Star of Sea Meeting to Address School Closure

CAPE MAY — Parents of Our Lady Star of the Sea students received a letter in the mail Tuesday May 12 informing them the school will close its doors in September 2010 due to low enrollment.
The letter informs parents the school will merge with St. Ann’s Regional School in Wildwood.
Two years ago, the Catholic Diocese of Camden closed St. Raymond’s School in Villas and merged it with Our Lady Star of the Sea School.
St. Ann’s School has an enrollment of 158 students while Our Lady Star of the Sea has 162 pupils.
A public meeting with representatives of the diocese will be held Thursday May 14 at 7 p.m. in the Star of the Sea School’s auditorium.
A parent told the Herald she questioned why Star of the Sea School would be closed when it has a larger enrollment than St. Ann’s. She said was concerned in another two years, St Ann’s would be closed and all students “would be shipped to Bishop McHugh Regional School” in Dennis Township, a nearly one hour bus ride for some students.
The parent told the Herald she would be removing one of her children to attend public school in Lower Township. She said she had no idea there was any thought of closing the school until she received the letter from the diocese.
She also questioned how 162 additional students would fit inside the St. Ann’s building without building an addition.
Another question is bus transportation to St. Ann’s.
The diocese had considered closing St Ann’s two years ago, according to letter, but it was given “additional time to revise downward trends.” The letter noted declining enrollment was not limited to Catholic schools and appeared to reflect, “larger demographic forces at work in the area…”
The letter said the goal of the merger was to maintain and strengthen Catholic elementary education.
For faculty members losing their jobs, the diocese will try to help them find other positions elsewhere or provide severance pay, said the letter.