Dwindling Registration Prompts IE Catholic School Closure
St. Anthony's school has been part of the community for more than 50 years.
Jacob Rascon
Despite efforts to raise money to keep the 51-year-old school open, St. Anthony's Catholic School is closing due in part to its not being able to recruit the 168 students needed to keep it operating. Jacob Rascon reports from San Bernardino for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on July 6, 2012.
Despite the efforts of parents and staff to raise enough money to keep the doors open, St. Anthony’s Catholic School in San Bernardino is closing after half a century.
"When I heard about it closing, I even had to come back and walk the campus and remember old spots," said Rafael Rawls, a St. Anthony’s graduate. "It brought back a flood of memories and I was almost brought to tears. It was really sad."
The school will not open for the 2012-13 school year after officials were unable to recruit the necessary 160 students needed to pay teachers and staff, said Rev. Zbigniew Fraszczak.
Frasczak said for the past year, parents and alumni have worked to recruit students and raise money, but they came up short.
Local parents say they chose not to send their children to school at St. Anthony’s because it was too expensive.
The school may reopen in the future, but for now, the students will have to relocate.
"I wish my saying it would turn it around so people get it. We need this school. We want this school here," said Helen Rawls, a former St. Anthony teacher.
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