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August
6, 2007
VOL.
45, NO. 14Oakland,
CA
St. Joseph the
Worker School closed
after major drop in enrollment
Just one month
after announcing that St. Joseph the Worker School would close in June
2008 because of financial problems, Father Stephan Kappler, parochial
administrator of the Berkeley parish, decided the school would not reopen
in September, due to a drastic drop in enrollment.
In a July 23 letter to parents, Father Kappler said “this is the
exact situation we had tried to avoid by remaining open for one more year,”
to give families enough time to find an alternative school, but “it
is impossible to operate a school and offer high quality education with
a roster numbering less than 50 students.”
In fact, only 28 students were registering for the fall, Father Kappler
said. Many parents, on learning that 2007-08 would be the school’s
final year, decided to place their children in other schools, he said.
Bishop Allen Vigneron said he had acquiesced “with regret”
to the parish decision to close the school in 2008 and “regretfully,
once again, I acquiesce to their decision” to close the school immediately.
“The closure saddens me greatly,” he added.
The diocesan School Dept. held a Catholic School Fair on July 31 to help
those families who had registered for St. Joseph’s find another
Catholic school. Representatives from 12 Catholic schools met in the school
hall with parents to locate a Catholic school that would meet their children’s
needs.
Many parents filled out applications on the spot, said Richard Kruska,
diocesan superintendent of schools.
He said registration fees are being refunded and that the diocese will
assist needy families with such expenses as new uniforms. Financial aid
agreements will also be honored by the other schools, he said, with help
from the diocese.
Kruska said some parents came to the meeting angry or anxious. “I
hope we took a very difficult situation and made it as positive as possible
for them,” he said, noting that Father Kappler and diocesan staff
met with parents who needed to express their feelings.
Kruska praised the principals for the cooperative spirit they exhibited
during the fair. “One principal, after talking to a parent, said,
‘Perhaps you’d like to consider this other school that is
nearer your home.’”
“Our goal,” he said, “was to find the best possible
placement for each child.”
Schools worked with several families who wanted their children to be enrolled
as a group to maintain friendships they formed while they were at St.
Joseph’s.
Two of the school’s four teachers have already signed contracts
with other Catholic schools and the other two are scheduled for second
interviews, said Penny Pendola, diocesan human resources director. Her
office is also providing referrals for the school staff.
Father Kappler said Presentation Sister Denise Bourdet, renowned for the
CYO athletic program she has directed at the school for many years, will
now develop CYO as a parish-based program.
He is continuing to explore leasing the school building to Aspire Charter
Schools, a decision he first announced in June. The lease would provide
much needed income to the financially-strapped parish and insure continued
“high quality education to the under-served communities in our area,”
he said.
St. Joseph School has operated at a consistent deficit for several years
and was highly subsidized by the parish and diocese. For the 2006-2007
school year, the diocese provided a $99,000 subsidy and the parish added
another $28,000. Still, the school term ended with a shortfall of $59,000.
To mark the school’s closure, a liturgy and reception for former
students, faculty, staff and alumni will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15,
at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church.
