New York, NY —
At least 11 parochial elementary schools are slated for closure, under a new plan by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to deal with declining enrollments. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said in a statement that its schools are operating at only 85 percent of capacity. The plan includes a five-year re-organization that would get parents and lay experts to help clergy with budgets and personnel. The bishop is to make a final decision by the end of next month.
Below is a release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn on the proposal for closings and school mergers.
It is proposed that 11 schools in the Diocese close at the conclusion of the 2008-2009 school year:
Flatbush Catholic Academy (Bk), St. Vincent Ferrer (Bk), Most Precious Blood (Bk), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Bk), Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Bk), Our Lady of Angels (Bk), St. Anthony of Padua (Qns), St. Benedict Joseph Labre (Qns), St. Catherine of Sienna (Qns), St. Aloysius (Qns) and Blessed Sacrament (Qns).
It is proposed that nine schools merge and three new schools be created. In the Windsor Terrace section of Brooklyn, it is proposed that Immaculate Heart of Mary (Bk) and Holy Name (Bk) merge and form one school with a single campus to be located at Prospect Park West. In Flushing, it is recommended that three schools, St. Michael, St Ann, Mary’s Nativity merge to form one school with one campus. The school will be located at the St. Mary Nativity site. The four Williamsburg schools are recommended to merge in 2010-2011. The number of sites is to be determined by the Board of Directors following the merger next year. These schools are Northside Academy, St. Stanislaus Kostka Ss. Joseph and Dominic Academy, St. Nicholas.
It is proposed that the five schools close and reopen at the same site as an Academy. If these schools do not reopen as Academies they will be recommended for closure at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. These schools will adopt a two-tier governance model and be required to meet. Schools in this category are Mary, Gate of Heaven (Qns) 2009-2010, Our Lady of Grace (Qns) 2009-2010, St. Anastasia (Qns) 2009-2010, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Qns) 2009-2010.
A special task force has been created to explore the creation of a new academy at St. John the Baptist, (Bk).