Patrick Manley, superintendent of the Franklin Square Union Free School District, said that he believes St. Catherine’s closing could slightly affect the district’s budget due to its affect on transportation and education costs. He added that 39 St. Catherine’s students in grades K-6 are Franklin Square residents who will be looking for placement in the local district.

Shane Pallotta, a member of the Sacred Heart school board who has two children at Sacred Heart Elementary, said he plans to fight to keep Sacred Heart open. Pallotta, who was in charge of facilities as a board member, said that Sacred Heart has needed a new roof and windows for some time, but the repairs could not be financed because of money owed for a new multi-million-dollar church, which he said was completed in 2009 and has a balloon payment of about $400,000 due in January.

Murphy wrote in his letter that the diocese will help parents place their children at neighboring parochial schools for the 2012-13 school year, and holding an information session for parents to meet representatives from those schools. He added that he hopes the diocese's continued investment in Catholic elementary education will allow it to deliver that education to more families and students in the future.

“What the future holds,” he wrote, “no one can predict.”

For more information on the diocese's strategic plan and the reorganization of schools, visit https://www.drvc.org.