April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENT

St. Augustine's School, Troy, to remain open for 2015-16

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger announced at a community meeting held July 17 in Troy that St. Augustine's School, located in the city's Lansingburgh area, will remain open for the coming 2015-16 school year.

The school is facing significant financial challenges, including a projected deficit of $170,000 for the coming school year. The Bishop challenged St. Augustine's community to rally together and identify viable solutions to sustain the school beyond the next academic year.

St. Augustine's parish was established in 1842 and has been served by Augustinian priests since 1858. The parish school was established in 1869. The Augustinian order announced in May of this year that its friars would no longer be living at St. Augustine's parish; Rev. David Kelley, OSA, pastor of St. Mary's parish in Waterford -- another Augustinian-run parish -- is now pastor of St. Augustine's, as well. (Read that story at www.evangelist.org.)

In June, the dire financial situation at St. Augustine's School came to light, and the Bishop, the diocesan superintendent of schools and the Diocesan School Board believed there was not enough time for faculty and families to make alternative plans should the school not reopen in September.

"For St. Augustine's School to be successful, the parish, school and community must find ways to increase enrollment, increase revenue and reduce expenses wherever possible," Bishop Scharfenberger told parents, faculty and parishioners at the July 17 meeting.

The Bishop noted that the community had pledged its support for the school at a public meeting held July 14 at St. Augustine's parish, and said he was confident that, if that level of support and dedication to the school continues, it will have a bright future.

The diocesan Catholic Schools Office will provide technical and advisory support to St. Augustine's School as it works to come up with a viable plan.

"If I did not believe that this school would be here for more than one year, I would be closing it tonight," Bishop Scharfenberger told those gathered for the announcement.

"I don't want to be back here next year and be told, 'Why did you put us through this torture for another year, only to announce it's going to close?'" he added.

For the 2014-15 school year that just ended, St. Augustine's had 115 students enrolled, down from a recent high of 220 in the 2010-11 school year.[[In-content Ad]]

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