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A review is underway to determine the future of Regina’s oldest Catholic school, with closure a possibility.
The Regina Catholic School Division is taking a look at Holy Rosary Community School, which opened in the Cathedral neighbourhood in 1916.
In October, the board of trustees ordered a review into the school, which is facing low enrolment levels during the pandemic.
As of Jan. 29, there were 96 students enrolled but the division explained that number is not representative of any students who are with Regina Learning Online or any students who may be home-schooled this year.
Cristina Ruiu, chair of the Holy Rosary School Parent Council, is concerned about the timing of the review during a pandemic while parents are already stressed.
She described the school as a jewel in the community with a very diverse group of students. She added a number of families relied on a lunch program out of Holy Rosary during the spring lockdown.
“The closure of the school would leave a huge, gaping, empty hole right in the middle of the Cathedral community area,” said Ruiu.
The school division explained when a school is reviewed, it’s not a review with intent to close a school, but part of typical school division operations to ensure the board is accountable.
Ruiu and the parent council are trying to convince the board a closure is not necessary and there are other options to improve the school and attract more students instead.
“The community itself seems to be rejuvenating and it’s just a very funny time to be considering closing a school when I see actually the community swinging the other way,” said Ruiu.
The school review committee’s report backs up her argument, finding while the Cathedral neighbourhood’s population isn’t rising, it is skewing younger and it expects this trend to continue.
Following public consultation, the report also found the Cathedral neighbourhood’s only faith-based school has untapped strengths. It said Catholic parents may start looking closely at Holy Rosary if supportive changes are made.
“If ever there was a school where that outside-the-box thinking would work, it’s definitely the Cathedral area,” said Ruiu.
Some of the suggested options include French Immersion or Cree Immersion programs, arts and music programs, more traditional school hours to better accommodate working families, and infrastructure improvements.
The Cathedral Area Community Association received 52 detailed responses to the school review and said all but one favour keeping the school open. A copy of the review appears below.
Holy Rosary also has the support of Mayor Sandra Masters, who is quoted in the report.
“As the new mayor of Regina, I envision this school promoting the vitality of our inner city,” said Masters.
The board is still crunching the numbers and is expected to make a decision by the end of February.
