Feb 13, 2009 7:08 pm US/Eastern
Thank God: 14 Catholic Schools Spared The Ax
Bishop Steps In, Saves Day For Students At Institutions In Queens And Brooklyn; Parents, Teachers Rejoice
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
They are rejoicing at 14 Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens, where a last-minute reprieve from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio saved them from closing.
Talk about answered prayers.
When Louise McNamara, the principal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Bushwick, got the letter from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn saying her school would be allowed to stay open she was beside herself with delight.
"This is everything. This is Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas all rolled into one. This is great. This is great," McNamara said.
The school was among dozens on the chopping block.
"The average per pupil cost in our Catholic schools is $5,500, yet the average tuition is $3,500," Bishop DiMarzio said.
In the end the bishop decided to close eight schools. Fourteen others, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, got a reprieve.
Vincent Castro teaches third grade and has a daughter in fourth grade.
"Oh, I can't even explain it, a lot of joy," Castro said.
Said parent Johann Hernandez: "I was so rejoiced."
"[I'm] very happy and relieved, mostly because of the children because they're used to being here," parent Ivonne Maldanado added.
And the students?
"It brings joy to the other kids knowing that they have a place to be instead of going to like a new place and being scared again, meeting new people, meeting new friends," eighth-grader Avanci Jones said.
"I was really excited because I wanted to go to fourth grade," another exuberant student said.
"I feel excited because this is my favorite school," said another.
"I'm happy it's staying open because now I don't have to make new friends," echoed a third.
Other students said they were happy because it took some pressure off their parents to find another school.
In all, 32 Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens have closed in the past four years but about 100 are still open. Of the eight schools slated to close, four will have a chance to reopen as public charter schools. The details are being worked out by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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