St. Augustine’s and St. Peter’s Catholic Schools Likely to Close

The Archdiocese of New York’s “Pathway to Excellence” reconfiguration plan is likely to claim two long-running Catholic schools in Rockland County: St. Augustine’s in New City and St. Peter’s in Haverstraw. St Peter’s recently celebrated their 150th anniversary.

Read the Archdiocese’ press release below:

LOCAL BOARDS AND RECONFIGURATION COMMITTEES

MAKE PRELIMINARY DETERMINATIONS OF FINAL“AT-RISK”

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK

(New York, November 26, 2012) Local Boards for the three pilot regions and ad hoc Reconfiguration Committees for the six non-pilot regions, comprised of laity and clergy in parishes across the Archdiocese of New York, have completed their preliminary evaluations of the current status and long-term viability of the regionalized elementary schools in their respective regions.

The emphasis placed on this local decision-making process was outlined in Pathways to Excellence, the strategic plan for Catholic schools published in October 2010 and developed to assure a vibrant future for Catholic education.  Under that plan, most parish elementary schools will align into geographic regions governed by Boards.

Dr. Timothy J. McNiff, Superintendent of Schools,  said, “This regionalization initiative reflects the great progress we have made in the multi-year implementation of Pathways to Excellence,  and aims to both stabilize and grow the number of Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of New York, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the need for future school closures.”

Dr. McNiff continued, “At its inception, Pathways to Excellence raised the standards of academic excellence in all areas while also working to secure additional funding through a variety of sources to help ensure a robust future for Catholic education across the archdiocese.  Today’s regionalization process builds on the actions taken two years ago to improve the fiscal health of the Archdiocese of New York and will help ensure that all our schools will remain financially stable and, more importantly, open to all students.”

Local Regional Boards and Reconfiguration Committees in every county in the archdiocese began their careful analysis of each school region this fall.  This review includes all relevant data, including enrollment, financial, academic and local demographics, and ensures their decisions will result in financially healthy schools.  The long-term goal of regionalization is to maintain sustainable, excellent local school options for families wishing a Catholic education.

Based on this review, the Boards and Reconfiguration Committees have determined that 26 out of 159 regionalized, parish and archdiocesan elementary schools are at-risk of closure in June 2013.  The number of students at these elementary schools is 5,053 out of  50,045 currently enrolled in Catholic elementary schools in the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, and Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Sullivan, Orange, Dutchess and Ulster counties. Enrollment data is as of October 1, 2012.

The elementary schools notified that they are at-risk are:

Rockland:

St. Augustine, New City

St. Peter, Haverstraw

Central Westchester:

Holy Name of Jesus, Valhalla

Our Lady of Fatima, Scarsdale

St. Casimir, Yonkers

Northern Westchester/Putnam:

Our Lady of the Assumption, Peekskill

St. Theresa, Briarcliff Manor

Dutchess:

Regina Coeli, Hyde Park

St. Joseph, Millbrook

Ulster, Orange, Sullivan:

Sacred Heart, Newburgh

St. Joseph, Kingston

St. Mary of the Snow, Saugerties

Manhattan:

Annunciation

Holy Cross

Holy Name of Jesus

St. Gregory the Great

St. James-St. Joseph

St. Jude

Northwest and South Bronx:

Holy Spirit

Our Lady of Angels

Our Lady of Mercy

St. Jerome

East and Northeast Bronx:

Blessed Sacrament

St. Anthony

St. Mary

St. Mary Star of the Sea