PARENTS of girls at the MacKillop College boarding facility that is set to close have been offered a “preferred option” from the Catholic Education Office that involves boarding at All Saints' College.
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The Catholic Education Office has offered to pay the additional costs for the students to board at All Saints’ while they continue attending MacKillop College during the day.
Last month, two days before the end of the school term, news broke that MacKillop’s St Joseph’s House was no longer taking enrolments.
Boarders at the facility were told of its impending closure at a school meeting, before a group email was sent to their parents.
The families of the 30 girls received an email from the Catholic Education office on Thursday, offering a “preferred option” for the girls which it said would enable them to stay together as a group and facilitate the families’ boarding requirements.
One of the parents, who asked not to be named, said representatives from the school and Catholic Education Office will meet individually with parents on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week “to discuss options” even though just one has been put forward.
"They [the CEO] are refusing to meet with us as a group," the parent said.
“Since this was announced at the end of last term, there has been virtually no communication from the school.
"I got one call from the boarding house lady, and apart from that it has hit the wall.
"Next week the parents are meeting individually with the CEO, who have offered us All Saints’ as an option, but even that worries the parents as far as stability goes.
"The Anglican Diocese is in debt for $40 million, so who knows what's going to happen there."
The Anglican Diocese of Bathurst’s problems with a multi-million dollar debt to the Commonwealth Bank have been well-publicised.
The parent said many of the students have another three or more years left in high school, and parents are concerned about having to go through any upheaval again, especially as the girls draw closer to the HSC.
Since news of the impending closure of St Joseph’s House, another three students have been withdrawn from the boarding facility, and the mother said families are feeling very unsettled.
“The letter said they want the boarders to move into All Saints’ at the beginning of next year, but they still haven't shed any light on how it will operate,” she said.
