Community outraged as Diocese announces closure of century-old school

The school is slated to close in 2029, with students transitioning to the site of St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish Primary School in Bowral. The move, framed as an amalgamation, will create a new school named Corpus Christi Catholic Parish Primary School, serving both Mittagong and Bowral.

Michelle Hinton, a parent, described her reaction to the announcement as overwhelming. “I opened up the letter and just burst into tears,” she said. Many parents have expressed feelings of shock and betrayal.

Bishop Mascord acknowledged the unexpected nature of the decision in his letter to the 190 families. He stated, “This is understandable and a testament to the great experience you and your family have had at St Michael’s or St Thomas Aquinas.” He emphasized his responsibility to address the needs of the diocese, citing a proposal from the Mittagong-Bowral parish as the catalyst for the change.

The Diocese of Wollongong maintains the amalgamation was necessary due to declining enrollment, demographic shifts, and financial considerations. A statement released Monday indicated that no other options were viable.

Parents are concerned about the impact on their children, including potential disruptions to their education and longer commutes. Kathryn Dovey, a former student and mother of three, launched a petition to save St Michael’s, which has already gathered over 1,600 signatures. “I went to this school 30 years ago and it became such an important part of my life that I decided to send my own children there,” she explained.

Ms. Dovey and other parents are calling for a review of the decision, emphasizing the historical significance of the school and the lack of community consultation. Carol Matthews, Secretary of the Independent Education Union, expressed concerns from St Michael’s teachers regarding the impact on their community.

The Diocese has pledged to preserve the histories of both schools and ensure staff retention and continued enrollment capacity at the new amalgamated school. This announcement follows similar cost-cutting measures in other dioceses, including shared principal roles in Sydney and librarian redundancies in Newcastle-Maitland.