Diocese issues schools plan

Friday the 13th turned out to be a lucky day for the parents, teachers and pupils of Saint Anthony of Padua School in South Ozone Park, after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn “accepted the alternative proposals” from school leadership – and removed them from the list of schools to be closed.
Saying, “now is the time to commit ourselves to address the challenge before us,” Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio issued his decision on “Preserving the Vision,” a plan to revamp Catholic elementary education in the boroughs, the evening before.
The school, at 125-18 Rockaway Boulevard, was one of five in Queens scheduled to be closed according to the draft proposals by the “Reconfiguration Committee,” which were released in mid-January.
After what Bishop DiMarzio called “an open, transparent and collaborative process,” diocesan officials had meetings with parents and educators impacted by each of the 29 committee recommendations.
“For the last several weeks I have thought about and prayed over the proposals and your responses,” Bishop DiMarzio said, declaring that the time had come, “to take action to preserve the mission of Catholic school education.”
There was no reprieve for the other schools threatened with closure.
Saint Aloysius in Ridgewood; Saint Benedict Joseph Labre in South Richmond Hill; Saint Catherine of Sienna in Saint Albans and Blessed Sacrament in Jackson Heights will all be shuttered at the end of the school year.
In another change from the preliminary proposals, Saint Michael’s school at 136-58 41st Avenue in Flushing will remain open, rather than merging into a Catholic Academy along with Saint Ann’s school and Saint Mary’s Nativity school at the latter’s campus at 146-28 Jasmine Avenue in Flushing, to open in September, 2009, according to the diocese.
Three other parochial schools “accepted the invitation to become Catholic academies,” and will reopen as such this September, according to the announcement.
Our Lady of Grace School in Howard Beach will reopen as Ave Maria Catholic Academy.
Saint Anastasia School in Douglaston will reopen as Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy.
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School will reopen as Notre Dame Catholic Academy of Ridgewood.
There was a flicker of hope for the others, ignited with an announcement from City Hall on Saturday, February 7.
A joint statement issued by Mayor Bloomberg, Bishop DiMarzio and Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis Walcott, revealed discussions between the Diocese and City to forestall some closures by the “possible conversion of some Catholic Schools into publicly funded charter schools,” according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
They said that “Such a move is unprecedented in New York City but was successfully implemented in Washington D.C. last year,” in the statement.
Under such proposals however, religious instruction is prohibited.
There is opposition to expansion of charter schools and any publicly-funded aid to private schools as “taking money away from public education,” but Bishop DiMarzio pointed out that the average cost-per-pupil in Catholic schools is $5,500 – which is, according to public figures, roughly one-third of the same measure for public school students.
“Yet the average tuition is $3,500” Bishop DiMarzio pointed out in his presentation. “Given the difficult financial times we all face,” he continued, “many parishes can no longer continue to provide such large-scale financial support,” he admitted.
After weighing the overarching financial issues and the changing demographics of the boroughs, the committee had to “carefully examine every possible shred of data related to each school,” Bishop DiMarzio said.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the students, parents, and teachers whose schools will be consolidated in June. I want to assure you that we will do everything we can to assure that your child finds a seat in the school of your choice,” he said.
After discussing the historic implications of his decisions, Bishop DiMarzio concluded his speech to the faithful with the declaration, “What we begin today is a chapter that future generations will look upon with gratitude.”