Parents, students support St. Mary’s
About 50 parents and students gathered after school Thursday, protesting the possible closing of St. Mary Nativity School in Uniontown. Chanting “Save Our School” and some holding signs reading “I’ve gone here 7 years” and “St. Mary’s is our Family,” the parents and students expressed frustration as to why the school may close effective with the 2010-11 school year.
Benjamin Morris, a member of the school’s financial advisory council, said “a pretty significant rumor” exists that the Diocese of Greensburg plans to close the school.
Morris said parents were not formally notified of the closing, but he has heard that they will receive letters today, which he said will only let the situation “fester” over the weekend. He said financially, the school’s books check out.
Natalie Crouse, parent of three children who attend the school, said parents began a phone chain earlier in the day once hearing that officials from the Diocese of Greensburg would arrive for a meeting to possibly discuss the closing with teachers.
“This is like our family,” said Crouse, noting the school has a family setting, quality and caring teachers and individual student attention “you don’t get everywhere.”
Crouse said Melvin Sepic, St. Mary principal for the last 10 years, teachers and staff are like family.
“They are a class-act group of people, a group of people that will leave a huge void,” said Crouse, adding that she would like school officials to give parents the opportunity to unite and “problem solve” in an effort to keep the school open.
Trent Bocan, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Greensburg, would not confirm that the school will close. Principal Melvin Sepic also declined comment.
Diocese of Greensburg spokesman Jerry Zufelt said an official public announcement regarding “Catholic education in Uniontown” will be given Friday afternoon and parents will be given a letter regarding the announcement before that time.
A mother of a seventh-grade student said if money is the issue, parents should be given the opportunity to fundraise more to possibly fill the funding gap. The woman, who declined to be identified by name, said parents have collected $30,000 through fundraisers held to benefit the school this school year.
She said parents heard of the possible closing “through the grapevine.
“To do it behind the back of parents and teachers after all the time and effort they put in, what kind of (a) way is that?” she asked, agreeing that more parents and students would have attended the demonstration if given more notice.
Sixth-grade student Vincent Orrico said he has attended St. Mary his entire school career.
“I had many great experiences. The teachers are great. +(Other students and I), we’ve been through our whole lives together. I don’t know where I’ll go,” Orrico said.
He asked why school officials would close such a great place.
“What have we done?” Orrico asked.
Eric Plisko, sixth grader, added, “I’ve made so many friends and I hate to part with them after all this time. It saddens me to think that this place will be closing.”
Brent Plisko, seventh grader and vice president of the student council, said school personnel taught the students “to be perfect people, to be like saints.
“Every single teacher left a lasting impact on me. I love them so much,” he said.
The students said they would fundraise, clean the school, do whatever it takes to keep it open.
“I love this school so much. They are like my family,” said third grader Carmen Orrico. “I was hoping my kids could come here.”
“It is such a great opportunity to go here and learn,” seventh grader Lauren Swaney added.