Saint Francis alumni meet and are still hopeful

Despite the news of its upper grades closing at the end of the school year, Saint Francis School alumni remain hopeful they might be able to save the 94-year-old institution.

But many were upset with the announcement and that the Catholic school’s board of directors failed to inform them sooner of its financial troubles, which they were told Thursday had been going on for 1-1/2 to two years.

“It caught us off-guard. It’s a sad situation because it’s a part of all of us,” said Sister Frances Therese Souza, a 1961 graduate. “The thought that keeps coming to us is why didn’t they let us know sooner, because if they did, we would have helped. We want to try and help … save it.”

The board announced Monday it will close grades 7-12 due, in part, to the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Neumann Communities’ inability to continue to financially assist the school. And if enrollment goals are not met, the board said it will permanently cease operations for all grade levels.

Souza said board Chairman Randall Yee told the group of alumni gathered at the campus that $2 million would help, but there would be continual help needed.

“We’re like OK,” she said. “Everybody’s willing. … He intimated it might save the high school, too.”

Yee said he will get back to the group within a few days with an actual figure, but it would likely be more than $2 million.

Souza said the Class of 1961 had set up an endowment fund, making them donors, and therefore should have been informed.

Yee said only a handful of the classes have endowment funds and that it amounts to only $168,000, which goes primarily to scholarships.

There are 30 to 35 teachers who will lose their jobs next year when the school plans to eliminate grades 7 to 12 and retain prekindergarten to grade 6. Additional positions also may be cut, he said.

The total budget for the school from grades pre-K to 12 is about $5 million annually, Yee said.

By eliminating the upper six grade levels, it would save $2 million annually, he said.

In the past, classes were predominantly taught by nuns.

“My understanding is when the nuns taught, they really didn’t get paid — clearly a much lower employee cost,” Yee said. “Now there are no nuns.”

There were differing opinions on going coed (the first coed class graduated in 2013) and a new emphasis on its athletics program.

Souza, a nurse and a member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Neumann Communities, said when the school shifted to sports as a focus, “they sacrificed the financial sustainability because scholarship assistance was going to the (student athletes).”

She would like to see a return to an emphasis on academics.

Kanakolu Noa, 36, a 2000 grad, said the board waited too long to inform alumni.

She said in order to succeed, the board will need a change in mindset regarding fundraising, and partnerships, both public and private, including businesses and partner schools. She questioned some decisions such as the fundraising committee being told not to call major donors.

She said the person heading the board’s fundraising committee had not done much and had been in the role for only a year.

Noa said the decision not to tell the community sooner for fear parents and students would get nervous was not in the school’s best interest.

“That’s when you activate the community,” said Noa, a former teacher and current manager of strategy development at Kamehameha Schools.

Noa said the school could have reached out to Hawaii Independent Schools. She said Saint Louis School and Damien Memorial School also went through similar situations.

“This is not a new thing in our community,” she said.

The school’s mission includes serving the underprivileged.

Sister Rose Annette Ahuna, Class of 1948, taught biology at the school for 16 years.

“I hope the alumni will continue to be supportive,” the 88-year-old said. “As our mission, following Mother Marianne Cope’s mission is helping everyone, regardless of their religion or nationality.”

The school, licensed as St. Francis Training School on Sept. 19, 1924, opened with one student. Its mission was to train girls in nursing.

“We are all visibly upset and shaken to the core,” said Teuila Tavaese, 28, 2008 grad, who with others streamed the meeting live on social media for other alumni.

“Saint Francis people are not afraid of hard work,” she said. “We are used to creating a lot out of a little. We’ll make the best out of what we have, regardless of the obstacles or challenges that stand in our way.”

But others on campus, like girls varsity softball and boys football assistant coach Moku Huihui, who is a parent of an eighth-grader, said he didn’t attend any meetings.

“At the end of the day, I can’t do nothing,” he said. “I got to find a school for my daughter. I’m just going to embrace the memories we made here as a football and softball coach.”

He told his daughter “she needs to not focus on what’s happening and keep the academic strong. She’s an honor roll student (and a softball player).”

Huihui also talked to the softball team.

“I just told them we gotta stay focused. … We decided we’re going to win it all.”

Zayla Sismar-Evangelista, 17, a senior who is on the volleyball and basketball teams, said, “A lot of students come here for the athletics. That’s what brings us together.”

She said some juniors already are planning to leave for other schools, both public and private.

Trisadee Kahunahana, 15, a sophomore who plays basketball, said, “It’s going to be tough.”

She said the players are concerned about Interscholastic League of Honolulu rules concerning redshirting if they transfer to another school, and have not been told what will happen.

“I’m going to miss the people. Sad we’ve been together for two years. I wanted to spend all my high school years with them.”

Colson Kekahuna-Fernandez, 12, a sixth-grader, said, “I’m sad I couldn’t stay and graduate because I met so much nice friends and they helped me a lot.”

“The teachers are always kind. They care. They’re being nice to us.”

ASSISTANCE FOR SAINT FRANCIS STUDENTS

>> Saint Francis School fair: Jan. 19, 9-11 a.m.

>> St. Andrew’s Schools: Offering an $85 waiver on application fee and on SSAT testing requirement

>> Mid-Pacific Institute: Offering a $125 waiver on application fee