Attendance sparse at open house for families of Catholic school closing next month

AUSTINTOWN

While few families attended an informational open house Thursday night, school and diocese officials said many families have reached out for information on their own.

The open house in the cafeteria of the soon-to-be-closed St. Joseph/Immaculate Heart of Mary School had representation, principals and other staff from four of the five Catholic grade schools in the Lumen Christi system. That is the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown’s system for kindergarten through eighth grade.

The school is closing at the end of the school year, June 5, and there are 123 current students. Of those, 19 are graduating. A letter was sent to parents May 16 announcing the closing of the grade school at year’s end.

The 12 teachers of the grade school and Wigley haven’t been informed of what is next, but are all union members.

Read more about plans for the students in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.