Maria Regina, St. William the Abbot Among Catholic Schools to Remain Open

and in Seaford have been spared from closing under a new strategic plan announced Tuesday by the Diocese of Rockville Centre that involves of Long Island's 53 Catholic elementary schools.

According to the Diocese of Rockville Centre website, the six schools that will close include:

• Sacred Heart School (North Merrick)
• St. John Baptist de La Salle Regional School (Farmingdale)
• St. Catherine of Sienna School (Franklin Square)
• St. Ignatius Loyola School (Hicksville)
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (Lindenhurst)
• Prince of Peace Regional School (Sayville)

Diocese of Rockville Centre Bishop William Murphy said he has also asked five schools, three in Suffolk County and two in Nassau County, to form a "strategic collaboration" in order to strengthen the schools and ensure "good, sound Catholic schools for the future in both areas."

The other 42 schools will remain open next year, including Maria Regina School and St. William the Abbot School. Maria Regina School on 4045 Jerusalem Ave. was founded in 1962 and has around 500 students in nursery school through eighth grade. St. William the Abbot School on 2001 Jackson Ave. has around 550 students in nursery school through eighth grade.

Maria Regina School remaining open is satisfying news to Ryan Cappiello of Wantagh, a 1999 alumnus who went on to graduate from Chaminade in 2003.

"I feel that a catholic education is important to a young student," Cappiello said. "The values and lessons that I learned in both catholic elementary school and high school are, in my opinion, what made me the person i am today."

Murphy said the decision to close six Long Island Catholic elementary schools was arrived at for various reasons, including what was described as "changing demographics and difficult national and local economic conditions."

Murphy also said that his Bishop’s Advisory Committee on Catholic Education completed a thorough evaluation of each of the elementary schools on Long Island. The evaluation took into account enrollment and school age demographic trends, the financial position of schools and parishes, and a review of the facilities, technology and programs offered.

Officials from Maria Regina and St. William the Abbot could not be reached for comment on their schools remaining open under Bishop Murphy's new strategic plan.