Sacred Heart School in Carbondale: Closed by the Diocese of Scranton, Bishop Joseph F. Martino

Sacred Heart in Carbondale to Close

Diocese of Scranton Announces Multi-Step Reorganization of Catholic Education in Carbondale

As a result of an in-depth study of three Catholic schools in Carbondale, the Diocese of Scranton will reorganize the present system of Catholic education in that area, effective this June at the end of the 2004-2005 school year.

Having accepted the recommendation of the Board of Pastors for Catholic schools in Carbondale and a study commission, the Most Rev. Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D., bishop of Scranton, said the action being taken by the diocese with regard to Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School and the Sacred Heart Intermediate and Primary Centers is designed to help strengthen and preserve Catholic education for future generations of students in a manner that is financially equitable to students' families and the parishes which provide significant support to those schools.

Last June, the Board of Pastors of Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School requested that this study be done. The study, which began in August, was conducted by the Bishop's Advisory Commission on Education and the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools, with the assistance of professional consultant Burkavage Design Associates of Clarks Summit, an architectural and engineering firm. A local study committee comprised of pastors, principals, faculty and parents also participated in the process.

The study evaluated the schools' infrastructure, fiscal resources, programs and staff. Data was collected and assessed with regard to enrollment and the financial status of the schools and the parishes. The buildings were evaluated to determine overall physical condition, including the quality of cafeteria, gym and library space, classrooms and outside space for playgrounds and parking.

The study showed that a combination of factors, including high educational costs, together with the declining enrollment at the junior/senior high school, projected improvements and repairs needed to maintain the high school building into the future, and the indebtedness of the parishes which financially subsidize the schools, will no longer permit the continued operation of the building housing Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School and the Sacred Heart Intermediate Center.

Very Rev. Richard J. Loch, V.F., chairman of the Bishop's Advisory Commission on Education, said the study group considered all realistic options before reaching a difficult decision.

"We realize this is an emotional time, and people will be disappointed with this conclusion," he said. "The people in the Carbondale area have good intentions, but the realities of the situation and the responsibility we have to be good stewards of the church's resources have left us with no other choice."

As a result, Bishop Martino has announced that, effective at the end of the current school year, the following multi-step approach to provide a more feasible and equitable manner for parishes to financially support Catholic education in the future will be implemented as follows:

1. The building housing Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School and the Sacred Heart Intermediate Center will close. The building was formerly known as St. Rose High School, the predecessor of Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School.
2. Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School, which houses Grades 7 through 12, will close. Students entering Grades 9 through 12 may continue their secondary Catholic education at one of two other Lackawanna County Catholic high schools - Bishop O'Hara High School, Dunmore, or Bishop Hannan High School, Scranton. There is room for all current high school students from Sacred Heart who may wish to enroll at either Bishop O'Hara or Bishop Hannan high schools this fall. The supporting parishes will provide no-cost, weekday round-trip bus transportation from Carbondale to either school for these students.
3. Sacred Heart Intermediate Center, which houses Grades 4-6 on the second floor of the high school building, will close.
4. Sacred Heart Primary Center, which presently operates Grades Pre-K through 3, will expand, with the addition of Grades 4-6. The Primary Center will remain in its present location, the former Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Carbondale. Some renovations will be made to the adjacent Mt. Carmel convent building to enable more extensive use by the Pre-K program.
5. Students from the Sacred Heart Intermediate Center who will be entering Grades 7 and 8 will have the opportunity to continue their Catholic education at LaSalle Academy, Jessup, St. Mary Visitation School, Dickson City, or St. Vincent School, Honesdale. These schools can accommodate all present students from those grades. The majority of the students will qualify for public school transportation to either LaSalle or St. Mary.

"I highly value and strongly support our diocese's long tradition of providing a quality Catholic education to generations of children and young people," Bishop Martino said.

"In order to continue this effort, however, we must recognize and address the challenges before us, and take difficult steps, where necessary, to see that this educational tradition remains a reality in the future - in a financially responsible manner for families and parishes."

The diocese had previously evaluated the situation in Carbondale in 1995. At that time the concerns also included low enrollment, a high per-pupil cost and insufficient funds available to operate the school. Then-Bishop James C. Timlin directed the school to develop a long-term strategic plan to reach a minimum enrollment of 230 students, and goals for increased fund-raising, development and student recruitment.

Although those goals were not met, Bishop Timlin allowed the school to remain open, having been assured by school officials, parents and alumni that the situation could be rectified. Enrollment has since declined further to its present number of only 95 students in Grades 9 through 12, and a total of 130 students in Grades 7 through 12.

Enrollment at Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School

1994
226

1995
190

1996
162

1997
155

1998
176

1999
204

2000
202

2001
166

2002
172

2003
160

2004
130

The enrollment decline has also resulted in less revenue from tuition, and consequently a continuing rise in the cost of educating each student. Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School's per pupil cost has risen from $4,308 in 1999 to $8,254 today, an increase of 91 percent. This is the highest per-pupil cost of the diocese's nine high schools.

As revenue has decreased and educational costs have risen, the school has incurred a mounting debt which it has been unable to pay.

At present, Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School has an outstanding loan of $109,711 from the Diocese of Scranton. The school also owes the diocese a payment of $71,468 for coverage under the self-insurance program. In addition, the school owes the Immaculate Heart of Mary Congregation $166,936 for current and past services performed by the sisters. The school's current total debt is $348,115.

Even if this debt were satisfied immediately, it would not address the systemic problem of low enrollment and the related effect on annual operating costs into the foreseeable future and over the long-term. The bleak demographic and fiscal pictures are compounded by the financial impact on the supporting parishes.

Those parishes in Carbondale, Forest City, Honesdale, Jermyn, Mayfield, Montdale, Pleasant Mount, Royal, Simpson and Waymart have provided $897,142 in subsidies to Catholic education in Carbondale this year - several at or over 30% of their annual parish operating revenues. Expenditures for the current year total approximately $2.1 million for the PK-12 program.

Lay personnel losing their positions because of this closure will receive a severance package.

Registration information is being developed for students who wish to continue their education at Bishop O'Hara, Bishop Hannan, LaSalle, St. Mary and St. Vincent.

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