What's interesting is that at least one school -- Holy Rosary in Hawthorne, N.Y. -- was given the chance to implement a corrective action plan to grow enrollment, beginning in 2005. Unfortunately, the Diocese of Rochester did not conduct itself in the same manner, choosing to shutter 14 area schools without allowing any the opportunity to implement corrective actions.
Related Coverage
* Daily News: New York Archdiocese Shutting Six Grade Schools, Merging Four Others
* Mid-Hudson News: Archdiocese Announces Mid-Hudson Elementary School Closures, Mergers
* AM New York: Archdiocese Announces School Closings
2 comments:
These closings only affect 1% of the Catholic school enrollment in the Archdiocese, and they are spread out. It seems that the Archdiocese is addressing economic concerns, while still preserving the system. They didn't close so many schools that there isn't enough room for current students, let alone new ones. If our schools were given a chance to increase enrollment with the new tuition rate and then failed, we would be more accepting of the closings. Bishop Clark could learn something from the Archdiocese.
While our school was put on a corrective action plan, none of the parents were informed of that fact until now. The true gravity of our situation was revealed only after the decision to close our school was made. The Archdiocese has closed over 21 schools in the last four years, and many within the same area in subsequent years. This has resulted in some families being displaced more than once due to schools closing within the two to four year period.
Our school was one of the newest built in Westchester County. Our children must now be forced into much older, smaller buildings; increasing the size of existing classes in already small classrooms; and all without the benefit of more teachers - since hiring more would not be cost effective.
No sir, the Archdiocese requires just as much instruction as your Bishop Clark.
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