Petersburg school starts year on up note

PETERSBURG - After a turbulent spring, St. Joseph School began the new school year with renewed energy and eyes toward the future.

"Everyone is energized and focused on making things really great," said Sister Margaret Mary Scally, principal of the small Catholic school.

Earlier this year, it didn't look as if the 132-year-old institution was going to make it to the current school year.

In late March, it became public that the school had a deficit of about $500,000 and would be closed by the Diocese of Richmond.

Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo had concerns that went deeper than the school's financial troubles. Enrollment, maintenance of the buildings, academic achievement and marketing programs were all dwindling.

The bishop gave the school about three weeks to raise $1 million and take steps to address his other concerns. The school brought in about $900,000 by the April 21 deadline. Diocesan and parish leaders met that day and decided to keep the church open, and money continued to trickle in this summer.

St. Joseph is operating in the new school year, which began Aug. 25, with a balanced budget and an enrollment of 115 students, which was the school's target number.

"We tried to create a realistic budget, realistic goals," said Annette Parsons, chief school administrator of the Office of Catholic Schools for the diocese. "Things are going well - we hit that goal. We're very delighted."

Scally added that there is money left from the save-the-school fund, endowment fund and other fundraising.

During the summer, the Franklin Street building - constructed in 1916 when the school moved from Market Street - received some paint and freshening up.

Also, the school underwent an energy audit during the summer, and administrators are considering three options that would make it more energy efficient and cost effective.

"This study is not a Band-Aid approach," Scally said. "This will pull us into the future."

She admitted to concerns about the school's future. But faculty, students and parents are showing the interest and excitement to keep the school growing.

Parsons said the school continues to need the community's support to build enrollment and guarantee long-term success of the school.

"The only thing keeping the school from moving forward is if the students don't come," Parsons said. "The save-the-school campaign got us over the hump. Now . . . we need the community continuing to embrace it and sending more students there."

The school has been working closely with the diocese with bookkeeping training and professional development for the faculty.

"We're pleased with the support they're giving us, doing what they can to keep us open," Scally said.

"We're all working to make sure this school is around another couple hundred years."
Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .