SPOTSWOOD – Immaculate Conception School (ICS) may be closing at the end of the school year due to low enrollment.
Parents were delivered the news Tuesday night in an emergency meeting at the Manalapan Road school.
The meeting was a follow-up to a similar gathering in December, according to Anthony P. Kearns, chancellor and spokesperson for the Diocese of Metuchen which oversees the school, that aimed to address “the extremely low enrollment in the school and to develop marketing and other strategies to boost enrollment."
ICS currently serves 89 students in grades pre-K-8. Enrollment has been on a steady decline over the past five years, according to the diocese. The school served 194 students in the 2021-22 school year. Only 38 students are registered for the next school year.
Kearns said that a final decision on the school’s fate hasn’t been made but will be decided “relatively soon.”
An online petition to save the school asks the diocese to revaluate its decision to potentially close.
"Immaculate Conception School, Spotswood has fostered over 60 years of excellence in outstanding academics," wrote Kimberly Tinger-Jaeger. "The devoted teachers and staff are committed to the growth and development of each and every student while promoting a value-oriented learning environment. This petition calls for the Diocese of Metuchen Office of Schools and Bishop James F. Checchio to allow ICS to remain the center of the local community."
Kearns said Checchio, bishop of Metuchen since 2016, has made Catholic education a priority and has been loath to close any diocesan schools.
"Unfortunately, despite sincere efforts by the Bishop, the Diocesan Schools office, Pastor and school administration, only 38 students are enrolled to attend the school next year. With such low numbers it begs the question if Immaculate Conception could even continue to operate as a school. Would the same be beneficial to the remaining students?" Kearns said.
Our Lady of Victories School in Sayreville in 2022 was the last diocesan school to shutter.
ICS opened in September 1960 with an enrollment of 198 students in grades 1-3. The founding principal, Sister Mary Scholastica Odachowski, led a faculty of two Felician nuns and two lay teachers.
The school expanded to full elementary size in 1961 with an enrollment of 539 In grades K-8. A two-story annex comprised of 12 more classrooms was added in 1965. A pre-K? program for 3- and 4-year-old children opened in 1994, and for 2-year-olds in 1995.
The petition asks the ICS community be given "ample time to lobby for Immaculate Conception School’s growth and rebuild by encouraging increase in admissions and fundraising for the school."
"ICS has not only given my granddaughter a wonderful place to learn and grow in her academic career, but it has guided our whole family to renew and return to our faith," wrote Theresa Santiago.
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Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.