NJ Catholic school slated for closure to remain open for 2020-21
NEW PROVIDENCE – The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, which the Archdiocese of Newark had planned to close, will remain open for the 2020-21 school year, according to its Home School Association president.
The decision to keep the pre-K-8 Catholic school open comes after nearly 1,500 signatures and 450 comments in an online petition urged the archdiocese to reevaluate its decision to close the Blue Ribbon school, and a three-year pledge drive started by the school advisory board raised $413,000 to support the school, according to a release from Suzanne Fahy, Home School Association President and mother of three current students and one alumna.
In addition, an agreement was reached to revert the South Street school to local parish control, the release states.
“We are thrilled that the archdiocese was willing to work with us and see the commitment from the members of the AOLP community. The academy is an important home to so many wonderful families and we look forward to having the school open another 66 years and beyond,” Fahy said in the release.
The school advisory board told parents last week they are planning for the long term.
Current families and teachers each met separately with the board. Each of those discussions stressed financial transparency going forward. In addition, the board outlined the areas of focus for both the short- and long-term success of the school, and continued communication between all parties.
READ:Petition to keep NJ Catholic school open garners 1,300-plus signatures
Maria Margiotta, Archdiocese of Newark director of communications and public relations, said the parish has agreed to accept from the archdiocese the responsibility of the school’s operations and fiscal sustainability moving forward, and the parish will continually reassess the school’s sustainability using agreed upon metrics and organizational stipulations.
"It is important to note that the ongoing pandemic has exacerbated a number of challenges including enrollment at archdiocesan schools. If the archdiocese could not subsidize its schools at current levels before COVID-19, we will be even less capable once the quarantine eases. Our school ministry consolidation and reorganization is aimed at ensuring that our archdiocesan Catholic schools survive and flourish," Margiotta said in an email.
Three other Catholic schools in Union County will be closed by the archdiocese at the end of this school year. They are St. Genevieve School in Elizabeth, St. James the Apostle School in Springfield and Holy Spirit School in Union. They are among eight elementary schools the archdiocese is closing.
Fahy said the Academy of Our Lady of Peace community empathizes with the families of the schools that remain on the closing list and have reached out to offer a different option for Catholic education in the area – a school under local control that retains a link to the archdiocese for advice and support.
Enrollment for the children of families interested in the values taught in a faith-based school, with small class sizes and high academic standards, is open at the Academy. Anyone interested in asked to contact Suzanne Fahy @ suzannemaryfahy@gmail.com.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.