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June 12, 2003 - Response to 6/12/03 Boston Herald article, “Families learn lessons
fighting to save school.” P. 4.
The article states that, “After months of assurances the school would not
become the fifth in the archdiocese to close this year, families … felt betrayed.” The
fact is that Fr. McDonnell, the school board, and staff have continuously warned
school parents about the financial situation of the school and the need to
raise more funds in order to keep the school open. This did not happen.
In addition, one father attempts to lay the blame on the school closing on
priests who “couldn’t keep their hands to themselves” while the article states
that the school closing has something to do with “millions of dollars likely
to be paid out in settlements.”
This has nothing to do with the real reasons why the school is closing:
-
enrollment for next year is under
150 students with a resultant drop in tuition income;
-
the
cost of running the school is increasing especially as regards medical
benefit coverage for teachers and
staff;
-
the school building itself is
in need of major repairs estimated at over $900,000 within the next three
years;
-
demographically, the number of
students attending Catholic schools in South Boston has dropped at all schools;
While, the Archdiocese has had to cut the subsidy to the school by 15%, this
still means that the school receives well over $90,000.
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