Archdiocese explains closure of Delaware County’s St. Kevin School

Despite parishioners’ last-ditch efforts to keep Delaware County’s St. Kevin school open, the Archdiocese has released a statement explaining why the school has to close its doors.

The diocese already confirmed earlier this month the school, in addition to two others in the county, will not reopen next year.

“The truth of the matter is that low re-registration numbers for the forthcoming academic year combined with a parish debt of approximately $1.8 million prohibit the school from remaining open,” reads part of the statement.

 

“Meetings with parish and school administrators were held as early as November of 2010 to highlight the importance of increasing enrollment in the school in order for it to remain a fiscally viable institution, especially in light of the level of parish debt.”

As the diocese puts it, the parish has $1.8 million in debt and tuition would have had to double or triple to keep the facility running, costing parents as much as $9,000 per student for a year.

“To keep the school open next year would have placed such a financial strain on the parish that its own welfare would have been jeopardized. Additionally, the school would have had to cut art, music, physical education, technology, honors math, and library services in an attempt to remain fiscally viable.”

Parishioners rallied in support of the school the night before the diocese held a meeting earlier this month to officially announce the closure.