Monday, April 17, 2000
Principal will be missed
NewCath bids fond farewell
BY Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEWPORT — As Carl Foster prepares to end his 36-year association with Newport Central Catholic High School, the school's first lay principal leaves behind a legacy of caring and the keys to the snow plow.
That's right, the keys to the snow plow.
Not content to let just anyone clear the steep drive leading to the hilltop school, Mr. Foster has plowed it most of his 22 winters as principal. Only in recent years did he share plowing duties with teacher Jeff Schulkens.
Those associated with the school say you can count on one hand the number of school days missed because of bad weather.
“How many other principals would you find out there pushing snow at 3 o'clock in the morning?” asked Kathy Sheanshang, whose four children attended the school.
Whether it's plowing a snow-covered drive, carrying out the garbage after school dances, or scrubbing toilets when the custodian goes home sick, “you can't name a job in the school” that the 53-year-old principal hasn't done, said Dave Lloyd, the school's dean of discipline and a long-time friend of Mr. Foster.
“I know he's my boss,” Mr. Lloyd said, “but he wouldn't ask me or any other teacher in this building to do something that he wouldn't be down doing himself.”
Supporters say that kind of dedication will be hard to replace when Mr. Foster, or “Big C” as he's known by past and present students, turns over the principal's duties to Robert Noll on July 1.
“Between my Lord, my wife and me, I figured it was time for a change,” Mr. Foster said. “I think it's time for somebody younger to take over.”
Mr. Noll, 35, is finishing his first year as assistant principal of Bishop Brossart High School in Alexandria; he taught 12 years at Covington Catholic High School.
Change won't come easy for the school of 428 students, say Mr. Foster's supporters.
“This place has pretty much been his life,” said Development Director Tessy B. Krebs. “He's always coming up here for dances and sporting events.”
Originally known as Newport Catholic, the former boys school became Newport Central Catholic in 1984, after merging with the all-girl Our Lady of Providence.
“I would venture to say he probably knows every kid who goes up there,” said Patty Bucher, a five-year school board member and mother of two.
“If he sees your child, he always speaks to them. The family atmosphere is really good throughout the whole school.”
Mr. Foster often pokes fun at himself and trades jokes with students. But his modest office looking out onto the Cincinnati side of the river is all business. He works with his back to the view.
Friends say Mr. Foster is one of those rare individuals who has always known what he wanted in life and went on to make it happen.
As a Newport Catholic sophomore in 1962, the teen-aged Mr. Foster an nounced that he would one day return to his alma mater to teach math. Six years later, he did.
And his wife of 33 years — Mary Jo — was his first and only girlfriend. They raised two daughters and have two grandchildren.
“It'll be a sad day for Newport Catholic alumni and all of Newport when he leaves,” said Newport City Clerk Frank Peluso, class of '73. “Whether you were the smart one in the class, the super athlete, or the average student, he always cared about you.”
Mr. Foster helped establish the school's tuition assistance fund, which has provided $328,380 in financial assistance to 417 students since the 1994-95 school year.
To support the fund, Mr. Foster helps recruit dozens of volunteers each spring “to transform the gym into the Aronoff Center” and hold a gala fund-raiser on the first night of the school play. This year, the production raised a record $13,750.
And when crowds began gathering on the hilltop campus to watch the annual Labor Day fireworks, he turned that into a fund-raiser by organizing a day of family activities.
But dealing with students, rather than raising funds, gives him the biggest sense of accomplishment, he said.
Since becoming principal, Mr. Foster has continued to teach an algebra class, and he considers his interaction with the students the highlight of his day.
“He's been my best math teacher ever,” said junior Kris Kaufman, 17. “He makes sure everyone knows all (the concepts) before a test, but we still cover more than any other class.”
“No matter how busy he is, you can always stop by his office and talk to him about anything,” said junior Beth Schuck, 17.
Mr. Foster won't rule out eventually returning to the classroom, but for now, he's going to enjoy playing with his grandchildren, golfing, and taking an extended vacation out West with his wife.
“I have a wonderful faculty, but I'll miss my kids the most,” he said. “The kids are what we're all here for.”
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