Goretti to close doors at end of school year after archdiocese ceases financial support

Editor's note: This story was updated at 2:15 p.m. to include a statement from the Archdiocese of Baltimore regarding its Chapter 11 filing and its ceasing of financial support for St. Maria Goretti Regional Catholic High School.

A Hagerstown-area Catholic high school will close its doors permanently at the end of this school year, according to a letter to families posted online.

St. Maria Goretti Regional Catholic High School had told families in September that it was no longer going to receive support from the Archdiocese of Baltimore after 10 years of assistance to keep the school afloat.

The school formed an independent exploratory committee of alumni and school supporters to figure out options, including whether Goretti could be transitioned to an independent Catholic high school.

"Regrettably, after extensive research and thoughtful deliberations, the IEC has concluded that (Goretti) will not be able to operate as an independent Catholic high school in the fall of 2024," school Principal Amy Summers wrote in the letter. "Consequently, the IEC will be disbanded, and no further meetings or discussions will be held."

Posted on the school's social media pages and website, the letter included a list of frequently asked questions related to the closing. This includes details on the nearest Catholic high schools, student records and what might happen to faculty and staff.

"The Department of Human Resources for the Archdiocese of Baltimore is working closely with all faculty and staff to assist with employment at another Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore," the FAQ states.

The next closest Catholic high school in the archdiocese is St. John Catholic Prep, more than 32 miles away in Buckeystown, Frederick County, Md.

In August 2019, St. Maria Goretti high school moved its academics to the recently renovated former Purdue University Global facility on Crestwood Drive north of Hagerstown. Athletics remained at the longtime Oak Hill Avenue campus roughly 1.3 miles away.

What will happen to Goretti's history and memorabilia?

The archdiocese's Department of Catholic Schools will work with Goretti administration and any interested alumni to determine the most appropriate way of preserving any historical artifacts and memorabilia, according to the FAQ.

How did Goretti end up in this situation?

In the last decade, enrollment has decreased by 33% from its peak of 219 students in the 2017-18 school year. Current enrollment is 147 students, according to an information sheet provided by the school.

Over the past decade, the archdiocese has provided more than $8.5 million to the school while hoping enrollment and donor revenue increased.

"The archdiocese was hopeful that the IEC would be able to develop a plan to transition St. Maria Goretti Regional Catholic School to an independently owned and operated Catholic school," the archdiocese said in a statement emailed Wednesday. "However, ensuring the ability to sustain crucial expenses such as salaries, benefits, utilities, and other operational costs essential for maintaining a safe and enriching learning environment was not feasible.

"We pray that the transition for these students and families is a smooth one and are working closely with them on placement in our other Catholic schools," the statement reads. "We also pray for the dedicated staff at St. Maria Goretti Regional Catholic School and thank them for their years of dedication to our students and community."

Shortly after Goretti announced in September the archdiocese would no longer provide support, the archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The filing Sept. 29 came days before a new Maryland law went into effect removing the statute of limitations on child sex abuse claims and allowing victims to sue their abusers decades after the fact.

The step would allow the oldest diocese in the United States "to equitably compensate victim-survivors of child sexual abuse" while the local Catholic church continues its mission and ministries, Archbishop William E. Lori said in a statement posted at that time on the archdiocese website.

The archdiocese in an emailed statement sent Wednesday afternoon said Goretti's dire financial situation had been "a reality for some time — long before the Archdiocese of Baltimore filed, or even contemplated filing, for Chapter 11 reorganization."

The statement continues that the decision to end financial support had to do with the lease of the Crestwood building with landlord HBC LLC. The lease expires July 31, 2024.

"The archdiocese entered into a five-year lease with hopes that (Goretti) would bolster its enrollment, increase donor support, and achieve financial stability," the statement reads. "Unfortunately, despite collaborative efforts, both enrollment and revenue have continued to decline in a market where the necessary financial resources for sustained operation have risen. Confronted with persistent challenges in steering the school toward a sustainable enrollment and philanthropic model, the Archdiocese finds itself unable to continue bridging the widening gap between annual operating costs and revenue.

"The decision not to renew the lease and end archdiocesan support was reached in the fall to allow the Independent Exploratory Committee time to evaluate the potential for transitioning into an independent Catholic School, as well as give school families time to plan and prepare for the following school year," the statement reads.

What's next for Goretti students, faculty and staff?

Seniors are scheduled to graduate May 24, and the last day of school is scheduled for June 6, according to the school's online calendar.

In the meantime, Summers said Goretti will do what it can to make the rest of the school year good.

"Moving forward, our focus will be on ensuring that the final year at St. Maria Goretti Regional Catholic High School remains an exceptional and memorable experience for our students, faculty, and staff," she wrote. "The administration at (Goretti) is committed to supporting each individual through this transitional period."

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown-area Catholic high school to close after committee study