OLPH School in Belle Chasse to remain open

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

Father Kyle Dave had just finished celebrating the 7:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Belle Chasse on April 15 and was inside the rectory chapel for his regularly scheduled time of eucharistic adoration when his cell phone vibrated.

Normally, the pastor doesn’t answer calls while in adoration, especially numbers he doesn’t recognize, but something told him to green light the call.

The caller had been monitoring the announced closure of OLPH School at the end of the academic year and had witnessed the galvanized response of parishioners, parents and business owners to produce more than $700,000 in pledges over the next five years in their attempt to keep the only Catholic school in Plaquemines Parish open.

 The caller guaranteed to subsidize any one-year budgetary shortfall if OLPH School, would remain open for the 2021-22 academic year, with hopes that a five-year marketing plan developed by the Friends of OLPH BC would keep the school viable for the foreseeable future.

“I was speechless,” Father Kyle said. “And then the person told me, ‘This will be at no financial risk to the parish.’ And that was the issue. It just would be unsustainable for the parish to support (a large one-year deficit).”

Father Dave and the Archdiocese of New Orleans announced April 16 that the school would remain open for the 2021-22 school year. Father Dave and superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. RaeNell Houston signed a letter to parents, and school principal Annette Accomando informed the school faculty and staff.

"(This) is truly an announcement we make with great joy and excitement," Houston said. "I am grateful that the parish and school community have come together to support the school. I give special thanks to those who have given of their time, talent and treasure to begin the work toward long-term sustainability."

Back on March 2, the closure announcement was based on low enrollment and a projected $500,000 budget deficit for the 2021-22 school year. That decision prompted parents and parishioners to form the Friends of OLPH BC, which in just a few weeks created a financial and marketing plan to save the school and took to the pulpit at weekend Masses to rally support.

The group was given an April 15 deadline to report its progress, and at a meeting inside the church on April 16, Father Dave reviewed the plans and gave his approval to the reopening.

“It’s incredible,” said Jenni Carpenter Guidry,” leader of the Friends of OLPH BC. “We were all just sitting in awe and then jumping for joy in the back of church. It was a mix of elation and gratitude. We feel so much gratitude to be given the opportunity to have Jesus at the center of our children’s education.”

Guidry stressed that the pledge campaign is continuing to assure the long-term sustainability of the school, which before the closure announcement had a projected enrollment of under 150 for next year.

In terms of enrollment, Guidry said 103 children already have registered for next year, and she believes many parents who decided to register their children at other schools after the closure announcement will return.

“Now that the decision has been made, we may get back to 140 or 160 or more – who can tell?” Father Dave said. “The roots run deep at this school. This decision can bring great healing and inspiration and enthusiasm. We need to get above 200 eventually, but the plan in place makes allowance for gradual growth.”

Guidry said the campaign to date has garnered pledges of $703,6000 over the next five years, which includes at least $208,000 for the next academic year. Among the pledge levels is a $5,500 donation that would defray the cost of one year’s tuition.

Guidry also said Brent and Kathy Laliberte, who own several businesses, have pledged $20,000 a year over the next five years and have issued a challenge that they would double their donation to $40,000 a year for five years if there are 20 companies willing to donate $5,000 a year to the school.

“We have five companies in place and need 15 more,” Guidry said. “When people realize this is a viable thing, it’s really a possibility that we can move forward in a more positive direction.” 

Father Dave said the last thing he wanted to do was close a school, but he felt the financial and enrollment challenges were too big to overcome.

“No one had the intention of closing the school, but the friends group and parishioners came forward and made their appeals and asked to be given a fighting chance,” Father Dave said. “That was obviously not an unreasonable request. My whole position was to be supportive of whatever could come of this.”

Father Dave said he has a special devotion to Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, and someone who attended a daily Mass and is a volunteer at the Seelos Center gave him a rubber bracelet that read: “Every day holds a possibility of a miracle.”

He got the phone call from the anonymous donor not long after that.

“People are just overjoyed, thanking God for prayers answered,” Father Dave said. “It is a miracle.”

 Those wishing to financially help the campaign can email [email protected].

To learn more about OLPH School, go to https://school.olphbc.org/. 

[email protected]