Published: November 21, 2008 11:01 am      

Sad news

St. Michael School will be missed in Frostburg

We were saddened to learn that after 117 years, St. Michael School in Frostburg will be discontinued at the end of this school year.

With enrollment down to 86 students, Archdiocese of Baltimore officials saw that it is not financially feasible to continue operations.

In recent years, parochial schools throughout Maryland — and, indeed, around the nation — have been consolidating or closing down be-cause of declining enrollment.

“Having St. Michael on Main Street meant there were families coming downtown every day. Not only that, but the school was involved in many of our downtown events, such as the Arts Walk and Christmas activities. It will be a real loss for Frostburg and our Main Street community,” Frostburg City Administrator John Kirby said.

Bishop Walsh School, which has grades kindergarten through 12, is hopeful that most of the St. Michael students will attend the Haystack Mountain school next year.

Bishop Walsh is the only parochial school remaining in the immediate area. In contrast to the financial problems at St. Michael, Bishop Walsh “continues to operate from a posititon of strength,” Sam Torres, principal, said.

It is a testament to the St. Michael faculty and parishoners that the school has been able to hang on for so long.

Father Jim Hannon, pastor, put it aptly: “Saint Michael School has a wonderful history of care for its students and wonderful and involved parents. The school has been a vibrant part of the parish well over a century.”

Frostburg residents, Catholics as well as non-Catholics, are sure to miss the school’s presence.