May 20, 2011
Dear Parents,
As you know, the St. Mary’s Gloucester school community, the Office of Catholic Schools and the Diocese have been working hard to address economic challenges caused by declining enrollment and increased operational costs at the school.
This work started three years ago when the school added an advancement director and formed a development committee and work began on securing alternate funding sources. In January of 2009 Monsignor Curran met with us to express his concern about the school’s financial situation and asked if he could borrow money for school operations to give the advancement program and development committee the chance to develop an annual fund program. At that point enrollment stood at 194 students. At the meeting we agreed to give the school the opportunity to find these other financial resources and committed to lending the parish $200,000 for the 2008-2009 school year and $200,000 for the 2009-2010 school year.
In addition, we looked to help the school by regionalizing Annunciation in Bellmawr, St. Maurice in Brooklawn, St. Anne in Westville (these parishes form the newly merged St. Joachim), Sacred Heart in Mount Ephraim and Holy Maternity in Audubon (these parishes form the newly merged Emmaus Catholic community) with the school to provide additional financial support for the 2010-2011 school year (current enrollment is 183 students).
Despite the increased fundraising and additional parish support, the school continues to struggle financially. Projections indicate that there will be nearly $150,000 of unfunded expenses by June 30, 2011.
On May 10, 2011 representatives from the Office of Catholic Schools and the Finance Office met with Monsignor Curran and a member of the St. Mary parish council, Monsignor. Scott and a member of the Emmaus finance council, Father Szamocki and a member of the St. Joachim finance council, school principal Gail Corey, the school bookkeeper and three members of the St. Mary School board to discuss the school’s current financial situation and the budget for the 2011-2012 school year. All present at the meeting saw the financial challenges the school currently faces and will face going forward (early estimates show more than $250,000 in unfunded expenses in June 2012 (due in part to an estimated 155 student enrollment for next year).
As follow up to this meeting, I along with our Vicar General, Monsignor McGrath, our Superintendent Mary Boyle, and our Executive Director of Catholic Schools, Nick Regina met with Monsignor Curran, Monsignor Scott and Father. Szamocki on May 17, 2011. The pastors expressed their continued concerns about the school’s viability and their inability to increase parish support for the school because of the debt their parishes hold. We talked at length about this and about the alarming trend of declining enrollment at the school.
In light of this, and after prayerful consideration and concern for the well-being of our families and students, I have accepted the recommendation of our pastors and my school advisors to close St. Mary School at this end of this current school year.
Although we know that the challenges facing St. Mary School have been known and that this decision may not come as a surprise to some in the school community, we also understand that this does not diminish the sadness and disappointment that we all feel at this time. We realize that the support of St. Mary School has required a deep commitment and great sacrifice on the part of parishioners, faculty, parents and graduates. This decision should not diminish the pride the community has had in the school for its academic excellence, its strong sense of community, or its success fostering moral values in our children. Nor should it diminish our future commitment to Catholic school education for the children of our parishes.
Recognizing the difficulties presented by a decision that comes at the end of a school year, and to facilitate the enrollment of your children in another nearby Catholic elementary school, the following transition assistance will be offered:
Tuition assistance for families granted at St. Mary School for 2011-2012 will be honored at another Catholic school chosen by the family
A $1,000 per student tuition voucher will be provided to each family that may be applied toward tuition at another Catholic school chosen by the family for 2011-2012
Registration fees already paid for 2011-2012 will be transferred to the new school at which the family enrolls their children (or it will be refunded if you choose not to enroll your child in a Catholic elementary school)
Contact information for area Catholic elementary schools and the number of seats available for each grade in each school is enclosed with this letter
Holy Trinity Regional School in Westville Grove has indicated that they will provide a bus to Holy Trinity for students who live in Gloucester
The Office of Catholic Schools will also work to place as many teachers from St. Mary School as possible and, for those we cannot place, we will offer a severance package to help them during their transition to new employment.
I know that this announcement may be met with feelings of disappointment, sadness and even anger. I understand that any change of this kind is disruptive to families and the school communities. That is why the decision was made only after evaluating the realities confronting St. Mary School and only after consultation with pastors, parish leadership and school leadership.
Finally, we thank our parents, for your support of Catholic education and our teachers who have so ably taught our students. Your expressions of support, your suggestions and honest feedback have been important as we consider the best ways to ensure that Catholic school education remains available to families in our communities. We also ask for your understanding and prayers as we work together to address the challenges facing our parishes and schools.
May God continue to bless you and guide you and your families.
Fraternally,
Most Rev. Joseph A. Galante, D.D., J.C.D.
Bishop of Camden