Assumption School in Peekskill Targeted to Close
Assumption School in Peekskill has been educating students since 1907, but this school year could be its last.
The Catholic school on First Street is one of 26 elementary schools that the Archdiocese of New York has labeled as being “at risk” of closing in June. The only other school in the Northern Westchester/Putnam County region whose status is uncertain next year is St. Theresa in Briarcliff Manor.
Two years ago, the Archdiocese, citing financial constraints and the inability of schools to operate without assistance from the Archdiocese, shut the doors on 27 schools, including St. Ann in Ossining and St. Joseph in Croton Falls.
Local Regional Boards and Reconfiguration Committees throughout the Archdiocese analyzed each of its 159 elementary schools in terms of enrollment, financial, academic and local demographics. The long-term goal of the Archdiocese is to weed out schools that can’t survive on their own, based on a strategic plan outlined in Pathways to Excellence, which was published in October 2010.
“At its inception, Pathways to Excellence raised the standards of academic excellence in all areas while also working to secure additional funding through a variety of sources to help ensure a robust future for Catholic education across the Archdiocese,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy McNiff. “Today’s regionalization process builds on the actions taken two years ago to improve the fiscal health of the Archdiocese of New York and will help ensure that all our schools will remain financially stable and, more importantly, open to all students.”
Final decisions by the boards and committees will be made in January. If all schools targeted are closed, 5,053 students currently enrolled in Catholic schools will be affected.
“These are difficult, but necessary decisions and, working together, we will ensure that our Catholic elementary schools are stronger than ever,” McNiff said.
Assumption School currently has about 200 students. Neither Pastor John Higgins nor school Principal Dr. Joseph Muscente returned phone messages seeking comment.
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