Framingham, MA – After a comprehensive review and analysis over several months to consider its long-term viability, the Pastor of St. Tarcisius Parish in Framingham has announced that St. Tarcisius School will close this June.
In a letter to parents and guardians of children enrolled in the school, Rev. Rinaldo Vecchiato, CS, Pastor of St. Tarcisius Parish, wrote, “As pastor of Saint Tarcisius Parish, my top priority has been and remains the educational and spiritual care of our students. Though I am new to our parish, I know that these are exceptional young people who make us proud and bring great energy to our parish life. Generations of students have graduated from St. Tarcisius School and attained much success. Over the years our school has offered a welcoming and enriching educational environment for students.”
Fr. Rinaldo added, “Despite our success, the sad reality is that our parish cannot continue to provide the school the significant financial support it requires. We can no longer afford to draw on parish cash reserves to supplement the school’s low enrollment and resulting revenue shortfall. Regrettably, Saint Tarcisius Parish will be unable to reopen our school in the fall of 2010.”
Parish and school leaders have communicated regularly with the school and parish community about the difficult financial challenges facing the school. Leaders reached out through parish bulletins and written announcements sent home to parents and guardians of students. Parish and school leaders have met with teachers and staff to keep them informed of the deliberations.
Fr. Rinaldo expressed his sincere appreciation to St. Tarcisius School’s teachers, staff, and principal, Mrs. Mary Ellen Wyman, for providing a vibrant Catholic education for all students.
Working in collaboration with the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese (CSO), school leaders will host a meeting for parents and guardians of students at St. Tarcisius School to hear from area Catholic schools. Parents and guardians will be able to meet in small groups with area Catholic school principals and staff to learn about each school. The Open House will help parents and guardians make an informed decision regarding options for continuing their child’s education at an area Catholic school. (The exact date, time and location of the meeting will be announced shortly.)
Teachers and staff at St. Tarcisius School will have an opportunity to be considered for positions at other Catholic schools. The CSO will work with teachers and staff in the weeks ahead to assist them during their transition.
St. Tarcisius recently celebrated 50 years as a Catholic school. The school originally opened in 1959 in Framingham and was staffed by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Archdiocese of Boston. The school closed between 1970 and 1980 because of financial pressures resulting from the construction of a new Church. St. Tarcisius School reopened in 1980.
Age of Building: 51 years
Classrooms: 12
Faculty: 23 full-time, 3 part-time
Tuition: $3,700
Enrollment Trends:
2009-2010: 175
2008/2009: 169
2007/2008: 172
2006/2007: 166
2005/2006: 136
2004/2005: 161