Ballisodare shocked as school is set to close
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE IN BALLISODARE IS FACING CLOSURE IN THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF YEARS, LEAVING THE COMMUNITY SHOCKED. JESSICA FARRY REPORTS AS EFFORTS GET UNDERWAY TO SAVE IT
There was widespread shock and anger in Ballisodare last week as it emerged that St. Mary’s College is to close in two and a half years.
The school is currently run by CEIST trustees, who last week informed teachers and parents of the decision to close the school.
The numbers enrolling in the school have continued to decline over the last number of years, which is the reason CEIST say they have reached their decision.
With only students enrolled to start first year in St. Mary’s in September, the decision was made to close the school.
But, CEIST say that should a sudden increase in the numbers enrolling occur, then they would take another look.
CEIST CEO Dr. Marie Griffin explained the decision to The Sligo Champion: “We spoke to the Board of Management last Wednesday. The school is not under threat, it is the decision of CEIST to close the school due to falling numbers.
“It is a great school. The Mercy Sisters have run it since 1843. They have a great Board of Management who are doing so much work.
“But in an age where people are more mobile, it seems more parents are maybe sending their children to school in town where they work.
“Unfortunately the school has seen numbers decrease. There is a concern about subject choices as well as with smaller numbers it is harder to provide for everyone.”
Should a significant number of people now enrol their children in the school for next year, the decision to close St. Mary’s may be reviewed.
Dr. Griffin said: “Of course (we would reconsider), the board would have to look at that. It would be wonderful if that did happen, but going on recent years that appears to be unlikely.”
She paid tributes to the parents who have always had faith in the school.
“These parents who send their children to school there are the ones who have faith in the school, and their children are very happy in the school.
“The parents have been great - it’s a pity there aren’t more like them.
“It’s an emotional thing for people.”
Dr. Griffin said she understands the outpouring of anger and disappointment from locals in the area.
“No-one likes to lose their second level school. The reality is that there’s a primary school in the village and fewer than 30% of the pupils from there are going to the secondary school.”
No teachers will be out of work as a result of the closure, Dr. Griffin confirmed.
“No teachers would lose jobs because of this. They would all be re-deployed. It is not pleasant for anyone. We would much prefer to be able to keep it open but we have reached this decision.”
Councillor Marie Casserly, who is also a teacher at the school, said the community will fight to keep the school open.
“We will keep fighting to keep this school open. We won’t let this just go away. Everyone was so shocked when the news came through.
“It’s only when something like this happens that you realise how people rally around and support each other.
“That’s the beauty of local schools and supporting local schools. Parents have been sending in chocolates and messages of support, as have ex-students, just to show that they are supporting us all through this,” Cllr. Casserly added.
She has worked at the school for 17 years, and says the closure will have a huge impact on the village of Ballisodare.
“I’ve been there for 17 years but some of the teachers then went to school there and are now teaching there. It’s such an emotional time for everyone.
“Some of the transition year students even said to us that the school is like their second home. This would be devastating for the locality.
“Academically the school is doing extremely well. It is an excellent school. People want to support local. Based on projected numbers, there is supposed to be more people moving into the area in the next few years.
“It’s a real community school and some people prefer going to a smaller school. The children who are here at the minute don’t want to go to a different school.”
Cllr. Casserly encouraged people to enrol their children in the school if they are thinking about it, as an increase in numbers will help their chances significantly.
“We need numbers to keep the school open. That’s the big thing.”
Twelve students had enrolled for September prior to last week’s announcement, with at least four more enrolling since. There are currently 240 students in the school, 50 of whom will be sitting their Leaving Certificate in June.
There are 28 teachers, secretarial and maintenance staff affected.
Councillor Thomas Healy said: “This is devastating news for all directly affected and for the wider community.”
“St Mary’s College was founded here by the sisters of Mercy in 1943 and it has provided outstanding service to generations of children from throughout Sligo,” continued Cllr Healy.
“I got to know a lot of the pupils and staff last year when they played a central role in hosting President Higgins here for the naming of Martin Savage Bridge.
Cllr. Healy called CEIST’s decision ‘drastic’: “We all acknowledge the issue of declining numbers and staff have been doing their utmost to encourage registration, however this closure seems like a very drastic and unilateral action to me. I have sought a meeting with the trustees to seek a six year process rather than two years and will do everything in my power to assist the college and explore alternative actions rather than closing it.
“I am contacting primary schools in the area to assess potential numbers for next year; I am also lobbying the Department through Deputy Martin Kenny asking for special supportive shortterm measures. The parents I spoke to intend to hold a meeting for the community and to elect a committee to explore actions to be taken to save the school.
“The trustees are meeting in March and they do not want any enrolment this year. It is up to the community to pull together and find ways to increase the enrolment numbers to 50.”
“This is a huge concern for Ballisodare. It has impressive results for pupils going onto third level and has won a number of scholarships. Some families have already contacted me to say that they were considering moving pupils from town-based schools back to Saint Mary’s for these reasons.
“Also the demographic graph for the region indicates that higher numbers of children will be requiring more school spaces, hopefully by working together we can achieve a positive outcome for all concerned here.”
Fine Gael’s local election candidate Thomas Walsh said: “The manner and method in which parents were informed was extremely disappointing.
There was no consultation period, prior warning or any signal from the Board of Management to parents except from tonight’s announcement.
“Parents were informed that ‘enrolment numbers were falling for 13 years’.
“However at no point was this communicated to parents which could allow a strategy be put in place to attract pupils.
I do not believe this decision should be taken lying down and I would urge the community to rally to save this vital institution which opened some 76 years ago. There must be a way.
“Parents and members of the community were understandably annoyed.”
It’s been an emotional week for the community of Ballisodare and neighbouring areas. Locals and local groups, clubs and businesses have come together since news broke to see what they can do to prevent the school from closing.
Approximately 100 members of the Ballisodare community stood in protest outside the school on Wednesday night last as a show of support and with the aim of ‘Saving Our School’.
Following this announcement by CEIST, Ballisodare United F.C. members, many past pupils of the college, met to discuss the matter and attempt to establish how our club can help St. Mary’s College,” Ballisodare United Secretary Stephen Healy told The Sligo Champion.
The club is keen to help the school in any way they can, particularly as a lack of sporting facilities at the school was highlighted as one of the issues they face when it comes to attracting students.
“Ballisodare United are currently in the early stages of constructing a state-of-the-art full size astro turf playing pitch which is scheduled to be completed and ready for use this coming May.
He added: “It was acknowledged that a lack of sporting facilities is a major issue for St. Mary’s College and this new €400k development at Ballisodare Community Sports Complex is approximately 1km from the school grounds and is easily accessible via the newly constructed walking route from the centre of the village which leads directly to the new pitch.
“It has always been the intention of Ballisodare United F.C. to make this facility available to St. Mary’s College as required and we hope that CIEST and the Department of Education will accept that our facility will alleviate this shortfall.
“Our offer has been made known to St. Mary’s Principal Anthony Carty and we have also informed Sligo/Leitrim TD’s and local councillors who we hope will bring to the attention of the Department of Education.
“Also as a club we also encourage all our players, parents of players and club members to join with the Ballisodare community at the ‘Save Our School’ Public Meeting in the Parish Hall, St. Brigid’s Church, Corhownagh at 8pm, Tuesday February 19 th next,” said Healy.-