Dear Sacred Heart Parishioners,

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I notify you that the Academy will cease operating after this academic year. There will not be a 2013-2014 school year. This decision was made on March 5th, by diocesan leaders.

Two realities have forced us to close the school in June. In spite of valiant efforts to recruit new students, the number of students needed to support the school just cannot be found. We need a minimum of two hundred students paying full tuition to assure the payment of teachers’ salaries and benefits and the maintenance and operational needs of the school. Within the last year medical benefits alone have increased by seventeen percent. Our graduating class of twenty-six students means that we need to enroll not only 26 students to replace the graduating class but also another forty-plus students to reach the number of students needed to remain financially viable. They cannot be found.

Three years ago, the Diocese of San Diego granted a $250,000 line of credit to meet short-term financial needs. Within these three years parishioners have contributed $293,226.00 in financial aid to the school. We have exhausted our reserves and there is no more money to contribute to the school. In spite of the money from the parish, we have also borrowed beyond the initial line of credit from the Diocese and owe more than $350,000. There will be no more money coming from the Diocese. Therefore, we do not have the financial ability to go beyond this year.

This tragic event leaves us grieving and maybe even angry. Personally, I know that all that could be done was done. For at least five years a number of devoted people, both on the diocesan and parish levels, have done everything possible to keep the Academy viable. It just has not worked and as Pastor I know that no one in particular is to blame.

Now we need to continue to work together to bring this academic year to a successful end. We need to continue all our fundraising efforts for the sake of our teachers and students.

This has truly been a Lenten journey of loss and grief. My years of ordination have taught me the reality of resurrection. Our faith is that dying leads to greater life. So it will be for this situation. The loss of the Academy will lead to new grace and life for the parish.

Fr. Ron