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Our Lady of Fatima School in Scarsdale was named by the archdiocese as one of 26 parochial schools in the state in danger of being shut down due to financial, demographic and population concerns.
Since 2007, the archdiocese has subsidized Our Lady of Fatima. Each year, the subsidy has grown, peaking at $325,000 in the last academic year. In the six years, the school has received approximately $900,000, making it difficult for the archdiocese to keep up. In all, more than $23 million is being subsidized for schools each year.
Following the announcement, the parents and students of the school came together to try and preserve Our Lady of Fatima. Parents and faculty members held a “save the school” rally and the Rev. Hugh McManus pushed for letters to be written and funds to be donated.
The archdiocese needs to know that a school has three guaranteed years of support to allow it to stay open. Our Lady of Fatima is pursuing grants and running fundraisers to keep hope alive.
“We will search high and low. I will be trying to find and approach possible benefactors,” McManus said. “New revenue streams include a tuition increase, strategies for increasing enrollment and pledges from teachers, alums and parishioners, which have already yielded $100,000 in projected revenue.”
Other Westchester schools that have been put on the endangered list include the Holy Name of Jesus School in Valhalla, St. Casmir School in Yonkers, Our Lady of the Assumption School in Peekskill and St. Theresa School in Briarcliff Manor.
The final decision on the closings will be made in early January. Schools were given six weeks to make their case for remaining open.
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