Parents lose help on school closings
Molly McGoldrick, left, and Meghan O'Keefe, both age 8 and from Merrick, hold their signs as they protest the closing of Catholic schools at the rally held outside St. Agnus Cathedral in Rockville Centre. (Jan. 21, 2012) Credit: Newsday/Karen Wiles Stabile
The Marianist brothers have ended efforts to help parents who are trying to keep open six Catholic grammar schools ordered closed by the Diocese of Rockville Centre, the regional head of the order said Wednesday.
The brothers, who run highly respected Chaminade High School in Mineola and other schools, had met with parents trying to save the schools, but now say the families should accept the inevitable and find another school for their children.
Brother Thomas Cleary, the provincial of the order in the Long Island region and president of Chaminade, said some of the parents were getting the false idea that the Marianists were willing to run some of the schools themselves, and that he needed to set the record straight.
"However appreciative we are with the support and recognition of our educational experience, the Marianists will not be involved with assuming responsibility for any additional school," Cleary wrote in a letter to the editor sent to Newsday. "The reason is simple: We currently operate three schools which consume the efforts of our membership at this time."
"However, we encourage families who want to continue a Catholic education for their children to do so -- albeit in another elementary school."
In an interview Wednesday, Cleary said the order does not plan to have any more meetings with the parents because it might lead them to think that the Marianists may take over some of the schools.
The schools being closed are St. Ignatius Loyola School in Hicksville; Sacred Heart School in Merrick; St. Catherine of Sienna School in Franklin Square; St. John Baptist De LaSalle Regional School in Farmingdale; Prince of Peace Regional School in Sayville; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Lindenhurst.
The first phase of the diocesan plan "is announced and set to go and people have to accept that," he said. "Clearly the schools are closing -- that's not going to change. So let's get on board."
Some parents reacted with sadness to the news, and said they believed the diocese pressured the Marianists to back off -- something Cleary denied.
Diocesan spokesman Sean Dolan did not return messages seeking comment. The diocese has said it is closing the schools in June because of declining enrollment and is looking to strengthen the overall Catholic education system.
The planned shutdowns have sparked protests and rallies by parents and students. Some parents said the diocese could learn from the Marianists.
Terry Dennelly, a parent at Prince of Peace, said, "The Marianists don't have the capacity to take on any more students or schools under their care, at the same time when our diocesan management team is closing six schools. Sadly, this contrast could not be more stark."
