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Friday, 13 February 2009 |
By ANDREA POTEET
Staff Writer
St. Joseph Catholic School in Wapakoneta is to remain open next school year, a school official says.
St. Joseph School Principal Ron Fahncke told the Wapakoneta Daily News Thursday that officials with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati issued a ruling last week that the school would remain open for the next school year.
“We’re very excited,” Fahncke said.
A study team appointed by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk filed a report last week on the viability of the school, after it failed to enroll the 70 students it promised by the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year.
Sixty students were enrolled for that school year.
Fahncke said a letter passed down from the archdiocese indicated the school would be open for the next year, but it did not mention the school’s status for future years.
He said no decisions have been made yet regarding changes to the school for next year, but representatives from the archdiocese are to visit the school and to work with the school’s administration on possible changes.
“We’re taking it one step at a time,” Fahncke said. “We realize we might very well be in a transition period until the variables are worked out.”
Fahncke said he thinks the certification of the teachers, the level of religious education, the status of the school’s finances and the support of the parish and the community factored into the decision to keep the school open.
The study team looked at factors including income, revenue, and expenses of the school, as well as demographics of the are and interest in the school from residents of surrounding communities.
The school had held preliminary registration, asking parents to verbally pledge their child would attend the school next year. A formal registration is not yet scheduled, but Fahncke said a registration rally is forthcoming.
Fahncke said he hopes the announcement encourages parents to enroll their children in the school.
St. Joseph first grade teacher Joyce Johnson said she and her students were “ecstatic,” to hear they could return to the school in the fall.
“For some reaosn, I just always had faith that this would happen,” Johnson said. “I’m thrilled and I’m looking forward to watching St. Joseph grow.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 13 February 2009 )
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