School's closing leads to planning for next fall

BY KAREN DIETLEIN
STAFF WRITER

For principal Jane Kromm, the closing of Cohoes Catholic School in June won't seem real until the last child leaves and she turns in her keys.

"I don't think that I will totally accept it until then," she said.

Parents, relatives and teachers of students recently gathered at CCS for the annual Parent/Grandparent Luncheon. Over hot dogs, punch and memories, they celebrated the school, made plans for the future and mourned their loss.

Options

While some parents hope to enroll their children at other Catholic schools, like St. Mary's in Waterford or St. Ambrose in Latham, others are opting for Cohoes public schools because of logistics. The city does not provide busing for students, and it will be difficult for some families to drive their children a great distance.

The Howe family, who have sent two generations of students to the Catholic schools in Cohoes, will choose public education.

"There are people who are really bitter [about the closing], and some who are indifferent. But we're all a family, and it's tugging at all of our heartstrings," explained Judy Howe, a veteran of the parent association and mother of Carly, 6; Zach, 9; Tim, 11; and Tom, 13, who all attend CCS. "I don't think there is a teacher, past or present, that hasn't affected my kids' lives. We're real close here. One big family, forever. We have kids that don't want to leave."

Tribute to CCS

Sandilyn Rivet plans to send her daughter, Autumn, to St. Mary's in the fall.

"Autumn would have been here for the long haul," said Mrs. Rivet. "Before we came here, we'd gone to several schools in the area and were dissatisfied with the reception we got. When we went a second time to Cohoes Catholic, Mrs. Kromm not only knew our faces but remembered our names. Right then and there, I knew Autumn would get the focus she needed, that she'd get a family atmosphere."

Mrs. Rivet, who has a son at Catholic Central High School in Troy, said that it was important for Autumn to go to Catholic school so she could "develop a sense of faith." Mrs. Rivet appreciated CCS' multi-age curriculum, which she credits with allowing Autumn to gain a second-grade reading level while finishing kindergarten.

Time to grieve

"We've done a lot with this school and wish we could continue," said Jack Hebert. "There are a lot of families who are heartbroken about this. It's a tremendous loss. We're looking around, but we're just so comfortable here."

In many ways, says Mrs. Kromm, parents will need more time to grieve than the students.

"We're going to have a great rest of the year," she said. "We're keeping it upbeat, keeping our spirits up. Everything will be fine for the kids. We hope to make it a fantastic year. I have faith in the faculty that they will not slow down, that they will make sure every child is ready and placed in a new school."

Mrs. Kromm "commends these parents for sticking with the school through thick and thin," and exhorts them to "not give up on Catholic education. You've given this gift to your child."

Looking for work

David Dame, a maintenance staffer who has been with Catholic schools in Cohoes for 27 years, hopes to take up a similar position next fall.

"I'll miss the kids," he said. "They are a lot of fun. But there's not much you can say. It's the times. You have to carry on. You say, 'I'll just find another job,' but it's not that easy."

Most of the faculty, according to teacher Sally Jovell, have been colleagues for 15 years or more. "To have that suddenly taken away will be hard," she said.

"I hope to get another position," said Brenda Dwyer, the art teacher. "I'm cautiously optimistic."

Social-studies teacher Teddi Bullock responded, "I wish I had a dime for every time you've said that in a the last couple of days."

Teacher and librarian Frances Fortin added, "There is a lot of sadness. It's a loss. Sadness is the word to use. I'm going to miss the kids -- a lot."

Waiting game

Mrs. Kromm plans on waiting until every one of the 73 students at Cohoes Catholic is placed in a new school before she spruces up her resume to secure a new position.

"Being small enabled us to know everyone," she said. "All 73 of us went ice-skating. We didn't have to tell the older kids to watch out for the kindergartners; they just did. We see it as being like when your child leaves the nest. We're not breaking up; we're sending them off to a new place. We've prepared them, and now they're off."

(2/12/04) [[In-content Ad]]