SOUTH-CENTRAL : Mahony Unveils $10-Million Program for 3 High Schools

Pledging to maintain the Roman Catholic Church’s commitment to South-Central Los Angeles and surrounding communities, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony on Friday announced a two-year, $10-million program to revitalize three Catholic high schools.

The schools are the only remaining single-gender high schools in South-Central Los Angeles and Compton. They are Verbum Dei Boys High School in Watts, Regina Caeli Girls High School in Compton and St. Michael’s Girls High School near Manchester Boulevard and Figueroa Street.

Built in the mid-1950s to early 1960s, the schools have been well-maintained, Mahony said, but do not provide many of the educational resources required by students and parents.

“These schools have fallen on difficult times as community unrest, rapidly rising operating costs, wholesale losses of jobs and changing educational and technological needs have contributed to significant enrollment decreases and resulting financial difficulties,” Mahony said.

About $4 million of the $10 million has already been raised for Verbum Dei. The remaining $5 million to $6 million for the other two schools is to be raised over the next two years, archdiocesan spokesman Bill Rivera said.

Mahony said that retired Pasadena Unified School District Supt. Phil Linscomb has been named president of the church’s panel to raise the funds and improve student recruitment, educational programs, staffing and facilities.