2 Parish Schools to Shut in June: St. Charles Borromeo in Drexel Hill and St. Casimir in South Philadelphia Could Not Revive Enrollment

By Martha Woodall, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Jan. 17–Parishioners at St. Casimir Roman Catholic Church in South Philadelphia and St. Charles Borromeo in Drexel Hill got the same, sad news during weekend Mass: Their parish elementary schools will close in June.

After struggling to reverse declining enrollment and mounting costs, pastors and parish committees had recommended that the schools close at the end of this academic year. Teachers were told Friday that Cardinal Justin Rigali had accepted the recommendations.

“I know this is a very painful time for these school communities,” Rigali said in a statement, noting that each school had “a long and proud tradition.”

Sister Irene Loretta, principal at St. Charles, said she and the Rev. Roland Slobogin, the pastor, visited classrooms yesterday. They told students that although closing the school was sad, the children should be proud and grateful that their school had served the community for 138 years, she said.

But some St. Charles parents said they would fight to keep the school open.

“We are just trying to reach out and see what we can do,” said Kim McKelvey, a parent in Lansdowne. “A lot of people are upset.”

A committee is gathering information to try to persuade the cardinal to reverse his decision, she said.

Enrollment at the school, at 3400 Dennison Ave., declined rapidly. As recently as 2000-01, the school had 414 students. Last year, there were 207; only 114 attend this academic year. There were too few students to offer kindergarten.

Parents have said this year’s sharp decline reflected an unusually large eighth-grade class — 48 students — who graduated in June. They also said that many Catholic families had moved and that others had begun sending their children elsewhere as rumors spread that St. Charles might close.

According to the archdiocese, St. Borromeo families were told in February 2004 of financial woes and declining enrollment, but the problems continued.

Committees were formed last March to raise money and boost enrollment, but those efforts were not enough. Only 120 students were projected to enroll for 2007-08.

McKelvey, who led one of those committees, said that by the time parents learned the gravity of the situation in March, “it was not enough time. We don’t feel we were given a fair chance.”

Karen Jacobi, whose daughter Amanda is a seventh grader, said parents should have been brought in to raise money and recruit students years ago when enrollment began to slide.

Slobogin, the pastor, could not be reached for comment.

St. Casimir’s elementary school, at 324 Wharton St., was founded a century ago to educate the children of the Lithuanian immigrants who established the parish. Two years ago, the school had 122 students. This year, there are 99.

Only five youngsters are in kindergarten. Third and fourth grades are combined, and eighth grade is the only grade with more than 15 students.

A benefactor contributed $200,000 to help keep the school open this academic year so the school could mark its centennial, but the archdiocese said the parish was still projecting a $300,000 deficit for the school this year.

Rigali said the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Education would assist displaced teachers and help families find spots at other Catholic elementary schools for the fall.

Contact staff writer Martha Woodall at 215-854-2789 or martha.woodall@phillynews.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Philadelphia Inquirer

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