Introduction to the Crisis
Preston High School students, parents, and alumni used the Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade to make their voices heard, chanting “Save our school” while marching along East Tremont Avenue. While most donned the customary green at this year’s Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a large contingent turned out in the colors of maroon and white—the signature hues of Preston High School.
The Rally for Preston High School
More than a hundred students, parents, and alumni of the Catholic all-girls school took to the parade route, using the event as a rallying cry to save their beloved institution, which abruptly announced last month that it would close at the end of the academic year. Generations of women marched in solidarity carrying signs that read, “#savepreston” with a QR code leading to a petition with over 10,000 signatures urging the school’s Board of Directors to consider alternatives. Alumni wore sweatshirts with “Preston Forever” printed on the front in the school’s signature maroon.
Community Reaction
Lucia Jimenez-Morales graduated from Preston High School in 2000 and has a daughter attending the school as a junior. While walking the parade route, she told the Bronx Times that she was heartbroken when she heard the school would close its doors. “She’s the class of 2026,” Jimenez-Morales said, referring to her daughter, noting that she had dreams of seeing her teenager graduate from the school. “So, I can’t let them take that away from me.”
Reasons Behind the Closure
Preston’s landlord’s, the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, announced the school’s closing following a failed deal for Preston High School to purchase the site saying that the school was financially unstable, and doubting the long-term viability of consistent enrollment. But the decision sparked an uproar throughout the community, prompting parents and alumni to question why they hadn’t been informed earlier of any financial hurdles the school might be facing or given an opportunity to come together as a community to solve them.
Efforts to Save the School
Sunday’s parade, which is usually an opportunity for local high schools to show off their marching bands, cheer squads or color guard, transformed into an opportunity for collective action for the Preston High School community. After reaching the end of the parade route, Preston students, parents, and alumni continued their march through the residential streets to in front of the nearby high school on Schurz Avenue. Annalyse Gorritz, a sophomore at Preston High School, told the Bronx Times that the school community has become like family. “I don’t want to go to a different school,” Gorritz said. “This is like my second home and I want to make sure I stay.”
A Glimmer of Hope
Hope seemed briefly on the horizon, as exclusively reported in the Bronx Times, when Bally’s philanthropic foundation offered to buy the land and cover maintenance costs. The foundation planned to lease the land back to the school for $1 a year for the next 25 years, while giving Preston the opportunity to purchase the land. However, sources told the Bronx Times that the sisters pulled out of the deal in the eleventh hour with little to no explanation why.
The Final Decision
Then on March 13, Preston’s Board of Trustees issued a letter to the student body and alumni reiterating that the decision to close the school was “final.” Three of the six board members signed the letter, all Sisters of the Divine Compassion. It was not signed by any of the other three board members who are not Sisters. “We will not be entertaining any circumstances that would alter this fact,” the letter said. “We do not want to foster false hope that the ongoing ‘save the school’ attempts will reverse the closing of the school.”
Conclusion
Despite the final decision, advocates for the school have continued their campaign, marching in the Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day parade just three days after receiving the trustee’s letter. The school’s principal, Jennifer Connolly, declined to comment on the continuing “save the school” efforts, citing a nondisclosure agreement. An independent group of alumni formed the taskforce, issuing a statement that with thriving enrollment and full funding, Preston is prepared to maintain its independence under any lessor to continue educating young women in the Bronx in the tradition of dignity, honor, respect, and compassion.
FAQs
Q: Why is Preston High School closing?
A: Preston High School is closing due to financial instability and doubts about long-term enrollment viability, as announced by the Sisters of the Divine Compassion.
Q: What are the efforts to save the school?
A: Students, parents, and alumni are rallying together, signing petitions, and marching in parades to raise awareness and urge the Board of Directors to consider alternatives.
Q: Was there a potential solution to save the school?
A: Yes, Bally’s philanthropic foundation offered to buy the land and cover maintenance costs, but the deal was pulled out in the eleventh hour without explanation.
Q: What is the current status of the school’s closure?
A: The Board of Trustees has reiterated that the decision to close the school is final, but advocates continue to campaign to save the school.
Q: What is the message from the alumni taskforce?
A: The alumni taskforce, Preston Forever, states that with thriving enrollment and full funding, Preston is prepared to maintain its independence and continue educating young women in the Bronx.
