On weekdays at 3pm, parents and children hustle and bustle through the streets of Harway Avenue. Children laugh animatedly while playing tag as they cross the streets, mothers are hard at work controlling their kids and security guards wave happily as they all rush chaotically across the street. The public schools have called it a day. But life is not as carefree for The Most Precious Blood Catholic School, which is just one block up on 27th Avenue. The Diocese of Brooklyn has announced that The Most Precious Blood is one of the three Catholic Schools in Brooklyn that will be closing this June.
The atmosphere of the school has lost its liveliness. Not a sound is heard except for the footsteps of the one security guard patrolling in the main lobby. “I have been here for 15 years”, said Santos, a security guard at the age of 51. “This will be an early retirement for me” he said. After school programs such as arts and craft have been cut. Santo explains that he is no longer needed for the extra one hour shift. The two bulletin boards plastered on the faded yellow walls holds pictures of shamrocks and bake sale fliers from February.
“I do not know where to send my son to now” said Connie Li, a parent of a third-grader from Most Precious Blood. Connie has been debating with her husband whether to send their son Teddy to the nearest public school P.S 212, but doubts the school teaching methods. Since the two alternative Catholic schools in Brooklyn, St. Vincent Ferrer and Flatbush Catholic Academy are also closing, Connie is out of options. “We want the best education and safety for Teddy. I am not sure P.S 212 can do that” she said.
Parents and students fought hard to rescue the school. Lori Pedone, parent of a seventh-grader, took part in a campaign that included obtaining pledges worth about $100,000. Marches and even YouTube appeals were held but it just was not enough. “We had $100,000 in pledges and an anonymous donor pledged another $100,000. But they reviewed our plan and didn’t feel it was viable, given the economic times” she said. Ms. Pedone explained that the school’s enrollment was a total of 220 but the diocese wanted the numbers to reach 260. They felt that the pledges were monetary and the plan did not meet satisfaction in addressing enrollment and finances.
With the increase in closure of Catholic Schools, the diocese is still in negotiation with the city of Education Department and Mayor Bloomberg, according to yournabe.com. Bloomberg plans to possibly open charter schools in vacant parochial school buildings. He believes this will keep Catholic school students out of local public schools, which are already overcrowded. According to diocese spokesperson Rev. Kieran Harrington, issuing charter schools will raise questions and concerns such as, “Can Catholic schools operate public schools considering our world view? What is really going to be lost from our perspective? Would we be compromising our integrity?” If the two parties reach an agreement, charter schools could open as early as this September.
“It will be the best if charter school open, but since it is not certain I will not depend on it”, said Connie. The parents are not the only ones who are stressed out by this sudden misfortune. Eight year old Teddy is worrying about making new friends at his future school.
Head of the Catholic School committee, Bishop DiMarzio remains positive in these circumstances. According to his internet based presentation on February 12, 2009, he said “Change is never easy. Sometimes it is even painful. My thoughts and prayers are with the students, parents and teachers whose schools will be consolidated in June. I want to assure you that we will do everything we can to assure that your child finds a seat in the school of your choice”.