CORAOPOLIS, Pa.,None — Father Richard Jones, pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, has received permission from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to close Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary School.
The school will close effective the end of the June 2011 school term.
His letter to Bishop David A. Zubik cited declining school enrollment, loss of a major benefactor, increasing costs, and the drop in the number of potential students as the main reasons to close the school.
The drop in enrollment, along with funding gap of $250,000 and projected tuition increase makes the financial burden too great to continue.
For more than a decade, the school was sustained by a generous benefactor who contributed more than $2.6 million and funded 45 percent of school costs.
With loss of that major donor, the pastor, principal, parents and others made great efforts at marketing, recruiting and fundraising, but could not get the funding and enrollment needed to continue.
Bishop Zubik accepted the pastor's recommendation to close the school.
Father Stubna, diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education, praised the efforts of the school leaders and parents, as well as the parish community.
"St. Joseph School has provided a quality, faith-centered education for thousands of students over many years now. Unfortunately the dramatic decline in the number of school age children in that part of the diocese, coupled with increasing financial difficulties in operating a smaller school, have resulted in the decision to close," Father Stubna said.
There are other nearby Catholic elementary schools that are able to provide a faith-centered, education for the children currently attending Saint Joseph Catholic School.
WPXI
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