School to close in June

On the recommendation of its school board, St. Stanislaus School in Amsterdam will close in June. The decision was accepted by Rev. David Mickiewicz, pastor of the parish, and approved by the Diocesan School Board and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard.

The decision was made in response to continually declining enrollment, which this year was 114 students, down from 173 five years ago. Enrollment has been below 200 for at least a decade.

With falling enrollment and the rising costs of operating the school, the board determined it was impossible to keep St. Stanislaus open.

A year-long process preceded the decision; it involved principals, pastors and parents, who worked together with the nearby St. Mary's Institute school community to examine the challenges and possible solutions.

"The decision to close a school is a difficult one," said Sister Mary Jane Herb, IHM, superintendent of diocesan Catholic schools, "especially when that school has had such a rich and long history in the community. St. Stanislaus' administration, school board, pastor and parents are to be commended on the efforts made to increase the viability of the school. However, with the declining enrollment and subsequent lack of financial resources from tuition, there is no other option."

Dan Cunningham, president of the Diocesan School Board, said, "We recognize that this will be a stressful time for the school community. Diocesan School Board members will work closely with the staff from the Catholic School Office to ensure that the needs of the families and students affected are met. With St. Mary's Institute within a mile of the school, we are confident that Catholic education will continue in the Amsterdam area."

St. Mary's has an enrollment of 253 this year, with the capacity to accommodate all of the St. Stanislaus students. Schools within the Diocese will be encouraged to give the 15 teachers currently at St. Stanislaus first priority as they fill vacancies.

(3/17/05)