With only two weeks before school starts, families and some school employees are scrambling to find jobs and enrollment after Newington's Saint Mary School announces it's closure.
"I'm sad because they struggle to bring their children to a catholic school because they have faith in god, because they have faith in the church, and look what happens," former enrollment director at Saint Mary, Carmen Rodriguez, said.
Wednesday, Saint Mary School administrators announced financial strain is to blame for the closure. They said they are $300,000 in debt and will be $200,000 more if they remained open for another year.
"Last year they closed Saint Augustine and we came here. Again it's closed. It's real crazy," said one of the parents, Maria Lopez.
Financial woes is an all too familiar story for Lopez. This is her second school for her daughter in two years. Hartford's St. Augustine School closed because of the millions of dollars needed in repairs.
"It's very sad. It's very worrying," said Lopez.
The school recommends that the 109 students enrolled at Saint Mary School consider attending St. Brigid-St. Augustine Partnership School, which is located 2.9 miles from Saint Mary’s. The West Hartford school would honor tuition, scholarships, and even uniforms.
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But Lopez disagrees.
"I don't like it, I don't like it" said Lopez.
On Wednesday night, parents and upset students protested outside of the school with signs that read, 'What would Jesus do?'
