BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The Massena Central School District is ready to support the families and students that will be affected by the closing of Trinity Catholic School at the end of the academic year.

In his latest Raider Update, MCS Superintendent Ron Burke said closing of Trinity represents the loss of "an integral part of Massena's greater educational community for forty years and has been a valued partner in educating our children."

"The faculty, staff, and benefactors of Trinity Catholic should be proud of the work that they have done in educating generations of young people," he said.

Burke said most of the children attending Trinity Catholic are also children of the MCS district.

In an effort to ease the transition, he wrote that he has been in contact with Trinity Catholic officials to offer "all possible support" during the transitionary period."

"In the next week, we will reach out to those District families impacted by this announcement with information about enrollment at MCS," he wrote.

According to a June 5 press release, confirmed enrollment for grades kindergarten through six for the 2024-25 academic year was 45 students, while enrollment last year in those grades stood at 78.

In 2022-23, enrollment stood at 106 students.

"Painful and disappointing though it may be, we must acknowledge that the loss of over half the student population has made operating the school as it currently exists unsustainable. Therefore, Trinity Catholic School will not open for the 2024-25 school year as it currently operates," the statement read.

School officials say they are exploring options and hope to have resources to open in September, "but online in a limited capacity."

"If enrollment is sufficient, we hope to accommodate Trinity’s rising fifth- and sixth-grade classes for one more year to allow those students to finish their early education at the school. We continue to communicate directly with the parents of those students to assess their intent and level of commitment, and to determine if continued, limited operation is academically and financially feasible," the statement read.

Marianne Jadlos, principal of Trinity Catholic School, also touched on the closure.

“Trinity Catholic School (TCS) has been a home away from home for some of our families for generations. However, even those who have walked through the school doors only once were instantly made to feel like part of the TCS family. Although today is a sad day, we will continue to enjoy each of the remaining days we have together. After the doors close, a new mission begins, which is to take the years we've spent at Trinity Catholic growing both academically and spiritually and boldly bring it out into the world," she said.