St. Joseph Parents Rally to Save School

Last night, the emotional appeals of about 200 parents bore fruit as the St. Joseph Church pastor gave them one month to raise funds and enrollment in an attempt to save St. Joseph School, which serves 165 kindergarten through 8th grade students and 45 preschoolers.

Last weekend, Father Michael Saporito had announced that the 80-year-old school on Prospect Street in Maplewood would close its doors permanently after June 16, due to falling enrollment and the need for a six-figure subsidy from the parish to balance operations.

On Wednesday night, Saporito stood at a podium in Bernards Hall and read a statement on how and why this painful decision was ultimately reached by the parish and by the Archdiocese of Newark. Sister Patricia Butler from the Archdiocese sat at a dais next to Father Michael, as did three volunteer members of the Saint Joseph finance board.

Father Michael said there were two reasons for the decision: rising costs and steadily declining enrollment. Father Michael pointed out that this situation is not unique to Saint Joseph, but is affecting the entire Archdiocese with five Catholic elementary schools closing this year.

As the floor was opened to questions, parents were visibly shaken and angry. Many cried while they spoke. They were particularly upset that they had been given such short notice and were never told that the school was in such a crisis. Person after person spoke out in support of the education their child was receiving at Saint Joseph, and also the sense of security and community that they and their children had found at the school. They wanted to help the school that had given their families so much, but felt they were denied that opportunity since they never knew the school was in trouble.

About mid-way through the meeting, Saporito—clearly moved by the passionate show of support for the school—offered to let the parents try to build enrollment within the next month or so (exact details are being worked out). Parents immediately volunteered to help recruit families from their neighborhoods, fundraise, and serve on advisory boards. Saporito was applauded and many rose to give him a standing ovation, and to physically stand with him at the podium.

Emotions were extremely high at the meeting, but parents expressed feelings of hope and community when Saporito—referred to by parishioners as "Father Michael"—stepped in to give parents an opportunity to save the school as requested by the parents at the meeting. Saporito noted, however, that the school remains in grave danger, and that the parish cannot afford to subsidize it.

Saporito's pain in making the original decision to close the school was obvious as he spoke. The pastor seemed caught between his compassion for the school community and the grim realities of the financial situation.

Saporito also said that parents will have to organize, and quickly, and the primary responsibility was left with them to recruit additional students from their communities over the next few weeks. All seemed grateful for that chance.

Those wishing to help the effort to keep the school open can join the Save Saint Joseph School Facebook group to get information as it becomes available and to receive information on how individuals and the community can help support the parents in their efforts, once those details are worked out.

Laura Farrell is a Maplewood resident and a writer. She has a son at Saint Joseph School and a daughter at Tuscan School. She writes a regular column, the Newark Progressive Examiner, on New Jersey politics.