St. Veronica Parish School officially opened its doors as an eight-room school to 212 students in September of 1975. The principal was Paul DeFazio and the pastor was Rev. Francis Fritz. It was the first eight dedicated teachers at St. Veronica who started the tradition of high academic standards and strong discipline that still exists today.
Growth was rapid and in 1979 an eight-room addition was built. This increase in size was coupled with a continued increase in enrollment. Faculty and community continually nurtured St. Veronica as it grew in academics, the arts, athletics, and most importantly, spirituality.
In 1995, a computer lab was established for the technology program so that the 439 students would be able to learn and use new technologies knowledgeably, morally, and ethically. The science department also expanded to provide opportunities for hands-on learning experiences.
High standards continued to be the norm and in 2000, St. Veronica expanded it's Arts curriculum, giving students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and experiences in the arts. St. Veronica again built an addition in 2004, allowing for expansion of the music program as well as providing a gym for physical education and athletics. In 2010, the front of the building was remodeled to allow for a new office area, principal's office, and a safer, more secure entryway.
St. Veronica has continually expanded its early childhood education offerings over the years. In the 2010-2011 school year, the school introduced a preschool program along with full-day kindergarten. Building on that foundation, a younger preschool program was added in the 2013-2014 school year. In 2017-2018, the school further enriched its early childhood options by launching a Montessori preschool program.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2019-2020 school year, staffing and programming were adjusted to support remote and hybrid learning models. As a result, some in-person programs were temporarily paused. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school library reopened and physical education was reinstated. By the 2023-2024 school year, technology classes were fully reintroduced into the curriculum for grades K-8.
In the summer of 2024, the health clinic was downsized to create space for a new classroom designated for the intervention team. Additionally, the technology office was divided to establish both a conference room and a technology office space. The former technology classroom was repurposed as the new Innovations and Enrichment space. This program was introduced to support creative and advanced learning opportunities. Students in grades K-3 attend Innovations as part of their specials rotation, while students in grades 4-8 participate in Enrichment if they meet eligibility criteria. Currently, the technology teacher is mobile, teaching in different classrooms throughout the day.
Presently, St. Veronica Catholic School has an enrollment of 359 students being served by 31 teachers, 1 principal, 1 assistant principal, 2 office staff, 4 part-time teaching aides, 1 health aide, and 1 part-time campus minister. Support services include a speech pathologist, math and reading specialist, a mental health counselor, and an intervention team. All staff members hold current certificates or licenses from the State of Ohio.
Principal of St. Veronica Catholic School:
Paul DeFazio
Donald Samples
Bill Schlater
Kay Hohner-Stefanics
Helen Sherman
Paul McLaughlin
Gina Code
Sharon Bresler
Stephanie Woodall