Subiaco Academy considers opening enrollment to girls

Officials at Subiaco Academy are “seriously considering” breaking with a 117-year-old tradition and allowing girls into the all-boys Catholic school.

A committee will begin meetings within the next two weeks aimed at producing a feasibility study on opening enrollment to girls, according to Subiaco Academy Headmaster Mike Berry. Berry said the committee was formed after favorable response to the idea from the school's Board of Trustees and its Alumni Board.

“Initially, we thought the Alumni Board was the one group where we'd see some opposition,” Berry said. “Surprisingly, to a man they were interested and wanted to know more.

“We then presented this to our Board of Trustees,” Berry said. “This particular group had some very interesting questions and that prompted formation of the committee.”

The committee was formed under the direction of Abbot Jerome Kodell, leader of the community of Benedictine monks living at Subiaco Abbey. Berry said there were eight people on the committee composed of men and women. It includes a member of the monastic community, Academy Board of Trustees President Mike Willems of Searcy, Berry, Abbey business manager Glenn Constantino, two faculty members and two parents of students.

Berry also said this isn't the first time the idea has been suggested.

“This idea comes up every five or 10 years and it's always been squashed pretty quickly by one group or another,” he said. “This is the first time a group has been formed to study the idea.”

Berry said the committee will look at facilities, legalities, parental reaction, financial impact and impact on classroom dynamics. He added that the earliest a study could be completed would be September.

To see more of this story, subscribe to the Paris Express today.