Lincoln Park Catholic school to stay open after successful fundraising push

Lincoln Park — For preschool and kindergarten parent Elizabeth Rios, news that St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School in Lincoln Park will remain open for the next school year is a relief.

"I'm absolutely thrilled," Rios said following the school's announcement Thursday afternoon. "We have a common vision here, a common mission; the fact that today, we officially announced that that's going to continue. We have so much awesome work to do."

Christ the Good Shepherd and St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School administrators notified parishioners, staff, parents and the community during a meeting that it would remain open for the 2024-25 school year.

The Fund our Future campaign set up recently "conquered the daunting challenge" of securing funds to keep the school open, surpassing its goal of $120,000 in six days, according to Principal Melissa Manczak. The K-8th grade school was looking for an enrollment of 110; about 93 students are enrolled for the upcoming school year, she said. It also houses a preschool program.

Manczak applauded parishioners and local businesses that fueled donations. Support also came from the Archdiocese of Detroit, and members of the school's parishes and priests, she said.

"We still have some challenges moving forward of what changes will be made and what that might look like for the next year, but ... we're positive that we'll continue growing and thriving with our mission at the school," Manczak said.

In an email Friday, Holly Fournier, an Archdiocese of Detroit representative, said: "For the last several months, the Archdiocese of Detroit has been supporting the Team of Priests in charge of St. John Paul II to achieve a balanced school budget so they can open next year in as good stewards of their resources. This support has come in the form of archdiocesan personnel lending their time and expertise, working alongside parish and school officials as they created the school’s 2024-25 budget and worked to meet it. No archdiocesan funds were contributed to the fundraising campaign."

Rios said her reaction was that of shock when she learned about the school's troubles. She was among other parents at St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School who didn't want to see the school close, something other Catholic schools in Metro Detroit have faced amid enrollment declines and funding issues.

"Our mission was not meant to end right now," said Rios, who is the secretary of school's Parent Teacher Group. "We were meant to keep going, so that's what we're going to do."

Those interested in enrolling or donating to St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School can go to the school's website at www.jp2catholic.com.

St. Germaine Catholic School in St. Clair Shores earlier this year learned that it would close at the end of the 2023-24 school year. And despite fundraising efforts and the school community increasing enrollment, priests moved forward with the closure.

The archdiocese has said it "expects our schools to have balanced budgets to ensure good stewardship of resources and long-term sustainability" and that each school set its budget details.

"We continue to support all our schools in their planning for next year and overall sustainability and good stewardship," Fournier said Friday. "This includes, when necessary, deploying archdiocesan personnel to work alongside parish and school officials to achieve balanced budgets and help discern the best path forward for each community."

St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School was formed in 2019 after a 2011 merger of John Paul II Catholic School, Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic School, Mount Carmel Catholic School and Wyandotte Catholic School was dissolved. The school offers a classical liberal arts faith-based education with emphasis on subjects including literature, reading, writing, Latin and critical thinking, its website said.

The school plans to launch a program called Classical Connect, targeting homeschool students who want hands-on learning and to participate in the school's Catholic community.

St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School leaders, despite the fundraising success, don't regard the development as a "cure-all" but rather a "catalyst to get us going."

"We truly are a hidden gem here in Lincoln Park and this was our way to show the world and our community ... how strong we are," Manczak said. "And it's just a blessing to be able to do that."

jaimery@detroitnews.com