Saint Augustine School learned today that from the Archdiocese of New York that it will close at the end of the school year. Those involved with the effort to keep the school open reacted strongly to the news.
“This news is devastating and extremely disappointing for our school, our Parish and the entire community,” Step Up For SAS Chairperson Bethann Rooney said. “The students, parents and faculty are heartbroken.”
Rooney went on to say, “The Archdiocese invited us to play a game, but set all of the rules so that we never had a chance of winning. They are harvesting our students to feed and sustain other Catholic schools in Rockland County.”
Step Up For SAS presented a proposal to the Saint Dominic Catholic School Region of Rockland that specified how Saint Augustine School planned to achieve financial self-sustainability that did not require financial support from the Parish or Archdiocese. When the Archdiocese announced the list of “at risk” schools on November 26, Saint Augustine also learned it would need to raise $1.245 million. The school exceeded that amount by $855,000 through fundraising, revenue enhancements and expense reductions.
School officials have already stated Saint Augustine meets or exceeds the objectives of the Archdiocese’s multi-year strategic plan.
Principal Katharine Murphy expressed sadness about the news, “Saint Augustine School exemplifies everything the Archdiocese wants for their schools. We are the educational beacon they should be navigating toward not away from.”
St Augsutine's School is center of Rockland .A real slap in the face after all it's efforts to keep it open.Shame on you the Archdiocese of New York.I personally feel for the teachers and the students who now need to look for jobs and students new schools.
http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/hans-kung-urges-peaceful-revolution-against-roman-absolutism
The effect of your comment probably hit the families who are grieving the loss of this school about as compassionately as if you told someone your mother died and they asked if they could have her piano. THINK.
• The tuition charged is a fraction of the actual cost to educate each child. • Most families sacrifice to send their children to Catholic School. They are far from reserved for the “uppity” • Catholic Schools save the local school districts money but we don’t get our fair share of state and federal funding. • Teacher salaries are significantly lower than their public school counterparts. Teaching is a vocation for these men and women and they will never be rich. They are hardworking middle class heroes. • The claim that “a math teacher sent her 3 children for free” is completely un-true. She, and all teachers, pay tuition for their children just like the rest of us. Since you seem to know her and her family so well, perhaps you can ask to see her cancelled checks and let the facts speak for themselves. • Her exceptionally talented children worked hard for their achievements in an exceptional school and earned every last penny of their cholarship money. There was no special treatment for her children or any other students.
Since the Archdiocese has chosen to turn a deaf ear to us, we will do the same. The envelope will be returned empty. At least we are supporting the Post Office. So much for "Do unto others..."