Parents fight move to close 120-year-old Catholic primary school

More than 1,600 people are opposing the closure of a 120-year-old Catholic primary school after parents say they were blindsided by the decision.The Bishop of Wollongong Brian Mascord announced last Thursday St Michael's school in Mittagong would close in 2029, with all students assured a place at the site of St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish Primary School in Bowral.In a letter to 190 families, the bishop labelled the move as an amalgamation and "bringing together" of the schools, under the new name Corpus Christi Catholic Parish Primary School, Mittagong-Bowral.The bishop of Wollongong announced last Thursday that St Michael's in Mittagong would close in 2029. (ABC News: Justin Hunstdale)Michelle Hinton is one of the parents "blindsided" by the move and said the school's faith-based education is deeply important to her."I opened up the letter and just burst into tears," the former St Michael's student said."Some of the parents have used the word flabbergasted, some have used the words betrayed."Parents have launched a petition to review a decision to shut down a historic Catholic school in Mittagong. (ABC News: Justin Huntsdale)In the letter, the bishop acknowledged the decision would come as a shock."This is understandable and a testament to the great experience you and your family have had at St Michael's or St Thomas Aquinas," Bishop Mascord said."At the same time, as Bishop, it is my responsibility to carefully consider and respond as best I can to the various needs of all people living in parishes within the diocese."The petition has garnered more than 1,600 signatures in three days. (ABC News: Justin Huntsdale)He said the call was made in response to a proposal from the Mittagong-Bowral parish."While no decision has been made about how the site at Mittagong may be used from 2029, this change means the parish can explore options to meet broader community needs," he wrote.The Diocese of Wollongong said in a statement on Monday that it was left with no other option but to amalgamate the schools after it assessed "enrolment trends, demographic data and the parish's assessment of long-term financial viability".'Review the decision'Ms Hinton said some parents would not be able to uproot their children, and that others would face a slightly longer commute if they choose to attend the amalgamated school.She said she was deeply concerned about the erasure of a historically significant site for many Southern Highlands residents, adding that parents were not consulted about the fate of the school."The grief goes beyond bricks and mortar, it's the history of the school, the connection with St Michael, all the little stories held within those gates that could be erased by the lack of community consultation," she said."I would like to see them acknowledge the upset and upheaval of this decision."I'd like them to review what they've done; I'd like to see Bishop Brian support the parish, and I'd like to see the archbishop review this decision."St Michael's primary school in Mittagong will merge with St Thomas Aquinas primary school in Bowral. (ABC News: Justin Huntsdale)Former student Kathryn Dovey launched a petition to fight the decision and save the school, which has garnered more than 1,600 signatures in three days."I went to this school 30 years ago and it became such an important part of my life that I decided to send my own children there," she said."My eldest son is in kindergarten and I have two other children that would be due to start in 2028 and 2031."Ms Dovey said she had heard enrolments had been declining at both schools, but that St Michael's appeared to be a "thriving school"."We've been told that this is an opportunity to meet community needs to close Mittagong … but we haven't been told what those needs are," she said.The diocese said it was committed to preserving the histories of each school.It said staff retention will be a "strong focus" in the amalgamated school and that there will be no reduction in enrolment capacity.Secretary of the Independent Education Union Carol Matthews said St Michael's teachers were concerned by the decision."The teachers at Mittagong are concerned, they're sad, they really value their community school," she said.The announcement comes after several Catholic schools in Sydney's northern beaches were told they would have to share a principal, with the Newcastle-Maitland diocese separately making over 50 school librarian jobs redundant.