In a surprise announcement Tuesday, Mater Dei Prep announced that it will close in June — on its fiftieth anniversary.
In a letter posted on the school website Tuesday, Pastor Jeff Kegley of Saint Mary Parish, Middletown wrote that debt and insufficient enrollment has resulted in a projected loss of nearly $1 million for the 2014-2015 school year.
“Our parish and diocesan assistance, fundraising and tuition can no longer meet the school’s financial obligation,” said Kegley. He said that all previously scheduled activities, celebrations and events will go on as planned. He also said that the closing of the high school will not impact the parish’s elementary school, Saint Mary School, where 680 students are enrolled.
Elizabeth Wulfhorst, whose daughter Emma is a junior at Mater Dei Prep, said her family was “blindsided” by the decision to close the school.
“Our reaction is shock and devastation,” she said. “We don’t understand the suddenness and timing of it. Why wasn’t there a plan in place to graduate the existing students?”
Wulfhorst of Tinton Falls, who has volunteered in many capacities at the school, said although there have always been rumors over the years that Mater Dei was closing, they didn’t see this decision coming.
Although the pastor’s letter reassured parents that the diocese will provide information about Catholic high schools in the area, Wulfhorst said the schools may not be a fit for every Mater Dei student left without a high school.
As for Emma, an honor student, student ambassador, who has been in seven productions of the Mater Dei’s Seraph Players, she and her family will be considering all their area high school options: Red Bank Catholic, St. John Vianney, Ranney and the public school system. (Trinity Hall, the new all-girls high school in Middletown, is too new to have a rising senior grade, she pointed out.)
“She’s been going to a small Catholic school,” her mother said, so sending her to a large regional high school may not be the right fit.
The news prompted a flood of sadness on the school’s Facebook page Tuesday night. Theresa Necef asked, “Is it a final decision? Is there any hope? Can it be saved? I am sure many will help if there is the possibility….. Be honest and let people know! Praying!!!!
Brian Joyce tweeted, “65,000+ people in our town, surely something can be done about [it].”
In fact, an online fundraising campaign has already kicked off. In its first hour, “Save the Seraphs” had attracted 8 donors pledging $550. By Wednesday morning, before the start of the school day, 35 donors had pushed the fund to more than $2,000. Students are rallying around the cause, using #SaveMaterDei and #SavetheSeraphs on social media and appealing to its most famous graduate, NBC’s Brian Williams.
Kate Aumack tweeted: “It’s time to soar with the Seraphs, we don’t go down without a fight!”
Currently, 340 students from 20 different communities attend Mater Dei Prep High School, founded in 1964. The school employs 48 faculty and staff.
Here is Kegley’s statement to the school community, posted on the Mater Dei website:
“Dear Parents,
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Mater Dei Prep will close at the end of this school year, June 2015.
Over the many years, Mater Dei Prep has been running large financial deficits and enrollment numbers have not stabilized to the point of sufficiently supporting the school’s viability. It had been the hope of the Parish Finance Council and myself that these trends could be reversed. However, the 2014-2015 projected loss is close to one million dollars. Our parish and diocesan assistance, fundraising and tuition can no longer meet the school’s financial obligation. I want to assure you that the next year’s closure will not affect the current school year. Classes and activities will continue until the end of June as planned.
The Department of Catholic Education will provide information to you about neighboring Catholic High Schools to consider for your child in the near future.
I want to extend sincere thanks to Mr. Craig Palmer, Mr. Steve Sciarappa, MDP teachers and staff for the years of dedicated service to the Mater Dei Prep school community. I also want to acknowledge the consistent support of Saint Mary Church parishioners and the Diocese of Trenton, who has helped over the past years keep the school open. And mostly, I want to thank all of our school families who have worked so hard in support of our mission of Catholic education at Mater Dei Prep.
Catholic Education has and will always be central to the mission of Saint Mary Parish. While it is sad to face the reality of closing Mater Dei Prep, we know the mission of Catholic education on our campus will continue with Saint Mary School, one of the largest and strongest Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mr. Craig Palmer or myself.
Sincerely, Father Jeff Kegley, Pastor”
Steven Sciarappa, Director of Schools for St. Mary Parish, sent a message to the school community on Twitter: “Official comment from Sciarappa : I can’t wait to see every Prep student tomorrow. Love u all!”
— Article by Christina Johnson, with contribution from Judy Alvarez
