CV NEWS FEED // The Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York, this week held a meeting with parents about restructuring and possibly closing at least one of three local schools that are facing unsustainable financial challenges, according to local reports.
The Times Union reported that the K-8 schools All Saints, Mater Christi, and Blessed Sacrament have a joint operating deficit of $1 million, according to diocesan leaders.
The schools have been reportedly burdened with a rise in payroll costs for staff and a decline in attendance rates. Classroom capacities are said to be at 60% in each school, according to Times Union.
According to Spectrum News 1, the diocese held a meeting Feb. 25 where school leadership discussed possible future plans amid the poor financial standing of the schools. A number of local parents attended as well and were reportedly given the opportunity to speak at the event and express their concerns.
Local outlet News 10 reported that the diocese proposed two solutions to the school community.
One option would be to restructure the schools so that All Saints would continue as a middle school and the remaining two schools would serve as elementary schools. This would end the middle school programs at the latter two.
The second option proposed closing one of the schools and restructuring the remaining two.
News 10 reported that proposals would only decrease the current deficit, not end the diocesean schools’ financial challenges.
Spectrum News 1 reported that the school board and Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of the Diocese of Albany will make the final decision March 15.
Christopher Bott, the superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Albany, also commented during the parent meeting discussing the financial challenges.
“What tonight is about is transparency,” Bott said, according to local outlet CBS 6 News. “We’re not sending out emails and making decisions in some back room. We wanted to look everyone in the eye and talk face-to-face with them.”
Times Union reported that many parents at the meeting were concerned that school leadership did not allow for an adequate representation of the community’s feedback on the proposals.
According to News 10, All Saints Parent-Teacher Organization President Kelly Barbour said that only one parent who attended was reportedly able to do so.
Barbour said she tried to talk at the meeting, but officials turned off her mic before she could.
According to Spectrum News 1, Barbour has two children who attend the school, and she said it’s “a very strong community.”
“We are more of like a family there and the All-Saints community is very up in arms about this,” she said about the proposed changes.
Times Union reported Blessed Sacrament School had initially been led by its founders, the Sisters of Mercy, whose labor financially supported the school since it opened in 1916. The school has since transitioned to paying staff competitive wages and now provides health insurance, a cost officials say is an increasing financial burden.
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