With only 105 K-8 students enrolled, Our Lady of Guadalupe Regional School in Bridgeton will close at the end of the 2008-09 school year, the diocese has announced in a letter to parents from Mary Boyle, Superintendent of Schools, and Nicholas Regina, Executive Director of Catholic Schools. In explaining the decision to parents, the letter cited severe under-enrollment, which was contributing to deep deficits and a reliance on heavy diocesan and parish subsidies. This year the deficit is projected to be nearly $400,000.
“This is a difficult decision because we know how important the school has been to the Bridgeton community, to its supporting parishes, to its faculty and administration, and to your own family. The impact Our Lady of Guadalupe and Immaculate Conception schools have had over these many decades will not be lost, but will continue for years to come. We also commend principal Kathleen Bischer, school faculty and administration, the school board and parents for your efforts to address the intractable enrollment and financial difficulties confronting the school and for your dedication and commitment to the school,” wrote the diocesan school officials.
In February 2007 Bishop Joseph Galante announced that Immaculate Conception School would close at the end of the 2006-07 school year. The decision was made in light of a long-term decline in enrollment at Immaculate Conception, deficits that resulted from significant under-enrollment, even after the parish subsidy, and the high percentage of parish funds that went toward the subsidy of Immaculate Conception School.
After meeting with school parents and consulting with his school planning advisors, Bishop Galante agreed in spring 2007 to open Our Lady of Guadalupe Regional School in September 2007 at the Immaculate Conception site with the hope of increasing enrollment, improving the school’s financial viability and expanding its outreach to the growing Hispanic community in Cumberland County.
Unfortunately, enrollment failed to improve. The enrollment struggles have been a long-term trend, as there have been fewer than 150 K-8 students for the last seven school years. The last year in which there were 200 or more students enrolled was the 1984-1985 school year. Kindergarten enrollment, a strong indicator of future growth, also has declined, with only nine students enrolled this year.
School officials will work to ensure that students will have continued access to quality Catholic education starting with the new school year. They also will work to assist teachers and administrators in finding positions in the diocese, and for those that cannot be placed, the diocese will offer an assistance package to aid them during their transition to new employment.
Immaculate Conception School opened in 1924 on Pearl Street in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The parish was founded in 1874.