QUEEN OF PEACE SCHOOL

WILL NOT REOPEN IN FALL

Queen of Peace School in Kew Gardens Hills will close in June because of declining enrollment and increasing financial support required from the parish, it was announced this week.

            Father James L. Tighe, the pastor, told parishioners about the decision at Masses last weekend (Feb. 11-12). In a letter to parents, he said the school principal, Sister Gloria Agumagu, teachers and the school and parish staffs “have done all that is possible to keep this day from happening.”

            The current enrollment of 212 students is 27 less than the previous year, a drop of 13 percent. If the 15 kindergarteners were to enroll in first grade in September, the number would fall considerably short of the 32 who will graduate in June.

Father Tighe said “we must acknowledge the fact that the number of Catholic families in our area has decreased significantly within the last few years.”

The pastor also cited a projected deficit of close to $200,000 in the school budget if it were to continue for another year, based on an enrollment of 215 students. He said a school population of 300 students would balance the budget, but despite invitations for early enrollment, about 100 registered, and less than 200 students was expected for the next school year.

He said the 2005/2006 deficit is $160,000, despite fund-raising, “although it helped greatly.”

In view of those factors, Father Tighe said, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio “has decided, and I agree with him, that Queen of Peace cannot continue to operate with so few students.”

The principals of schools in three neighboring parishes have offered to register students who will not be returning to Queen of Peace School. Two schools are in Flushing: St. Ann’s and Holy Family. The other is St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Jamaica.

Father Tighe called the decision on the school a “difficult moment in the life of Queen of Peace parish.”