Two Lincoln schools are in need of long-term funding

A couple of catholic schools in Lincoln are struggling to secure funding.

Sacred Heart’s Catholic School, at 31st and S, was opened almost 100 years ago, but now the community’s help is needed to keep the doors open.

60% of students are currently enrolled in free or reduced lunch programs, and raising the cost of tuition is nearly impossible without losing families.

“As time has gone on, we have a lot more students who are free and reduced lunch, so we have to limit how much tuition we can charge to keep it affordable,” said Fr. Leo Kosch, Sacred Heart’s pastor.

A large portion of the students come from low income and diverse backgrounds.

Since discovering a $100,000 dollar budget shortfall last month, the sacred heart community responded in a big way.

“It’s really been exciting how the community has come together to support us,” said Fr. Kosch.

The school was able to raise enough funds to keep the doors open for the next three years.

But donations are still for years four, five and beyond.

At Saint Mary’s, near the state capitol building, Father Doug Dietrich has noticed a subtle decline in enrollment numbers over the past few decades.

“For the last twenty years, more and more families have been moving out of the neighborhood and we’ve also seen the income level come down. So we have fewer students but we still have the same costs for educating as we’ve always had.”

Dietrich says the school budget is facing a shortfall of around $150,000 dollars.

“The situation is at a critical point right now. We do need to find the money, and we do need to know how we are going to continue operating,” said Fr. Dietrich, Saint Mary’s pastor.

Both schools are okay for now, but donations are still needed for long term budget funding.

If you are interested in pledging a donation to Sacred Heart, you can do so by clicking on this link  www.myowngiving.com/Default.aspx?cid=1324 or by emailing Father Kosch on his personal email: fr.kosch@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate to Saint Mary’s, you can do so by emailing Father Dietrich here: Frdougdietrich@windstream.net.