18-02-2025
Dozens gather outside Blessed Sacrament School to protest closure
Over 50 people came to the Blessed Sacrament Catholic School Monday evening, waving signs and chanting out against the school's closure.
Blessed Sacrament School has been open since 1939, but now that long history is coming to an end.
The Erie Catholic School System announced the school will be shutting down at the end of the school year, and parents and students aren't happy.
'I love BSS. I've like grown up here basically,' said Richard Hulsinger, 6th grade student at Blessed Sacrament School. 'I'm sad because I'm going to miss all the staff and my friends.'
Protest held following closure announcement of Blessed Sacrament School
'It's frustrating. It's scary. Nervewracking. Devastating to the children. They've established friendships,' said Angela Proctor, Blessed Sacrament parent.
Parents said they received an email on Friday giving them the news, which told them that continuously declining enrollment is the reason for the closure.
But Monday evening the Blessed Sacrament Community came together to fight the closure — and the bitter cold didn't slow them down.
Dozens of people lined the street on 26th Street, waving signs, chanting with megaphones, cars passing and honking, all in support of trying to save their school.
The school closure would force 178 students to find education elsewhere, and now parents are faced with the question of what to do next.
'I have two children here. We're not guaranteed they'll be able to go to the same school next year if this one closes. They may not have room for both of my kids at one school,' said Tasha Johnson, a parent.
'Now the parents have to get together and figure out what's going to happen to see if we can keep our kids together in another school,' said Proctor.
But the fight isn't over yet. Proctor said the community is holding out hope for Blessed Sacrament.
Penn State Behrend hosts 10th annual STEAM Fair
'Do you think there's hope for the school?' asked reporter Tyler Gallagher. 'I think so. If we have this positivity going, then yeah,' replied Hulsinger.
'We have faith. We have faith, absolutely,' said another parent.
Even with an uncertain future ahead, parents and students are committed to 'save their school.'
The Blessed Sacrament community will be meeting with the Erie Catholic School System Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
