Boardman, Struthers parochial schools study options

BOARDMAN — Should St. Luke School in Boardman and St. Nicholas School in Struthers consolidate and close one of the two schools this fall?

Or, would it be better to consolidate but keep both buildings open, perhaps sending children in kindergarten through fourth grade to one school and fifth through eighth graders to the other while sharing a principal and aligning curriculum and textbooks?

Or, how about consolidating, but essentially keeping the schools intact as they are but again sharing a principal and other services to reduce costs while looking at a possible consolidation with St. Charles in Boardman and Holy Family in Poland somewhere down the road?

One thing is certain — St. Luke and St. Nicholas, hit with declining enrollments and rising costs, must do something soon, said the Rev. Joseph Fata, pastor of St. Luke.

The schools expect to come up with a recommendation to present to Bishop George Murry around April 1, he said, adding that the three scenarios listed above are the options under review.

Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com