On Wednesday, the Rev. Allen Hoffa, interim head of school at Marian High School, outlined plans for the coming school year in a conference video­streamed on Facebook.

Hoffa replaces Jean Susko, who will become the director of academic studies at Marian. He also noted that former Assistant Athletic Director Peter Sanfilippo is now the athletic director, replacing Stan Dakotsky, who returns as the Colts’ head football coach.

Hoffa, on his first day of his new job, said the school is dedicated to “excellence, consistency and urgency.”

He added to the list the importance of communication with everyone involved in the school’s Catholic education.

He announced that beginning Wednesday, Marian planned to initiate the full complement of fall sports for the 2020 season and that athletes will practice all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health and safety guidelines.

Hoffa, who also oversees the school’s fiscal management and enrollment improvement, announced that Marian will be awarded $300,000 from the state tax credit program for tuition assistance, adding that along with several other scholarships, Catholic education will be more affordable.

“We are very excited about this news which comes from the hard work of staff members who were able to secure this amount of money,” Hoffa said.

A new service program, affiliated with the Marian Cares Project and the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, will ask that students perform three times their community service as previously required. Hoffa said that Catholic educated students will “walk side by side” to serve the needs of local communities, which includes serving the needs of the poor and the homeless.

He said an Immaculate Heart of Mary scholarship will be awarded to a student who exemplifies “model servant leadership in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Hoffa also said that as an extension of their Spiritual Life Program, space in the school will be allocated for a Campus Ministry Office that will be staffed by social studies teacher Patrick Smith and theology teacher Mary Matunis.

Hoffa intends to hold bimonthly Facebook updates and announcements throughout the school year. Future topics will include facility improvements, curriculum revision, and a specific plan that details how Marian will implement CDC guidelines for the opening of the school year in late August.

Marian was established in 1954 when St. Jerome’s of Tamaqua, St. Mary’s of Coaldale and St. Ann’s of Lansford were consolidated into one new high school. In 1966, Marian added the students from Mauch Chunk Catholic High School, which had been in existence since 1891.

The school boasts that 95% of their graduating seniors move on to institutes of higher learning.

“Our promise here at Marian,” Hoffa said, “is not just survive, but to thrive and to praise glory to God.”