Artwork by a then-eigth grader, Martian Binonwagon, at St. Catherine School on Kauai in April 2020. The student drew the artwork as part of an exercise for Art with Mrs. Margie Anderson. (Courtesy photo)
By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Due to a large budget shortfall and low enrollment in several grades, St. Catherine School in Kauai laid off four employees on Feb. 16.
Diocese of Honolulu human resources director Dara Perreira was on hand that day to announce that two teachers and two teacher’s aides were let go to help make up a projected $300,000 budget deficit for the school’s fiscal year.
Principal Shirley Kauahi, who has been St. Catherine School’s leader since taking over mid-academic year from interim principal Dominican Sister Gina Senapilo, had let school staff know the previous Friday of the expected layoffs to lower expenses.
Since the fifth through eighth grades had low enrollment this year, the school created dual grades 5-6 and 7-8 as of Feb. 22. Because of that, St. Catherine School laid off middle school teachers Bradley Williamson and Elen Verzosa.
“It was a very difficult decision to make after a lot of prayer and reflection,” Kauahi said in a Feb. 16 email to faculty and staff. “Both are outstanding teachers and have contributed to St. Catherine School in so many ways. I appreciate their talent and dedication to our school.”
Teacher’s aides Gabriel Ballesteros and Toalua Lavea-Fernandez also lost their jobs. All four employees’ last day at school was Feb. 18, and a small farewell gathering was held that day.
“The school is doing everything it can to make ends meet and still provide the quality education and attention to the development of the ‘whole child,’ which all our students and their families deserve,” said Hawaii Catholic Schools superintendent Llewellyn Young in an email to the Hawaii Catholic Herald. “The administration remains optimistic for the immediate future of St. Catherine School.”
“The pandemic challenged our school and parish in ways that we’ve never seen before,” wrote Father Nick Apetorgbor, who has been St. Catherine Parish’s pastor since July 2021, in a Feb. 16 letter to the school community.
He cited increased expenses, lower-than-expected enrollment, and several administration changes in the past few years “adding to an already complex situation.”
Father Apetorgbor, who is a priest of the Diocese of Damongo, Ghana, asked for the parish and school community’s assistance.
“We need our entire community to help our school in every way possible to make ends meet for this year,” he wrote. “In the days and weeks ahead, we will be reaching out to you with more information on how you can support St. Catherine School and make a positive difference in the lives of our students and families.”
Young recently spoke with Father Apetorgbor who told him “the community is committed to helping the school financially.” The pastor plans to create an ad hoc parish subcommittee to help fundraise for the school “while showcasing the quality education and good work that everyone at the school is producing.”
St. Catherine School opened in 1946 with kindergarten through fourth-grade classes and gradually added on higher grades. It opened a preschool in 1984. A short-lived virtual high school started in 2016.
