PARENT: ‘WE NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING’
Future of St. Germaine rests in hands of Detroit Archdiocese amid threat of closure
St. Germaine Catholic School parent Mike Kaddis has felt like he has been in a Disney movie the past two weeks, one where the characters face an insurmountable challenge and somehow manage to overcome it.
“I think what has happened over the past two weeks says something about the school and the community,” said Kaddis. “Hopefully everything goes our way in the end, but I don’t regret doing it regardless.”
In January, St. Germaine’s parents received a letter from principal Colleen Maciejewski stating financial challenges led to the decision to close the St. Clair Shores school that opened in 1954.
But the school community refused to give in without a fight.
Two weeks ago, the Archdiocese of Detroit gave St. Germaine a reprieve. The school had until March 1 to raise $150,000 in donations; garner $150,000 in future pledges; and have 150 students registered for the 2024-25 school year with deposits.
As of March 1 at 9 p.m., $251,840 had been raised, $180,130 pledged, and 148 students were registered for the next school year and had paid their deposits. The school has more than 150 students who have said they plan to attend next school year, but have deposits from only 148.
Parents have not lost faith and continue to hold out hope that the fact that fundraising goals were exceeded will make up for the small shortfall in student registrations.
“The support from the community has just been amazing,” said St. Germaine parent Lindsey Connolly, who has two children enrolled at St. Germaine is the administrator for the Save St.. Germaine Facebook page. “I expected that the parents would come together because it is such a small, close community, but we have gotten donations from the business community and people who have no connection with St. Germaine.
“We even got a check from someone in Kentucky.”
That donation came from Shannon Witte’s aunt, who heard what was happening and wanted to help.
“We have had donations from a lot of alumni,” said Witte. “We had an open house fundraiser last Saturday and a 1971 alum made a $1,000 donation.
“Just look at what we have been able to do in two weeks; it