BEDFORD, Pa. - Parents of students at the Saint Thomas School in Bedford have sent a notice to Father Richard Tomkosky claiming he violated Canon Law over the decision to close the school at the end of the academic year.
The notice is dated March 28 and says that officials decided to close the school January 4.
Diocese officials said in January the decision was made due to financial concerns and declining enrollment.
According to the notice sent to Tomkosky, parents didn't find out out about the decision until two days after media outlets reported the closure.
The notice also contends that officials said the enrollment was only 24 students, but school records indicate that 53 students are enrolled this academic year.
Diocese officials said the 24 is the number of grade school students and they don't count Pre-K enrollees.
Secondly, the notice cites that Saint Thomas Parish has given $200,000 annually to fund the school, but according to the notice, financial reports claim that the parish has given $101,000 on average over the past four years.
"In order to prevent the disruption of the families affected by your decision we ask that you reverse your decision and allow the school to remain open for the 2018-2019 academic year," reads the notice.
The notice also issues a plan to keep the school open by either reversing the decision to close the school and communicate with school administration and parents to resolve the issues or to lease the building to the parents and allow them to use the building as a Charter School for Catholic Tradition.
Parents have set up a website to also aid in their quest to keep the school open.
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