March 8, 2025
The Erie Catholic School System Board of Directors recognize and deeply understand the emotions surrounding the closure of Blessed Sacrament School. Our goal has always been, and continues to be, to provide the best possible Catholic education for our students. This transition is the first step to enhance the long-term viability of Erie Catholic School System. Misinformation has been shared publicly, and we want to provide clarity. The decision to close Blessed Sacrament was based on a thorough internal review of the Erie Catholic School System’s operations, including financial sustainability, enrollment trends, and future projections. This review was conducted by Meitler – a national consulting firm that specializes in Catholic education. Meitler incorporated input from a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to leadership, pastors, faculty, staff, parents, and board members. Meitler consultants visited campuses, met directly with principals and pastors, conducted interviews, and distributed system-wide surveys. Every school family was given the opportunity to participate in Meitler’s survey; only 22 Blessed Sacrament families submitted a response. The data collected showed significant challenges for Blessed Sacrament in comparison to the same data from other system schools. As previously shared, enrollment has declined by 52 percent, twice the rate of any other system school. This means that the school operates at 64 percent capacity; the ideal operational capacity is 85 percent. Future projections indicate continued decline in these areas. Additionally, retention rates at Blessed Sacrament have been the lowest across the system in four of the last five years. Lastly, the school’s financial position was unsustainable. Based on these data points, the Erie Catholic Board of Directors moved to close Blessed Sacrament School and brought it forward to the Board of Members and Bishop Lawrence Persico, and they accepted the recommendation. We’ve heard families loud and clear – they want more transparency. The board along with the transition team is committed to increasing the system’s transparency. An executive summary of the study will be shared with faculty and staff, then with families, and ultimately made publicly available. There will be a dedicated page on Erie Catholic’s website to provide regular updates on progress as the recommendations of the Meitler plan are implemented. The board acknowledges ongoing concerns and the recent petition filed by some parents. We respect their right to pursue this avenue and will not comment further on legal matters at this time. However, we want to emphasize that we remain committed to supporting all Blessed Sacrament families. Our focus is on ensuring every student has a path forward; the majority of families have already engaged with other Erie Catholic schools, participating in shadow days, tours, and personal meetings with school leadership. We remain steadfast in our commitment to Catholic education in Erie. We are grateful to all our families, faculty, and staff for their dedication and understanding as we work together to build a strong future for Catholic education in our community. Enclosed: Blessed Sacrament Closure Fact Sheet and FAQ
