Welcome to Erie Catholic
Welcome to the Erie Catholic School System, a community where faith, learning, and growth come together to shape the hearts and minds of young people. At our school campuses, we believe education is about more than just academics—it’s about nurturing the whole child. Each day, our students experience a blend of rigorous academics, meaningful spiritual formation, and personal development, all within a warm, supportive environment. Our preschool-through-eighth-grade campuses include:

- Our Lady of Peace
- Saint George School
- Saint James School
- Saint Jude School
- Saint Luke School
Our dedicated teachers and staff are committed to fostering curiosity, encouraging character, and instilling values that last a lifetime. We focus not only on academic excellence but also on building a foundation of faith, kindness, and service. Here, children are seen, known, and loved, with individual needs met through personalized attention and small class sizes.
If you’re exploring the possibilities of Catholic education, we invite you to learn more about our schools, meet our passionate educators, and experience the community spirit that makes Erie Catholic special. Whether you’re interested in enrolling your child or simply learning more about who we are, we look forward to welcoming you into our community.
Latest News
As the Erie Catholic School System prepares for the 2025-2026 academic year, it is pleased to announce several strategic leadership appointments across its central office and school campuses. These changes reflect Erie Catholic’s continued commitment to advancing its mission of providing high-quality Catholic education throughout the region. New President to Lead System Effective August 1, Mr. Travis Washko will officially assume the role of president of the Erie Catholic School System. Washko brings to the position a deep passion for education and a strong vision for the system’s future, building on Erie Catholic’s foundation of faith, academic excellence, and community. Central Office Leadership Updates Mrs. Lisa Panighetti, who served this past year as interim principal at Our Lady of Peace School, will return full-time to her role as vice president of academic affairs. Panighetti will continue to oversee system-wide academic initiatives, ensuring all campuses meet the highest standards of educational excellence. Additionally, Sr. Katherine Horan, OSB, has been appointed to a newly established position as director of spiritual development and student services. In this role, Sr. Katherine will lead the catechist formation of administrators, teachers, and staff as well as oversee campus ministry programming, and direct all Department of Human Services (DHS) programs such as extended care and summer programs. Her extensive experience in Catholic education and dedication to spiritual formation will be instrumental in supporting Erie Catholic’s mission. School Campus Leadership Transitions Mr. Bill Hall will retire after years of dedicated service. He most recently served as principal of Saint George School Campus. Erie Catholic extends its gratitude for his leadership and wishes him well. Mr. Brian Bradish, an accomplished educator from Washington State with experience in academic leadership and student formation, has been named the new principal. Joining him will be Mrs. Sherry Ehrenreich as assistant principal, returning to Saint George after serving this past year at Our Lady of Peace. Mrs. Emily Fluegel has been appointed principal of Our Lady of Peace School Campus. Fluegel previously served as OLP’s assistant principal, bringing deep knowledge of the school community. Mr. Corey Ferraro, who served in an interim administrative role at Saint George School Campus, has been named the new assistant principal. Ferraro is recognized for his energy, care, and commitment to Catholic education. Strength of the System “These leadership transitions are the result of intentional planning and a clear understanding of each school’s needs,” said Janice Whiteman, transition director at Erie Catholic School System. “As a system, we have the ability to place the right leaders where their unique gifts can best serve our students, staff, and families. This approach ensures a mission-aligned, high-quality educational experience across all five of our campuses.” More detailed introductions and opportunities for families to meet their new school leaders will be shared in the coming weeks.
The Erie Catholic School System (ECSS) is proud to announce the appointment of Travis Washko as its next president, effective August 1, 2025.
The Erie Catholic School System Board of Directors recognize and deeply understand the emotions surrounding the closure of Blessed Sacrament School. Our goal has always been, and continues to be, to provide the best possible Catholic education for our students. This transition is the first step to enhance the long-term viability of Erie Catholic School System. Misinformation has been shared publicly, and we want to provide clarity. The decision to close Blessed Sacrament was based on a thorough internal review of the Erie Catholic School System’s operations, including financial sustainability, enrollment trends, and future projections. This review was conducted by Meitler – a national consulting firm that specializes in Catholic education. Meitler incorporated input from a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to leadership, pastors, faculty, staff, parents, and board members. Meitler consultants visited campuses, met directly with principals and pastors, conducted interviews, and distributed system-wide surveys. Every school family was given the opportunity to participate in Meitler’s survey; only 22 Blessed Sacrament families submitted a response. The data collected showed significant challenges for Blessed Sacrament in comparison to the same data from other system schools. As previously shared, enrollment has declined by 52 percent, twice the rate of any other system school. This means that the school operates at 64 percent capacity; the ideal operational capacity is 85 percent. Future projections indicate continued decline in these areas. Additionally, retention rates at Blessed Sacrament have been the lowest across the system in four of the last five years. Lastly, the school’s financial position was unsustainable. Based on these data points, the Erie Catholic Board of Directors moved to close Blessed Sacrament School and brought it forward to the Board of Members and Bishop Lawrence Persico, and they accepted the recommendation. We’ve heard families loud and clear – they want more transparency. The board along with the transition team is committed to increasing the system’s transparency. An executive summary of the study will be shared with faculty and staff, then with families, and ultimately made publicly available. There will be a dedicated page on Erie Catholic’s website to provide regular updates on progress as the recommendations of the Meitler plan are implemented. The board acknowledges ongoing concerns and the recent petition filed by some parents. We respect their right to pursue this avenue and will not comment further on legal matters at this time. However, we want to emphasize that we remain committed to supporting all Blessed Sacrament families. Our focus is on ensuring every student has a path forward; the majority of families have already engaged with other Erie Catholic schools, participating in shadow days, tours, and personal meetings with school leadership. We remain steadfast in our commitment to Catholic education in Erie. We are grateful to all our families, faculty, and staff for their dedication and understanding as we work together to build a strong future for Catholic education in our community. Enclosed: Blessed Sacrament Closure Fact Sheet and FAQ
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