Efforts to Save St. Joseph School Grow

In the time since Fr. Michael Saporito, pastor of St. Joseph Church, announced a reprieve on the closing of St. Joseph School on Tuesday, May 25, efforts have grown to save the school, but parents find they are fighting a tight time line.

This weekend, parents announced a scholarship fund to help increase enrollment. Parents met again with school leadership on Tuesday, June 1. Said St. Joseph parent and Patch contributor Laura Farrell, "Tuesday's meeting went great," with about 15-20 parents highly motivated parents participating. Besides the scholarship fund, Churrasco BBQ and Steakhouse on Springfield Avenue has agreed to donate 10% of any bill to St. Joseph School on every Tuesday of June for patrons who say they are with St. Joseph's.

As of noon on June 3, $1,200 has been raised through the scholarship fund. The donation form is attached. Gerry O'Connor, the director of the fund, said that donors can also send donations to his office—just make out the check to Scholarship Fund for Inner City Children and in the memo write "St. Joseph's Maplewood." O'Connor's address is as follows:

Gerry O'Connor
Executive Director
The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children
171 Clifton Avenue
Newark, NJ 07104

At the meeting on June 1, parents discussed more ideas for fundraising but have no other concrete announcements as yet. They will be posting updates on the Save Saint Joseph School Facebook page. The school needs to close the gap on a projected $300,000 operating shortfall either through increased enrollment or fundraising.

Farrell reports that about 165 students were registered when the original closure letter was sent with returned checks. Her understanding is that about half that number have re-registered at this time. Farrell noted that the school not only needs to get back to that number but also enroll another 50 students by July 2.