New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James
Photograph ET Rodriguez
Legal professional Basic Letitia James will maintain a public listening to on April 8 to deal with the deliberate closure of Preston Excessive Faculty, a choice that has stirred widespread backlash within the Throggs Neck group.
The listening to, scheduled from 5 to eight p.m. at Lehman Excessive Faculty, goals to assemble enter from college students, dad and mom, alumni, educators and native officers. Based on James’ workplace, testimony collected will assist inform efforts to “find a resolution to this matter.”
The all-girls Catholic college is about to close down completely in June, after its try to purchase the campus from its house owners—the Sisters of the Divine Compassion—fell by way of.
In explaining the closure, the Sisters have maintained that the college lacks the funds to buy the property. They are saying the college is now not financially viable, citing elevated property upkeep prices and declining enrollment over time.
Nevertheless, the Sisters’ late February announcement sparked outrage from alumni, dad and mom, college students and residents who argue the college is financially sound and blame the Sisters for failing to achieve a deal to reserve it.
James’ workplace, which has oversight over nonprofit organizations in New York State, together with the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, regulates issues comparable to property transactions, board governance and inside operations. Whereas the upcoming listening to doesn’t essentially sign a proper investigation, a spokesperson mentioned it’ll enable the Legal professional Basic to gather further info immediately from stakeholders.
Neighborhood members and native elected officers are demanding solutions—notably relating to the Sisters’ rejection of a number of buy provides, together with one from a significant philanthropic donor.
After Preston’s inside bid fell by way of, the Sisters additionally declined an $8.5 million supply from Bally’s Basis North America, the charitable arm of the gaming firm that’s pursuing a hotel-casino venture close by at Ferry Level Park. The proposal matched the Sisters’ unique asking value and included a plan to lease the property again to Preston Excessive Faculty for $1 per yr. Regardless of this, the Sisters turned down the supply and later issued a press release indicating they might not entertain additional efforts to maintain the college operational.
The choice infuriated group leaders, together with State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Meeting Member Michael Benedetto, and Council Member Amanda Farías—a 2007 Preston graduate—who informed the Bronx Occasions they’d begun discussions with the Legal professional Basic’s workplace to discover the legality of the Sisters’ actions.
Whereas Preston is just not the one Catholic college dealing with closure this yr, James’ involvement marks a attainable turning level, elevating the state of affairs from a group dispute to a statewide matter.
Her workplace has intervened in related circumstances earlier than: In 2024, a public outcry adopted a proposal to close down a birthing middle at an Albany-area hospital. After holding a public listening to, James helped strain the hospital into reversing its choice.
Although the Sisters have said they’re unwilling to revisit their choice, the April listening to alerts that the matter stays removed from resolved.
“The prospect of the school closing its doors is concerning and will greatly impact students, staff, and local families,” mentioned James in a press release. “While we continue to monitor and assess this matter, it is essential that we hear directly from stakeholders on how to move forward in the best interest of the community.”
People who want to present written statements or testify on the April 8 listening to should submit it in writing by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 4. The listening to may even be viewable by way of livestream.
