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St. Bartholomew school to close, number of other schools to regionalize

PENN HILLS, Pa. — St. Bartholomew Catholic Elementary School in Penn Hills will close in June 2017 due to declining enrollment, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced on Saturday.

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The Rev. Edward Wichman, administrator of St. Bartholomew Parish, requested and received approval from Bishop David Zubik to make the change. Wichman cited low enrollments, high per-pupil costs, rising tuition and increased parish subsidy projected for school operations as the reasons for his request to close the school.

Earlier this week, parents expressed concern that the school would close. A group of parents and parishioners had been fighting to keep the school open.

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Zubik said in a letter to Wichman that those students supported by the Extra Mile Foundation will continue to have the opportunity for a Catholic education available to them.

Dr. Michael Latusek, diocesan Superintendent for Catholic Schools, praised the efforts of school leaders, parents and the Penn Hills community in supporting the school.

“St. Bartholomew School has provided a quality, faith-centered education for thousands of students over the past 63 years,” Latusek said. “We will be assisting families of current students in every way possible to attend another available Catholic school.”

The diocese also announced that it will regionalize a number of other schools and form three new schools in the North Hills.

Effective July 1, Catholic elementary schools in the North Hills will become a ministry of all 32 parishes in the region, which will provide support for the schools. The following changes were approved by the diocese:

  • The school communities of Saint Mary of the Assumption in Glenshaw, Saint Bonaventure in Shaler Township and Saint Ursula in Allison Park will be named Blessed Trinity Academy.
  • Saint Teresa of Avila school in Perrysville and Saint Sebastian school in Ross will be named Holy Cross Academy.
  • Saint Alexis and Saint Alphonsus schools in the Wexford area will be named Blessed Francis Seelos Academy.

"Declining enrollment has strained budgets, prompting tuition increases and the closing of a number of schools," diocese officials said in a news release.

The diocese's regional education system was announced in February.

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