Aces Xavier President Tony Abts delivered the news today. "Our corporate board today made the decision to close Catholic Central." Hearing the news for parents like Rory Collins. "It's disappointing because this is a good school." Tough to swallow.
Abts says the board understands. "Our parents are very committed to our schools and it was a difficult time for our parents." Citing declining enrollment of almost 10 percent over the last five years...Abts says the system will save $450,000 next year by closing Catholic Central. Parents like Collins are upset yet understanding at the same time. "It's a difficult decision, people are upset, it's emotional."
Fellow parent Steve Gear knows it was a hard choice. "Anytime you have a faith community that has to make difficult decisions it's not a good trend." Parents of the 170 students at Catholic Central are being asked to rank their choices of the three remaining campuses of St. Bernadette, Pius and St. Thomas More.
Along with reassigning the students eight to 12 jobs will be cut system wide. While parents like Collins agree the decision is tough, they see it as opportunity. "The Aces Xavier system is a wonderful system it was lots of hard work and it's a difficult decision but I think everything will be fine."