BISHOP'S OFFICE PASTORAL CENTER, 40 NORTH MAIN AVENUE, ALBANY, NEW YORK 12209, FAX (518) 453-6795 - TELEPHONE (618) 453-6611 October 3, 2016 Coalition of Concerned Catholic Parents of the Greater Troy Area c/o Teresa Kippen, Anna O'Donnell, Tanya Handerhan, Felice Magnetto, Amber Alvey 18 24 Street Troy, New York 12180 Dear Members of the Coalition of Concerned Catholic Parents of the Greater Troy Area appreciate the strong commitment you have to Sacred Heart and St. Jude's Schools and to Catholic Education overall. However, I do not see how having a forum can further the matter that concerns you, i.e. adding seventh and eighth grades to St. Jude's and Sacred Heart. ‘The possibility was thoroughly reviewed and the conclusion reached was that it was not a sustainable model for the long term, no matter how attractive it might seem in the present. Your letter mentions that St. Jude's and Sacred Heart have lost students to other local middle schools. It does not differentiate if those are other Catholic Schools or public schools. When parents are asked, we find that they have many different reasons for choosing other schools. If the schools chosen are other Catholic Schools, we should be grateful that families have maintained their support for Catholic education, finding a program that meets their needs. If these parents chose public schools itis likely that they did so for reasons other than having seventh and eighth grades in their current schools. Parents likely made their choice based on economics or programming not typically available in our schools, Having shared these observations with you, | reaffirm my response to you that I will not participate in any further discussion on this matter. Sincerely yours in Christ, Bhiwart B Leh Edward B. Scharfenberger Bishop of Albany