Dear Bishop Miege Community,
I hope that you and your families are enjoying a great start to the summer. We have many exciting things going on at Bishop Miege, especially facility upgrades, and we look forward to unveiling these improvements this fall. Bishop Miege remains committed to providing the best possible education and fostering a faith-filled nurturing environment for our students and we are excited for our future endeavors.
First, the Board of Trustees would like to thank Mr. Randy Salisbury for his many years of service to the Bishop Miege community. We appreciate all he and his family have contributed to Bishop Miege during Randy’s current role as President and in his other administrative roles throughout the years. Randy assumed the Presidency during a tumultuous time, and his dedication and strong faith led Miege through several difficult periods including the tragic loss of several staff members and students and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also dealing with the death of his wife Lynn. We wish Randy and his family all the best for the future.
It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Mr. Phil Baniewicz as the new President of Bishop Miege High School. Currently, Mr. Baniewicz serves as the President at Maur Hill-Mount Academy, a college preparatory boarding school in Atchison, KS. He also served in two leadership roles at Benedictine College before joining Maur Hill. Mr. Baniewicz has a wealth of experience and a passion for Catholic education, with an extensive background in fundraising and community engagement. “Phil Baniewicz has been an exceptional leader for Maur Hill-Mount Academy. Mr. Baniewicz is a man with a deep love for Jesus and His church. I am delighted that he will continue to use those leadership skills to serve Catholic schools as he begins his new responsibilities as the President of Bishop Miege High School” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. We are currently working with the Maur Hill-Mount Academy Board leadership to ensure a smooth transition that is beneficial for both institutions.
During this transition, Mr. Joe Schramp will serve as interim president effective immediately. Mr. Schramp has served as an administrator at Bishop Miege for 9 years in many capacities including interim principal, associate principal, and athletic director. We are confident that Joe’s leadership skills and dedication to student success will make a positive impact on our entire school. Joe will work closely with Principal Maureen Engen and Dean of Students Alex Keith. We thank Joe, Maureen, and Alex for their continued commitment to our students at Bishop Miege High School.
Over the coming months, Mr. Baniewicz will be working closely with our dedicated administration team to familiarize himself with Miege’s unique culture and values. He is eager to meet and engage with all staff, parents, guardians, and members of the school community. Phil will be participating in as many upcoming Miege events and leadership meetings as his schedule allows while fulfilling his commitment to an orderly transition at Maur Hill-Mount Academy. “I have been blessed to watch the Lord do amazing things at MH-MA, and I now look forward to being a part of a great Catholic community at Bishop Miege and seeing what God has in store. I can’t wait to be a part of the Miege family,” said Baniewicz.
As we transition to this new chapter, we want to assure you that our leadership team’s primary focus remains unchanged: to provide a Catholic community of faith with a supportive learning environment that empowers our students to reach their full potential through spiritual growth, academic success, and stewardship. The experience and expertise Mr. Baniewicz brings will undoubtedly contribute to this mission ensuring that our students continue to receive the highest quality education.
I would like to thank my fellow Board of Trustees members, in particular Bill Maloney, Holly Bentley, Father Bill Bruning, Don Welsh, and Yoly Nordling who served on our Interview Committee. I would also like to thank Dr. Vince Cascone, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and John Waldeck, Chairman of the Bishop Miege Foundation, for their assistance and support in this process.
Thank you for your ongoing trust and support of Bishop Miege. We are excited about the future of our school and the positive impact that will be made with our new leadership.
Sincerely,
Hal VonWyl
Chairman Bishop Miege Board of Trustees