Education (NJCAPE) in partnership with non-public school advocate group, Teach NJ, drew students from faith-based schools along with Senator Vin Gopal, chairman of the Senate Education Committee; Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger; Assemblywoman Margie Donlon; Monmouth County Commissioner Erik Anderson, and Ocean Township Councilwoman Gitta Kaplan.

Teach NJ, a division of the Teach Advocacy Coalition, was founded in 2015 to advocate for equitable government funding for New Jersey’s nonpublic schools.

A shared priority

Bonnie Milecki, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton and president of NJCAPE, addressed the group, saying, “Sadly, our gathering today comes in the shadow of tragedy. Just weeks ago, Annunciation Catholic School (in Minnesota) experienced an attack that shook that community and reverberated through all of ours. When one school is targeted, every school shares the pain. That is why we are here. To stand together and say, ‘The safety of every child must be a shared priority.’”

The shooting took place during Mass at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis on Aug. 27, killing two children and injuring 14 other children and three adults.

Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton, represented New Jersey Catholic schools and said unity across traditions demonstrates faith in action. “On behalf of our families and students I say when all stand together in faith and action, regardless of your faith tradition, God’s love is reflected. That love can cast out fear and make a difference in the children served and the communities in which they live.”

Faith leaders and students speak

Other faith leaders — including Kaplan, who also serves as vice president of the Hillel Yeshiva board; Sufia Azmat, executive director of the Council of Islamic Schools in North America, and Dr. Jim Smock of the Association of Christian Schools International, also addressed the gathering, thanking legislators for their support.

Students from participating schools had the opportunity to share their words of gratitude and hope. Dylan, a ninth grader from St. John Vianney, told the assembly, “We at St. John Vianney are grateful for leaders who help make sure our schools have resources to be secure, so that faith, family and learning can always come first.”

During the first few weeks of the school year, students collaborated on a unity art project that focused on themes of safety and peace in response to the Aug. 27 shooting. A binder of prayers and drawings for Annunciation students was presented to Schmidt.

Gopal was also presented with a binder of letters collected from students, expressing thanks to legislators for their commitment to faith-based schools.

Katie Katz, executive director of Teach NJ, also spoke on behalf of Jewish students and the 160,000 non-public school students across New Jersey. “No community should ever have to choose between educating children and protecting them,” Katz said. “This is not a Jewish issue, not a Christian or Catholic or Muslim issue. It is about every parent who kisses their child goodbye in the morning and deserves to welcome them home safely in the afternoon.”

This article was written by Rose O’Connor for the Trenton Monitor.

Featured image: Bonnie Milecki, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton and president of the New Jersey Council for American Private Education, addresses students and community leaders on Sept. 18 during a school security and solidarity event in St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel. (Photo by Trenton Monitor)