HOWELL – Mom Seton Academy will stop operation on the finish of the college 12 months on account of declining enrollment of greater than 50% that has resulted in tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in debt, officers introduced Friday.
The Diocese of Trenton, which operates the pre-Ok by way of eighth grade college, issued a launch noting that enrollment that had reached over 300 in 2019 had dropped to 126 this 12 months.
That lack of tuition added to a debt that topped $140,000 in September. That adopted a subsidy from the diocese of greater than $250,000 throughout the previous two years, officers stated.
“As co-directors of Mom Seton Academy, we write to you at present to announce a tragic, however unavoidable choice about the way forward for our faculty,” Rev. John P. Bambrick of St. Aloysius Parish in Jackson and Rev. Peter J. Alindogan of St. Veronica Parish in Howell, stated in a letter to parishioners and oldsters Friday.
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“After cautious evaluation of enrollment and monetary challenges; session with advisors on the parish and diocesan ranges, and prayerful discernment of any obtainable choices, we should formally announce the closing of Mom Seton Academy on the finish of the current college 12 months,” the letter stated.
The varsity was created in 2019 by way of a merger of St. Aloysius Faculty in Jackson and St. Veronica Faculty in Howell, officers stated. They hoped that working on one campus would consolidate bills sufficient to maintain it going.
However the announcement stated the present enrollment “falls beneath widely known benchmarks for tutorial and monetary sustainability of all Catholic colleges.”
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“Because of the influence of the pandemic, most particularly the shutdown of church buildings and the ensuing lack of income for each parishes, St. Aloysius Parish and St. Veronica Parish are unable to cowl extra of the college’s bills,” the announcement added.
“After session with each parish finance councils and diocesan officers, Father Bambrick and Father Alindogan offered their suggestion to shut the college to Bishop David M. O’Connell, which he accepted.”
Officers stated the Diocese would work to help school and employees “to facilitate connections with space Catholic colleges for college kids who could wish to switch in September. Data regarding this era of transition will probably be posted to the college’s web site and up to date as warranted.”
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“We acknowledge the frustration that this information brings to our devoted school, employees, youngsters and households of the Academy,” the pastors’ letter stated. “Whereas we come to phrases with this information and put together for the perfect transition doable, we’re deeply grateful for all of your continued assist and help of Mom Seton Academy. You could have given tremendously and selflessly to a legacy of Catholic training in our parish household communities in Howell and Jackson. Might God bless you all through the remainder of the college 12 months and in your future endeavors.”
Joe Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ expertise who covers training and several other native communities for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press. He’s additionally the creator of three books, together with Killing Journalism on the state of the information media, and an adjunct media professor at Rutgers College and Fairleigh Dickinson College. Attain him at [email protected] and at 732-413-3840. Observe him on Twitter at @joestrupp
Source: Asbury Park
