The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, headquartered in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, have announced the award of $1,000,000 to St. Michael Indian School. The funding for the award was realized from the sale of the property that had been the site of St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe. Xavier Prep in New Orleans will also receive a million dollars.

The award is designed to help the school address immediate operating and capital needs, but the primary purpose is to provide funds for investment to help insure future stability. By May 1 the Board is required to prepare and submit plans for the proposed use of the funds.

Penny Emerson, Chairperson of St. Michael Board, stated, “Many people, including our Board members, were saddened by the loss of St. Catherine’s. These funds for St. Michael Indian School help continue the legacy of quality Indian education started by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.”

St. Michael, founded in 1902, receives no state nor federal financial support. Aside from the tuition paid by parents, amounting to 30% of the budget, all funding for the operation of the school is realized from subsidies, donations and grants. In recent years, the school has had to obtain a line of credit to ensure a steady cash flow throughout the year.

Dr. Joe DeFelice, Executive Director of St. Michael, stated, “ We rely on grants to meet many needs. Our buildings are well built, but they are also aging. We have been working for a year to raise funds for new mini-buses for our teams.”
He continued, “With proper planning, these funds will augment our budget and insure some future stability. They will enable our development office to focus on the future instead of the constant pressure of meeting current expenses.” The Board and administration are developing a schedule of meetings to involve parents and staff in the planning process.

Dr. DeFelice continued, “We will continue to be a school with limited resources. Our per pupil cost is less than half that of public or federal schools. Our highest salaries are less than the starting salaries for any other schools, including other Catholic schools in Arizona. But everyone here is fulfilling the vision of St. Katharine Drexel of providing quality education within a strong moral and cultural context.”

Wanda Hadley, Alumni President, stated, “For over a century, this school has vividly demonstrated what can be accomplished when you have the caring commitment of students, staff, parents, and alumni. These funds will help us continue the tradition into our second century.”