Simplified: Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools this week announced plans to close Christ the King Elementary at the end of the current school year. But that decision faced hard and fast community pushback – including a petition that's amassed more than 650 signatures as of early Friday morning.
Why it matters
- The Catholic school system told parents Wednesday and released a public statement Thursday announcing the closure. The statement cited the move as necessary for the "long-term strength and growth" of the system, as well as a way to be "faithful stewards of our resources."
- System President Kyle Groos did not respond to multiple requests for further comment Thursday, nor did the school system's spokeswoman.
- The decision to close and consolidate Christ the King Elementary students into the other existing elementary schools in the system also aligns with the "Set Ablaze" long-range strategic plan for the Catholic Diocese, the Rev. Paul Rutten stated in an email to parishioners obtained by Sioux Falls Simplified. This plan, Rutten cites, calls for "bold stewardship" and "growth in new communities."
- For parent Tracy Cota-Teerink, whose children are third-generation Christ the King students, the consolidation announcement is so upsetting she's not sure she wants to continue sending her kids to Bishop O'Gorman schools.
- Teerink is one of dozens of parents and community members petitioning the school system and demanding more information on how the decision to close the school came to be.
"Kyle Groos needs to be contacted," she said. "The bishop needs to be contacted. Father Rutton needs to be contacted. Don't stand down and let them do this to us. I think if we come forward with a united front and solutions to the financial issues, it would be difficult for them to continue their current plan of action."
Tell me more
It wasn't a secret the school was struggling financially or that its aging facility needed improvements, said parent Jessica Baltazar.
"The rumors were crazy, and they were everywhere," Baltazar said. "Nothing was addressed by the administration at any point – other than stating as of two weeks ago there was no intention of closing Christ the King. That's what our priest told our parish."
So when the closure was announced during a parent meeting Wednesday evening, Baltazar's first reaction was anger.
- She started a Facebook group Thursday afternoon to organize opposition to the closure.
- That group, now with over 180 members, is working to find copies of school system bylaws, governing documents, meeting minutes leading up to the decision – any type of evidence to help explain the decision and illuminate any paths to overturn it, she said.
But, as she and Cota-Teerink said Thursday night, they've so far been stonewalled.
"It's like they've been given orders, 'No longer communicate,'" Baltazar said.
What happens next?
According to a timeline provided to parents Wednesday night, the next step is to set up tours of other Catholic elementary schools for Christ the King parents to help them decide where they'd like their kids to go next year.
The following statement was sent from Groos to parents via email:
"As we navigate this significant transition, one thing remains unchanged: we want you in our school system ... our five other elementary schools are ready to welcome you with open arms."
