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PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) – The Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced the closures of two elementary schools and the merger of two other elementary schools.
This move comes in response to financial challenges the diocese is facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Patrick’s School in Cannonsburg and Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament School in Natrona Heights will both close on June 30.
Saint Joseph Elementary School in Verona and Saint John the Baptist in Plum will merge effective July 1.
“I know this news deeply impacts the hearts of our principals, teachers, school families, and other supporters of Catholic education. It impacts mine as well,” Bishop David Zubik said. “Schools are not just buildings. They represent communities that provide important faith formation for our children. I pray that we will be able to come together in the midst of these changes to be grateful for what we have, and to continue to be good stewards of what we are able to utilize to provide Catholic education to our communities.”
Public and private schools across the country have seen a substancial loss of revenue due to the pandemic.
“Sadly, with funding sources critically reduced due to the impact of the global pandemic, we do not have the ability to financially sustain every one of our school buildings,” Bishop Zubik said. “However, our spiritual and financial commitment to Catholic education remains strong. These decisions were made with exactly that mission in mind – to preserve and protect Catholic education in our diocese.”
When it comes to the 2020 School Year, the diocese says there are still questions on how schools will reopen in the fall.
A COVID-19 Educational Planning Team has been formed to “research, strategize and plan best practices for Catholic schools to reopen in August 2020.”
“COVID-19 completely changed education on a global level in a matter of weeks,” said Michelle Peduto,
Director of Catholic Schools, “I am so proud of the way our principals, teachers, students, and parents leapt into action to support the transition to distance learning when schools throughout the state were closed amid fears of the spread of the virus.”
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