Saint Colman, Ardmore
Saint Matthias, Bala Cynwyd
Our Mother of Good Counsel, Bryn Mawr
Saint John Baptist Vianney, Gladwyne
Saint Margaret, Narberth
Saint Justin Martyr, Penn Valley
Presentation B.V.M., Wynnewood
And
Saint Thomas of Villanova, Rosemont, Delaware County
News Release
February 2006
PARISH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN
LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONCLUDE STUDY ~ TWO SCHOOLS TO CLOSE AND ONE TO REMAIN OPEN
Reverend Robert J. Chapman, Pastor of Saint Margaret Parish in Narberth (210-212 N. Narberth Avenue), Reverend James E. Martinez, O.S.A., Pastor of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Bryn Mawr (31 Pennswood Road), Reverend Richard T. O’Leary, O.S.A., Pastor of Saint Thomas of Villanova (1229 W. Lancaster Avenue) and Reverend Monsignor James J. Graham, Pastor of Presentation B.V.M. Parish in Wynnewood (204 Haverford Road) announce that Cardinal Justin Rigali has accepted the recommendations of Cluster 70 Steering Committee. The committee was made up of pastors, principals and representatives of the school communities.
Effective at the end of the 2005-2006 school year, Saint Thomas/Good Counsel Parish School and Presentation B.V.M. Parish School will close. Saint Margaret Parish School will remain open with attention to significant planning. The school will accommodate and welcome any students from the other schools who wish to enroll. There are no plans at this time for the buildings of Saint Thomas/Good Counsel School or Presentation B.V.M. Parish School.
The recommendations of the Steering Committee were based upon declining enrollments, increasing costs and changing demographics in the area. Saint Margaret Parish School enrollment has declined from 250 students in 1999-2000 to 192 students in 2004-2005. Presentation B.V.M. School saw enrollment decline from 196 students in 1999-2000 to 145 students in 2004-2005. Saint Thomas/Good Counsel School enrollment decreased from
201 students in 1999-2000 to 146 students in 2004-2005. When enrollment decreases, costs increase.
Background
In March 2005, Saint Margaret Parish School and Saint Thomas/Good Counsel School joined the School Study already conducted by Presentation Parish B.V.M. Parish School, since all of these schools are involved in Catholic education for Cluster 70. A Joint Steering Committee was established with representatives from all four parishes. In the course of these meetings, the financial, demographic and parent survey data was studied and evaluated. As a result, the following proposal was agreed upon to be presented to Cardinal Rigali:
"The Study Committee began its work on March 8, 2005. The specific goal of the study was to provide quality, affordable Catholic education in Cluster 70. After many months of examination of the financial, demographic and parent survey data, Presentation B.V.M., Saint Thomas/Good Counsel School and Saint Margaret School have reached what they believe is the best but most painful recommendation for these schools.
Geographic locations and parent surveys did not favor the feasibility for creating a regional school to accommodate the students from all three schools. It is with great sadness that we recommend the closure of both Presentation B.V.M. School and Saint Thomas/Good Counsel School as of June 2006 and Saint Margaret School to remain open with attention to significant planning and to accommodate and welcome any students from the other schools who wish to enroll. We hope the commitment to Catholic education and the youth remain strong in our Church because we believe in the formation of the faith of our young people is the future of our Church."
For more information, please contact the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Communications at
215-587-3747.