LINCOLN PARK, Mich. – It’s an all-hands-on-deck emergency for a downriver school as parents do whatever they can to raise money to keep it from closing.
Low enrollment has become a big issue at St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School in Lincoln Park. Now the archdiocese has set a deadline to raise necessary funds to keep the school, located near Fort Street and Moran Avenue, from shutting down for good.
In a letter sent out recently, the school said they have until May 1 to raise $120,000. If they can’t then this school which has been educating children for 74 years could close.
It’s always a threat for catholic schools, tuition is often tough on cash-strapped parents, and the church often steps in to help. The school administration said they currently have 106 students many getting a church subsidy and the archdiocese decided that has to stop.
In a statement, it said “for the last several months, the Archdiocese of Detroit has been supporting the team of priests in charge of St. John Paul II to address financial concerns with the school. Earlier this week, the school decided to launch a fundraiser. The archdiocese will continue to support the team of priests and school as they discern the best path forward for the community.”
Parents like Tammy Pintus, whose son spent 10 years of his childhood here, are deeply concerned.
“I’m very emotional,” Pintus said. “We can’t let this school close down.”
It all came as a surprise to Elizabeth Rios, who moved from Chicago with her husband to put her children in St. John Paul II.
“We’ve consistently been making positive changes. This has been a journey and we would be devastated to see our mission end here,” Rios said. “We have lovely familes, great teachers, a great principal and our priest is absolutely phenomenal and we’re going to do whatever it takes.”
The fundraising campaign has begun and parents are hoping others across Metro Detroit will pitch in. They said they have $40,000 of the needed $120,000.
“We have such strong families in here. We have strong faith here. It’s a beautiful community,” Rios said. “It’s a beautiful education, truth, goodness and community. You can’t lose that.”
You can donate through the St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School website here.