February 2006
HOLY SAVIOUR AND SAINT PAUL PARISH SCHOOLS IN NORRISTOWN
LOOK TO THE FUTURE TO FORM ONE NEW SCHOOL
Reverend Monsignor Charles L. Sangermano, Pastor of Holy Saviour Parish (407 East Main Street) and Reverend Harry E. McCreedy, Pastor of Saint Paul Parish (2007 New Hope Street) announce that Cardinal Justin Rigali has accepted the joint recommendation of the Joint Steering Committee to consolidate the two parish schools into one school beginning with the 2006-07 school year. The two parishes are located in Norristown, Montgomery County, approximately 1.6 miles from one another.
The Joint Committee made up the pastors, principals and representatives of the parishes and schools also recommended the Saint Paul School site for the new elementary school because it is more realistic and easier to maintain for the number of students in the proposed consolidated school. The name of the new school will be Our Lady of Victory School. There are no current plans for the Holy Saviour School building.
The Joint Committees recommendation was based upon declining enrollment and increasing costs. From the 1999-2000 school year to the 2004-2005 school year, Holy Saviour Schools enrollment decreased from 188 to 138 students. During that same time period, Saint Pauls enrollment decreased from 222 to 174 students. The decreasing enrollment figures have caused costs to increase and put a tremendous financial burden on the two parishes. Tuition does not cover the costs of operating the schools. Holy Saviour subsidizes 81 percent of the schools costs. Saint Paul Parish subsidizes 39 percent of that schools costs. The parishes cannot afford to continue such large subsidies.
Background
A Study Commission for each parish was established in January 2005, composed of several parish representatives. A Joint Steering Committee was also set up with representatives from both parishes. Many meetings were held so that information might be discussed and exchanged. As a result, the Steering Committee put forward the following proposal.
With unwavering faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and a deep commitment to His Church, the members of Cluster 72 Steering Committee respectfully submit our report to His Eminence,
Cardinal Justin Rigali. After many meetings of sharing pertinent and current data concerning both parish elementary schools as well as educating and communicating with the two local parishes, we find the best possible scenario for both parish elementary schools to be a coming together of these two current entities into one new school beginning with the 2006-2007 school year.
It is with sadness that we witness the end of the legacies of both Holy Saviour and Saint Paul Parish Elementary Schools yet we support the joining of these two schools into one excellent, quality Catholic School for the children of the Greater Norristown/Plymouth area.
For more information, please contact the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Office for Communications at 215-587-3747.