Knights of Columbus

Belding Catholic school closes
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
By Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
The Grand Rapids Press

BELDING -- Declining enrollment and financial strain has led the Diocese of Grand Rapids to close St. Joseph School.

Bishop Walter Hurley approved the recommendation to close the pre-K to 6th grade school last week.

With "increasing costs, and decreasing enrollment -- we just couldn't do it anymore," said the Rev. Fredrick Brucker, pastor of St. Joseph parish.

Last year, 57 students were enrolled in the school. Only 29 had signed up for fall classes as of last week.

Brucker wrote a letter to Hurley updating him on the financial burden the school was placing on the Belding parish and the St. Mary Parish in Miriam. The parishes have supported the school throughout its 49-year history.

In a statement, Hurley noted the difficulty of his decision to close the school that opened in 1957 and boasted an enrollment high of 157 in 1967.

"St. Joseph has offered an outstanding Catholic education to children for many years," wrote Hurley, adding he is "saddened" by the closure.

"I am confident, however, that such a difficult decision will help provide for a stronger future for the parishes and for Catholic education in this instance through the collaborations with neighboring parishes," Hurley wrote.

St. James School in Grand Rapids closed in June.

All those who attended St. Joseph School are invited back for a picnic at the school that will immediately follow the 11 a.m. Mass on Aug. 27.

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