I know that each school closing and merger has its own unique set of complications. I also understand that the Archdiocese’s decision to merge and close schools was purely based on finances. With low enrollment being a major factor across the entire city, the cost of running schools has to be considered.

Archbishop Chaput said, “We can no longer avoid dealing with enrollment and financial realities that have been building in our schools for many years.”

As a former Catholic school teacher and administrator, it is hard for me to hold my tongue.  I will not go into my personal opinion on the reasons these schools are being closed and who is at fault. We could fill the entire paper once I got rolling. The truth is that the problem is quite complicated and has many components. However, I will say that I think these financial issues should have been carefully examined and addressed long before it came to this.

If the Archdiocese truly cares about Catholic education and the students in this city, I don’t think closing down and merging their schools is a way to strengthen their relationships with the church. Unfortunately, I think this solution will have long-lasting repercussions that leave these students feeling damaged and abandoned by the system.