St. Mary Gate of Heaven Catholic Academy
in Ozone Park will close its doors in June
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MARCH 13-MARCH 19, 2020 5
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
St. Mary Gate of Heaven
Catholic Academy in Ozone
Park is closing its doors in
June.
The Board of Members
and Board of Directors of the
school, located at 103-12 101
Ave., voted to close the school
due to declining enrollment,
which resulted in severe budget
deficits.
“As you can imagine, this
is an emotional time for this
school community because
closing a school greatly impacts
the lives of students, parents,
and faculty,” said Thomas
Chadzutko, Ed.D., superintendent
of schools.
Enrollment at the school has
fallen nearly 51 percent since
2015, according to the Diocese
of Brooklyn. The budget for
this school year fell short by an
approximate $300,000, with the
total fund balance projected to
be a deficit of $750,000 by the
end of the school year.
Collectively, the Catholic
Foundation and Futures in Education,
through the disbursement
of financial assistance to
families in need, have invested
more than $500,000. The parish
of St. Mary Gate of Heaven has
also subsidized the operational
expenses and building repairs
of the Academy, in excess of
$1.5 million.
“I respect the boards’ decisions
on these matters,” Chadzutko
said. “When resources
are constrained, it affects all
aspects of the learning environment,
which eventually impacts
students and their needs.”
According to Chadzutko,
the Diocese of Brooklyn is
committed to making sure that
each child enrolled in St. Mary
Gate of Heaven Catholic Academy
will be able to continue receiving
a Catholic education.
The affected students will
be accommodated at nearby
Catholic academies. They will
automatically receive a $500
tuition assistance grant if they
attend an academy or parish
school within the Diocese of
Brooklyn, as long as they have
met all of their financial obligations.
The one-time grant is
made possible by the St. Elizabeth
Ann Seton Trust.
A parent meeting was held
on March 5 at St. Mary Gate
of Heaven Catholic Academy.
An information and registration
fair, featuring seven area
Catholic schools, is planned for
next week.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or
by phone at (718) 260–4526.
St. Mary Gate of Heaven Catholic Academy at 103-12 101 Ave. in Ozone Park. Photo via Google Earth
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