Parents, Students Protest St. Catherine of Sienna School Closing

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Parents in Rockville Centre, Long Island are angry over a decision to close the St. Catherine of Sienna School in Franklin Square.

Six diocesan schools on Long Island will be closed next June. A statement from Bishop William Murphy said that low enrollment and a weak economy are the driving forces behind the closings.

Residents have claimed that the school closings will cause property values in the area to drop.

Parents and children held a small demonstration at the school but the diocese says that the closing is a done deal.

Parents in the community have cited spiritual, financial, and social needs as reasons to keep the schools open and have persisted in requesting a meeting with the diocese to present a financial plan that they say would allow the schools to remain open.

Mike, whose daughter attends St. Catherine called the school the backbone of the community.

1010 WINS Reporter Carol D'Auria was there...

And Dave Clark, who also has a daughter at St. Catherine,  said that it would be devastating if the school closed its doors as planned.

"She has established such a level of communication and confidence through her friendship and faith," he said.

The recommendation to close the school came from the diocese's Advisory Committee on Catholic Education.

Should the schools doors remain open? Let us know in our comments section below...