AUBURN (WGME) — The Portland Diocese is reopening the St. Dominic Academy campus, not for the high school, but for pre-K through eighth grade students.
After the St. Dom’s campus closed at the end of the school year, enrollment dropped at its K-8 school. But it was higher than expected. As a result, the bishop of Portland says space at the Holy Cross school proved to be inadequate, forcing the mid-year move back the St. Dom’s campus in Auburn.
In a letter to families, Bishop James Ruggieri said: “It became clear Holy Family would not be adequate, and the Holy Cross campus will not be able to suitably accommodate St. Dominic Academy for the foreseeable future.”
Parents raised concerns about moving the Catholic middle school from St. Dom’s to Holy Cross, citing plumbing and mold issues.
Additionally, more than 50 students withdrew from St. Dominic’s because of the move, according to St. Dominic Regional High School Board Member Susan Barton Young.
Young, whose son graduated from St. Dominic Academy, wants a new option for high school students, an independent Catholic high school in Lewiston-Auburn.
“Ideally, we would have loved to have seen an integrated K-12 Catholic school right here on the school that our community raised the funds to build,” Young said.
She’s happy the campus she loves will be used again.
“I am always pleased when a wonderful facility is being used for education, and super pleased that our K-8 kids have access to a healthier and larger facility,” Young said.
Ruggieri was traveling Wednesday and could not be reached.
“Beyond routine maintenance that would happen between school years, there is no major work needed at the Auburn campus,” a diocese spokesperson said.
The relocation over Christmas break also means students get an extra week of vacation.
The St. Dom’s high school closed at the end of the school year. A St. Dom’s school board is hoping to reopen the school in a different location, but there are currently no plans.