- Target:
- Bishop Persico
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- Www.vmelementary.com
Villa Maria Elementary (VME) is a 125 year old Roman Catholic elementary school rich in religious and family values. The Sisters of Saint Joseph (SSJ) has governed the school since the beginning. The school has a board of trustees that interacts with the SSJ on a continual basis to assist with financial and educational support and guidance.
The Erie diocese is currently undergoing a radical shift in the diocesan schools to better reflect the present day demographics and future needs of Erie and the surrounding area. In 2015, VME was determined to be a successful model that should be emulated going forward. VME's enrollment was consistently increasing, its finances were healthy and its faculty and staff were exemplary! The diocese recognized VME as the future. One year later, a quick and ruthless decision was made to close this thriving school for unknown reasons. SSJ and the diocese thought VME was competition and need to be eliminated. The board of trustees was released of their duties, to be replaced by 9 SSJ members. VME is scheduled to close at the end of the 2016/2017 school year. 430 students need to find alternative education at the end of the school year.
A financially healthy school is set to be eliminated for unknown reasons.
We, the undersigned ask Bishop Persico, the Erie Diocese and the SSJ to rectract their decision to close VME.
If the current property is not available, other vacant local school sites could be used to keep the VME students, faculty and staff together, as a whole unit. Our VME family does not want to be divided among the existing diocesan schools.
If we cannot continue as a VME community, we will be forced to look elsewhere at our respective local township schools.
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The "We all go down together!" as quoted by Billy Joel petition to Bishop Persico was written by Villa Maria Elementary and is in the category Education at GoPetition.