Closing Catholic Schools Will Likely Cost Dozens Of Jobs

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Last month, the Diocese of Rockville Centre announced that it would be closing three of its elementary schools in Nassau County. Now, filings with the state Department of Labor show how many jobs that could cost.

At the end of the ear, the diocese will be closing Saint Christopher School in Baldwin, Saint Raymond School in East Rockaway and Saint Thomas the Apostle School in West Hempstead. The diocese said enrollment was declining at all three schools, and the costs to keep them open were too high.

Students will be allowed to transfer to other Catholic schools in the area. But it's unlikely that all of the staff will be able to take new positions.

"Current staff and administration will be offered the opportunity to apply for positions in other schools in the Diocese of Rockville Centre," said diocesan spokesman Sean Dolan. "Positions will be offered based on the needs of other schools and the qualifications of each staff member, this will not be determined until much closer to the beginning of next school year."

According to documents the diocese filed with the state, that could mean dozens of layoffs due to the school closures. There would be 34 layoffs at St. Thomas school, 31 at St. Christopher school and 18 at St. Raymond school — that's 83 jobs in total.

The Diocese of Rockville Centre has been closing many schools over the last few years. In 2019, it closed All Saints Regional School in Glen Cove and St. Joseph School in Ronkonkoma. In 2020, Holy Family Regional School in Commack, Our Lady of Wisdom Regional School in Port Jefferson and Saint Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington were all closed.