Catholic schools superintendent resigns

Superintendent Jim Rigg is leaving the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, resigning effective Oct. 2 to become Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Rigg took over Cincinnati’s Catholic schools in July 2010. The Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, will appoint an interim superintendent for the 2015-16 school year until a permanent replacement is found.

“Officials at the Archdiocese of Chicago undertook a nationwide search to find the best Catholic school superintendent, and they succeeded,” Schnurr said in a release announcing Rigg’s resignation. “Dr. Jim Rigg is an exceptional educational leader. Now he will be putting his talents at the service of the nation’s largest Catholic school system.”

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 38th largest in the country, covering 19 Ohio counties, 211 parishes and 111 schools.

Catholic schools nationwide are struggling with enrollment, but archdiocesan leaders say local enrollment is stabilizing and is even predicted to increase in the coming years.

In the 2014-15 school year, 12 schools that were considering closure five years ago reported being at or near capacity, according to the release.

During his tenure, Rigg spearheaded “Lighting the Way,” a two-year study on the future of Catholic education. The report highlighted a few concerns for the region, including declining enrollment; uneven distribution – some schools have waiting lists while others are underutilized; and a tough economy, making it more and more difficult for parents to afford tuition.

“Lighting the Way” serves as a vision for Catholic schools in the area. It helped launch a $130 million capital campaign, with $65 million allocated for Catholic education. It launched the Latino Initiative, which has resulted in the recruitment and support of dozens of families of Latino background. And, it developed metrics to measure school performance in Catholic identity, academic effectiveness, and operational vitality.

“In the five years since Jim joined the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, his dynamic leadership has had a profoundly positive impact on the quality, the vibrancy, and the Catholic identity of our schools,” Schnurr said. “Although we regret his loss, the ‘Lighting the Way’ vision that he shepherded will keep our schools strong for decades to come.”