July 3, 2019

MALONE – The families of Holy Family School students, along with faculty and staff, were notified June 26 that the Catholic school would not reopen for the 2019-20 school year.

The pastoral leaders of the contributing parishes, St. André Bessette Parish in Malone, St. Augustine’s in North Bangor and St. Mary’s in Brushton, the Catholic Community of Burke and Chateaugay and the Catholic Community of Constable, Westville, and Trout River, informed the school’s Education Council that they were requesting the closure at a June 25 meeting.

The request was approved by Bishop Terry R. LaValley on June 26.

Students’ families, faculty and staff were notified of the decision in a call from Principal Marianne Jadlos.

“No one can deny the immense good that has been done in our parishes and the wider community by our previous Catholic schools and by Holy Family since its founding in 1990,” the pastors and pastoral life coordinator said in a written statement. “These factors have made the decision a very difficult one. Nonetheless, based on the facts at hand, it is our responsibility as pastors and pastoral leaders to take this action at this time.”

The pastors and pastoral life coordinator cited declining enrollment and financial challenges as the critical factors that made the closure necessary.

The school has been struggling with declining enrollment for the past several years, and as of the June 25 meeting, enrollment targets for the 2019-20 school year had not been met.

The pastoral leaders also expressed concerns that if the school didn’t meet budgeted targets for tuition and fundraising, the responsibility for making up any shortfall would fall to the participating parishes.

“These facts have not instilled confidence in us, nor in our parish councils, about the vitality and viability of Holy Family School moving into another school year,” the pastoral leaders’ statement said.

In writing to the pastoral leaders, Bishop LaValley noted that while the school will be closed, the parishes must continue to provide ministry and catechesis to the youth of their communities.

“Even though this chapter in the history of the Malone area Catholic churches has come to an end, the mission to catechize and evangelize does not end,” Bishop LaValley said in a letter to pastoral leaders. “As parish leader, you must continue to provide enriched catechetical programs for our children and youth entrusted to your pastoral care so that they can have the support of the Church as they mature and grow in faith.”