ST. LOUIS — Every pastor who was part of the elementary school evaluation process in the St. Louis Archdiocese's All Things New process said they want their elementary school to remain open for the 2024-25 school year.
About one-third of the archdiocese's elementary schools went through a consultation process to discuss the current and future status of the school. In a release on Tuesday, the archdiocese said all of the pastors involved in the process said they wanted to keep their schools open.
The archdiocese did not say which parish schools were part of the evaluation process.
Pastors who recommended remaining open as standalone schools will go through a long-term feasibility planning process.
"Feasibility plans should include specific goals and steps for the next three school years regarding projected enrollment; school costs for faculty, staff, programs, and supplies; sustainable funding sources; building conditions and capacity; staffing levels; and other considerations," the release said.
Parish leaders were provided with feasibility plan templates that with strategies to ensure the viability of schools. The feasibility process needs to include the parish community and must be a consensus with each parish's parish council, finance council and parish advisory school board.
Those reports are due by Feb. 1.
The feasibility reports will then be reviewed by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski. At that time, the archdiocese may suggest additional changes.
The release also said some schools may "elect in February to reconsider their decisions to remain open."
The All Things New restructuring plan went into effect in August, consolidating nearly 180 parishes down to less than 140. The plan includes merging 35 parishes into neighboring parishes and merging 15 parishes to create five new parishes.