Catholic School Shut-down in Detroit Leaves Many with Broken Hearts
The Detroit Catholic Archdiocese on Wednesday announced plans to shut down 15 of its schools over falling enrollment rates and rising fiscal deficits
The Detroit Catholic Archdiocese on Wednesday announced plans to shut down 15 of its schools over falling enrollment rates and rising fiscal deficits, leaving many parents, students and alumni with "broken hearts".
According to Detroit News, an educational task force committee found that the schools were experiencing "declining enrollments, massive operating deficits, and unpaid bills," after a 30-month in-depth review of the institutions.
In breaking the news, Archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida explained the decision was a "very difficult" but necessary.
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"Some times a bishop must make very difficult decisions, and this is one of those times," Maida told an audience inside Sacred Heart Seminary.
Prior to Cardinal’s speech at the seminary, students from Notre Dame High -- one of 15 schools to shut down in June -- held a protest against the critical decision that will leave only two Catholic High schools remaining in Detroit.
One of the student protesters, Martin Dedvukaj, expressed his grief over losing his beloved school.
"Words can't explain how I feel," said Dedvukaj, the junior class president at Notre Dame. "Where am I going to go? What am I going to do? I love our school. I live in Hamtramck, and I don't want to go to public schools."
Meanwhile, Cardinal Maida acknowledged the losses, but said "resurrection" lies beyond tragedy.
"In the end, we have to close these schools for the sake of saving others," Cardinal Maida explained. "While this is a sad day, ultimately, we believe in the resurrection, and we trust that the mission of Catholic education will continue in a new and stronger way."
A Detroit News analysis Feb. 27 has shown a steady stream of Catholic school closures over the past three decades with enrollment rates plunging down 47 percent to about 44,000 students in the last five years. Most of the schools slated to close this year average about 150 students, leaving 2,241 students who will need to find new schools by next fall.
The archdiocese officials have said their decisions are final and not subject to appeal. However, they added that no further closure of schools is expected in the near future.
