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Fell Charter School has announced that it will begin classes on August 22 in the former Sacred Heart Elementary School building.
Principal Miss Mary Jo Walsh told the NEWS last week that the charter school board of directors has signed a one-year lease agreement with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, which owns the school facility on Farview St.
Sacred Heart Elementary School was closed at the end of the school year in a cost-cutting measure by the Diocese of Scranton.
The Catholic school was built and opened in 1962 as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School, and became Sacred Heart Elementary School in 1998 when it was consolidated with St. Rose Elementary School. Classes went up to six grades until Sacred Heart High School closed, when seventh and eighth grade classes were added.
“This is the best thing that could have happened to us,” Miss Walsh stated about the move. “The Sacred Heart building is in pristine condition. They really took very good care of it. It’s amazing.”
The charter school has been conducting classes in modular classroom units in Fell Twp. on 6 1/2 acres the school purchased that included St. Basil’s Hall on Rt. 171, which was used as a gym, cafeteria and administrative offices.
“The Sacred Heart building will provide us with more space,” Miss Walsh explained. “It has room for 400 students, and right now we have 157 students registered for this fall. The cafeteria is five times as big as the one we had, there’s an outdoor playground and blacktop area for recreation, and more and better parking. For the first time, all of our classrooms will be under one roof.”
She said the move into the building will begin around August 1. “The desks and furniture belonged to the Diocese, so those have been removed,” Miss Walsh said. “We’ll need to move all of our own equipment in, and our modular units will be returned to the rental company. We will retain ownership of the Simpson property and St. Basil’s Hall.”
Miss Walsh said enrollment could possibily increase if some former Sacred Heart students decided not to go to LaSalle Academy in Jessup. “We can accomodate up to 175 students with the staff we have,” she said. “If it goes over that, we may need need to hire more.”
At this time, the charter school plans to retain its current 24 staff members, which includes nine regular classroom teachers, two special education teachers, a gym instructor, music and art teachers, and cafeteria and administrative staff.
“This is awesome,” stated Michelle Kelsch, vice president of the charter school board of directors. “We are so excited. We are so grateful to Mt. Carmel pastor Fr. Motsay for being so gracious in letting us use the building. I hate when buildings are left vacant or torn down. We’re glad we will be able to keep this beautiful building in use.”
Fell Charter School has announced that it will begin classes on August 22 in the former Sacred Heart Elementary School building.
Principal Miss Mary Jo Walsh told the NEWS last week that the charter school board of directors has signed a one-year lease agreement with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, which owns the school facility on Farview St.
Sacred Heart Elementary School was closed at the end of the school year in a cost-cutting measure by the Diocese of Scranton.
The Catholic school was built and opened in 1962 as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School, and became Sacred Heart Elementary School in 1998 when it was consolidated with St. Rose Elementary School. Classes went up to six grades until Sacred Heart High School closed, when seventh and eighth grade classes were added.
“This is the best thing that could have happened to us,” Miss Walsh stated about the move. “The Sacred Heart building is in pristine condition. They really took very good care of it. It’s amazing.”
The charter school has been conducting classes in modular classroom units in Fell Twp. on 6 1/2 acres the school purchased that included St. Basil’s Hall on Rt. 171, which was used as a gym, cafeteria and administrative offices.
“The Sacred Heart building will provide us with more space,” Miss Walsh explained. “It has room for 400 students, and right now we have 157 students registered for this fall. The cafeteria is five times as big as the one we had, there’s an outdoor playground and blacktop area for recreation, and more and better parking. For the first time, all of our classrooms will be under one roof.”
She said the move into the building will begin around August 1. “The desks and furniture belonged to the Diocese, so those have been removed,” Miss Walsh said. “We’ll need to move all of our own equipment in, and our modular units will be returned to the rental company. We will retain ownership of the Simpson property and St. Basil’s Hall.”
Miss Walsh said enrollment could possibily increase if some former Sacred Heart students decided not to go to LaSalle Academy in Jessup. “We can accomodate up to 175 students with the staff we have,” she said. “If it goes over that, we may need need to hire more.”
At this time, the charter school plans to retain its current 24 staff members, which includes nine regular classroom teachers, two special education teachers, a gym instructor, music and art teachers, and cafeteria and administrative staff.
“This is awesome,” stated Michelle Kelsch, vice president of the charter school board of directors. “We are so excited. We are so grateful to Mt. Carmel pastor Fr. Motsay for being so gracious in letting us use the building. I hate when buildings are left vacant or torn down. We’re glad we will be able to keep this beautiful building in use.”
