In a letter emailed to the parents of the 71 students enrolled in grades K-8 at Our Lady Help of Christians School in East Allentown, the administrator of the parish of which the school is a part, announced it will close at the end of the current school year in June.
In the letter, Father George Kochuparambil noted that falling enrollment, down almost 60% in the last five years, and the resulting decline in tuition revenue has strained parish finances. This year the parish budgeted $91,000 in school subsidy but will end up increasing that subsidy by an additional $298,000. Scholarship funds available to the school through the Education Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit have also declined.
Catholic education will remain available to the students now attending Our Lady Help of Christians School. Enclosed with the letters emailed today was information regarding the other 17 Catholic elementary schools in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.
Catholic Education Continuation Grants are available for Our Lady Help of Christians’ families who want to continue their child’s education at another Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Allentown. These grants would be for $1,000 in Year 1 (2018-19) and $500 in Year 2 (2019-20) for the first child in an OLHC family and $500 and $250 for second and third children.
Father Kochuparambil’s request to close the school was reviewed by the Diocesan Council of Priests and the Diocesan School Board, both of which recommended closure. Diocese of Allentown Bishop Alfred A. Schlert accepted their recommendations.
In his letter to parents, Father Kochuparambil wrote, “I remain committed to provide our children with the opportunity of a Catholic school education through the Catholic School Continuation Grant. We ask for your prayers for the students, teachers, staff and parents who will be most directly impacted by the closing of our school.”
