RUMOR IS TRUE! SAINT MARY SCHOOL TO CLOSE AT THE END OF SCHOOL YEAR
Thursday, May 19, 2011
By Bill Cleary
(CNBNEWS.NET)-The rumor about Saint Mary Grammar School closing at the end of this school year is true. Bishop Joseph Galante, Bishop of the Camden Diocese released a statement about the closing on the school’s website about an hour ago. The rumor began last Sunday after parishioners read a brief statement from Monsignor Curran, pastor of the parish in the church bulletin that the school was facing financial problems and could be shut down.
Several people in the know said off-the-record the school would be closed at the end of this year but an official announcement would not be made until this coming Sunday after school staff were told on Friday. Apparently because the media learned about the forthcoming announcement the Diocese decided to release a formal statement now.
Declining enrollment and increase in operating cost are the reasons for the closing. In February the grammar school increased the tuition from $3500 per student to $3900 a student beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. The tuition increase along with the fact that a number of public schools in the area have joined the state’s school choice program were an issue on the continual downward spiral in St. Mary’s enrollment.
Monsignor Curran approached the Diocese in 2009 asking for financial help. Enrollment in 2009 totaled 193 students. The Diocese agreed to give the school $400,000 to help with finances for the next two years. Bishop Galante said despite 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. Current enrollment is 183 students.
According to the Bishop 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).
The Bishop said a follow up meeting was held May 17. Present at that meeting besides the Bishop was Vicar General, Monsignor McGrath, Diocese School Superintendent Mary Boyle, and our Executive Director of Catholic Schools, Nick Regina who met with Monsignor Curran, Monsignor Scott and Father. Szamocki . 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.
Galante said, “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.”
To facilitate the enrollment of the school 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 Bishop said the Office of Catholic Schools will also work to place as many teachers from St. Mary School as possible. “For those we cannot place, we will offer a severance package to help them during their transition to new employment.”
