Holy Angels Academy in North Buffalo will shut down at the end of this school year as first announced last month.
Parents and supporters of the all-girls Catholic school formed the Save HAA committee in hopes of keeping the school open. The committee outlined an ambitious proposal of trying to raise more than $2 million by next month.
After reviewing the proposal at its meeting on Monday, the Board of Trustees and Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart issued their joint decision late Thursday afternoon. While praising the "effort...enthusiasm...and passion" put into the proposal, trustee Maureen Maguire told reporters it is a "final decision."
"Now what is remaining is for us to help the girls transition, and that was a big part of our consideration in reviewing the proposal. We didn't feel that there were enough specifics or enough assurances in the proposal that we could, in good conscience, give the girls hope and then perhaps it might work or might not work," Maguire said.
On April 30, the school announced that it would close in June ending a 152-year history. Among the reasons cited was a drop in enrollment.
The board and Grey Nuns said there were no "assurances" in the committee's plan on raising those funds.
"There were no details. There was a plan, but it really did not contain the details or the assurances," said Maguire.
The closing is difficult for the entire HAA community, but it is hitting the junior very hard. However, the school has devised a plan that would allow the junior class to graduate from Holy Angels if they wish.
"So we have given them four ways so they can graduate at the end of this summer from Holy Angels Academy if they would like to," said Maguire.
One of those options is summer school.
52-Holy Angels seniors will be graduating this Sunday. Security will be on hand to allow the students to graduate peacefully and away from the limelight with family and friends.
The closing will end a 152-year tradition of education young women in the spirit of Saint Marguerite D'Youville, founder of the Grey Nuns.
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