Pocono News Section

Parents React to Word of Catholic School Closings

Parents React to Word of Catholic School Closings - Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 4:47PM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 @ 04:47pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Eyewitness News was first to tell you Tuesday about the closing of two more Catholic schools. The decisions were made to close Saints Peter and Paul in Plains Township and St. Aloysius in Wilkes-Barre. Eyewitness News talked with some parents and students who will miss their school.

Lisa Fierman said, "We heard it on the news last night and my mom called me and we were surprised."

Many parents and students arrive Wednesday morning at St. Aloysius School in Wilkes-Barre already knowing the bad news after seeing the exclusive Eyewitness News report.

St. Aloysius and Saints Peter and Paul schools will close at the end of the school year. "I told my daughter and she got very upset because she wanted to know where her friends were going to be next year," said Fierman.

Some 160 students attend St. Aloysius. "She actually loves the school. I love this school, too," says Nancy Snyder.

Her daughter, Gabrielle, is a 3rd grader at St. Aloysius. "I'm surprised. I mean there were rumors before but I thought it would last a couple more years," said Snyder.

Rumors also swirled surrounding the future of Saints Peter and Paul school in recent years.
Now those rumors are reality. A banner indicates Saints Peter and Paul is still accepting student registration, but now with news of the school closings parents of hundreds of students are now faced with the decision, where will they send their children in the fall.

Bernice Wartella has 2-children at Saints Peter and Paul. She also attended the school as a child and knows Catholic education in our area is on shaky ground. "Down the line maybe this may happen again, but I’m praying that it won't. But absolutely education all the way – Catholic,” she said.

And with just a few weeks left in the school year and only a few months until the next, parents and students know they're on the clock. "I guess we'll have to figure out where we're going to be going next year. We really have no idea. I mean, this is all a surprise to us," added Fierman.

The decision to close both Saints Peter and Paul and Saint Aloysius schools is based largely on significant enrollment declines.

Students from the schools are being advised to enroll at other Luzerne County parochial schools. They include Wyoming Area Catholic School in Exeter and Good Shepherd School in Kingston.