MORRILTON — Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton has a unique status in the Diocese of Little Rock and it intends to keep it that way.
It is the smallest parish in the state operating a school from kindergarten to 12th grade. Only St. Joseph Church in Conway can boast such an achievement, but it serves 1,883 families, compared to Morrilton’s 482 families.
Because generations have sent their children to the school for all 13 years of their elementary and secondary education, many families are bonded together.
“We are family here,” said pastor Father Charles Thessing, who plays an active role in the school. “We are a big Christian, Catholic family.”
Many school board members and teachers are alumni. The sixth grade teacher, Jennifer Roscoe, is principal Brian Bailey’s daughter. When the girls basketball team played for the 1A championship (a first in the history of the school) in 2006, 4,000 Sacred Heart alumni and friends cheered the team to victory at Alltel Arena in Little Rock.
“We are more of a family than a school,” Bailey said. “Every alumni we’ve got is a shareholder in this. They feel that.”
 Sacred Heart School Founded: 1879 Number of teachers: 25 (50 percent Catholic) Number of students: 265 (70 percent Catholic) High school classes of interest: German I and II, computer applications, accounting, consumer math, drama Sports available: Basketball, softball, golf, baseball |
Just like in most families, a good cook is valued at the school. Margueritte Hoezleman has cooked at the school off and on for 50 years, often arriving at the cafeteria at midnight to start baking. Her yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls are treasured. Each morning the teachers are treated to an assortment of pigs-in-blankets, desserts and breads. On Friday mornings Hoezleman makes the senior class breakfast casserole and other treats.
Sacred Heart parents are active in the school, volunteering during the school day and at athletic events.
“Ninety percent of my families volunteer 30 hours of service a year for the two past years,” Bailey said. “We have great donors. We have strong parental support.”
Reflecting on why she likes Sacred Heart, math teacher Kathleen Smith said, “It’s the size and the family atmosphere. You just don’t get that in the larger schools. The kids here are still eager to learn. They haven’t been ruined or turned negative yet.”
In addition to having a family atmosphere, Bailey said the school is known as an affordable place where Christian and Catholic values are taught.
Being affordable while still building an emergency reserve fund is something Bailey constantly works at. Private schools are encouraged to operate on at least 80 percent “hard money,” such as tuition and fees that are dependable income. Sacred Heart only has about 60 percent hard money. The remaining “soft money” comes from grants, donations and fundraisers.
The school is well known in the community for its two-day bazaar each June. That event alone raises more than $100,000, mainly from its meal and raffle.
Bailey is aware that two days of rain could wipe out the bazaar so he makes sure the reserve fund is adequate.
Because most of the students come from middle class families, Bailey said he has resisted raising tuition and fees. This year’s tuition is $2,150 for elementary students and $2,250 for junior high and senior high schools. There is a $35 discount for the second child. Amazingly, the third child and beyond is free. The most any family — Catholic or not — is out of pocket each year is $4,900 a year. No scholarships are available.
“I am the cheapest private school in Arkansas,” Bailey brags.
When the school board encouraged tuition to be raised last year, Bailey said $10 a year was enough. From each $10, he promised the parents to put $5 into school building improvements.
Bailey said he is mindful of raising tuition because the economy is poor now.
“If I don’t (keep tuition low), I won’t be open,” he said.
For the past five years, since his arrival, the school’s enrollment has increased from 218 to 270. For this school year, overall enrollment dropped to 265, mainly because families are being forced to move to Russellville or Conway where there are more jobs or they can no longer afford the tuition payments.
“We would like to get to 300 (students),” he said.
Other goals for Bailey include improving curriculum, maintaining teachers and staff and establishing a boys and girls choir. A development director has been hired to help the school secure more grants and donations.
In spite of the absence of religious sisters in the school, Bailey said he is enforcing the school’s uniform and hairstyle requirements.
“They are well dressed every day and they are well behaved,” he said.
If a boy’s hair is too long, “I give them five days to cut it. I have cut one in the office.”
If an older student has his shirt untucked, they are required to do push ups or sit ups.
“They get on the floor and do their penance,” Bailey said.
While Bailey keeps tabs on tuition, curriculum, discipline and student enrollment, Father Thessing is active in the religious focus of the school.
“It has always been known as the Catholic school; it’s a Christian school,” Father Thessing said. “It’s also a challenge to live up to that role of being a Christian school … It’s a positive Christian atmosphere here.”
Bailey said he is grateful for a pastor who pays a lot of attention to Catholic education.
“He is here every day interacting with my students,” he said. “That makes a difference. … He is at every faculty meeting. He is at every school board meeting. Everything we do here, he is a part of.”
Another priest, Father Richard Davis from New Dixie/Bigelow, teaches juniors and seniors religion, particularly morality and justice, every Thursday.
“He’s a great teacher,” Bailey said.
Every Wednesday, the student body attends Mass. Each grade takes turns preparing the music and has roles as altar servers and ushers.
Bailey said he believes the school is emphasizing vocations as well. In 2005 two of its graduates, Shaun Wesley and Jason Tyler, were ordained diocesan priests. A third seminarian, Jason Sharbaugh, is scheduled to be ordained in 2010.
After years as a teacher, principal and coach, Bailey retired as an assistant superintendent for the South Conway County School District in Morrilton in 2003.
“I retired officially on Friday afternoon and I started here on Monday morning,” he said.
Father Thessing kept Bailey from retirement after Sister Rachel Auringer left the school and he sought Bailey out.
“When it’s not fun, I will quit. But I’m a workaholic,” the 60-year-old principal admits.
Bailey said Sacred Heart families have their priorities straight by operating a kindergarten to 12th grade school.
“This Catholic education is still a priority in their lives. You look around and that is not true in a large number of places,” he said.
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