Parents of students attending St. Patrick School have been working hard over the last six weeks to secure funding to save their school. Supporters have been reaching out to local business leaders, individuals and potential investors after parents received a letter last month from the Parish and Principal Paula Smith, saying that the school was in serious jeopardy of closing.
The deadline of March 15 was set to raise the $500,000 needed to keep the school open. Once the money is raised, the school must secure enrollment of at least 60 students in grades Pre-K through sixth by April 30. Since then, parents and supporters have been working hard to raise the funds to save the beloved school that has been part of the local community for 156 years.
“We are working toward our goal; however, we have not met it at this time,” said Pam Bouton, parent of a student at St. Patrick School.
She added, “Multiple organizations and individuals have expressed interest in helping, but the tight timeframe has proven to be a difficult obstacle to overcome. Without an immediate large investment in the next five days, the school will close. We are looking for individuals interested in matching funds to keep these historic, inclusive values based school open. It would really be devastating for the community if this school were to close.”
Representatives from the school have put together a business plan that revolutionizes how the school has been operating, which includes increased grant-writing, marketing and enrollment outreach, revitalizing alumni groups and ensuring that parents, students, teachers, and community leaders are all working together to create a sustainable future for the school.
St. Patrick School has been providing an education rooted in Christ, teaching the values and ideals that are in accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. However, students of all faiths are welcomed and embraced. The small class sizes, excellent graduation rate, dedicated teachers and staff, safe and secure learning environment and foundation of faith offer a wonderful choice for families seeking a quality education for their children. The school has pre-school and Pre-K programs as well as K-6.
If you are interested in helping to save St. Patrick School, contact Paula Smith at 687-1770. Learn more about St. Patrick School at www.stpatrickowego.org/.
