St. Gabriel School Parents Appeal Closing, Say Due Process Wasn't Followed

Last month St. Gabriel School parents were informed that their school would close in June for good due to declining enrolment and failing finances.

But some parents aren’t accepting that fate and have begin to raise money for their own independent school, and 12 parents filed an appeal to the Archdiocese of Hartford seeking to have the decision revoked citing several errors in the process. Already $11,000 has been raised via a GoFundMe page.

Parents in the appeal, which was obtained by Milford Patch, claim the decision to close the school was done in violation of the Archdiocese’s policy and procedures. Parents contend that several conditions were never adhered to and are required in order to close a school.

Parents also say the Archdiocese killed a proposed deal that could have saved the school as the Beth El Shelter planned to purchase 2-acres of the St. Gabriel campus.

Parents want the closure decision tossed out and for the Archdiocese to renew sales talks with Beth El Shelter, said Pamela Konareski, a parent, who has three children at the school.

A total of 12 parents have signed the appeal. Deidre and William Doyle initiated the appeal.

“The school families and parishioners did not receive any notification of a threat to the closure of the school which we were supposed to receive by October 1 according to policies and procedures,” Konareski said.

As for becoming an independent schools, she said that takes a lot of time, money and a building.

“We are praying for a miracle,” Konareski said.

• See related story: St. Gabriel School Supporters Raise $8K in One Day; Seek Independent School

“It is such a difficult time for all of the Saint Gabriel community. Everyone believes that it is “cut and dry” low enrollment= close school. That is not the case.”

She said during the Jan. 26 meeting parents were told the school would close due to declining enrollment and low birth rates in the area.

“Multiple proposals were submitted to the parish and Archdiocese in order to create an action plan that would help improve the schools financial status. Marketing was expanded and as a result, there was an increase in tours and applications, but all efforts were either simply ignored or sabotaged by the trustees and parish. We believe this occurred to allow for the closure of the school and eventual sale of the school and property, which goes against everything Catholic schools represent,” Konareski said.

“The meeting on January 26 was devastating. Families were told without warning, that their school would be closed June 30 of this year blaming low enrollment...but when asked a number of relevant questions regarding how this could happen, the Trustee and facilitator simply couldn’t answer,” she added.

A New School

This is no small task, Konareski said, while adding “we need assistance from the community in order to make this dream a reality. We are searching for benefactors or anyone that can assist us in finding an appropriate space for our independent school. We are determined to overcome this as a community and become the best that we can be.”

…”Ideally, we would hope to stay in the building that Saint Gabriel School has called home for 50 years, but unfortunately that option has been taken from us,” Konareski said.