St Joseph’s Primary in Black Rock could be closed after review
Angry parents have slammed the Catholic Melbourne Archdiocese of Melbourne for an “unethical” review that could lead to their school being shut down.
Education
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Desperate parents have slammed an “unethical” review of their much-loved Melbourne Catholic primary school for further eroding confidence and student numbers.
St Joseph’s Primary in Black Rock is one of four Catholic schools under review, along with St Bridget’s, Greythorn, St John’s, Clifton Hill and St Mary Magdalen’s, Chadstone.
Parents at St Joseph’s say the mid-year timing of the process has further destabilised the school and jeopardised current and future enrolments.
The school has student numbers of less than 70 and the Catholic Melbourne Archdiocese of Melbourne (MACS) will decide its future by August 18.
Parents are also concerned the three nearest Catholic primary schools can’t accommodate all St Joseph’s families.
Children with special needs, both with and without funding, are finding it difficult to secure places at other schools, both Catholic and state.
One father of two boys at the school, James McDonagh, has written a formal complaint to MACS about the mid-year review that “would serve to undermine the viability of any school”.
The school is located a few hundred metres down Balcombe Rd from Beach Rd at Black Rock, raising concerns the church wants to sell to site to raise funds.
“I see this as unethical behaviour and gross mismanagement for an organisation such as MACS, that is obviously designed to force an outcome is economically beneficial to the church, whatever the cost to the St Joseph’s School family,” his complaint states.
Mr McDonagh wants the school to guarantee that any child with additional needs will not be disadvantaged if they have to move to another school, given that the cut-off for funding applications is August 4.
Another parent, Jo, told the Herald Sun: “I have been a parent there since 2013 and I can’t speak highly enough of this ‘little’ school.”
Another father with two sons at the school, Brett Bennett, said it was a “brilliant little school which had just began to see an uptick in enrolments”.
A change.org petition to save the school has reached nearly 500 signatures.
Dr Edward Simons, executive director of MACS, said the consultation processes “remain ongoing with four Catholic primary school communities”.
“The consultation process is thorough, data-informed, and we reiterate that no decisions have yet been made.
“In the event of any school closure, pastoral care, and ongoing support to minimise disruption for families and staff is always paramount.”
Liberal MP Brad Rowswell said he would “continue to work with the St Joseph’s community to advocate for the certainty that they are seeking”.
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