Senator Hoylman-Sigal & Electeds' Letter to Guardian Angels School

Dear Archbishop Dolan and Superintendent Deegan: 

We are writing to you as elected officials who represent the west side of Manhattan, where Guardian Angels School is located. We recently heard from parents of children at Guardian Angels following the sudden announcement that their school was slated for closure at the end of the academic year. We are writing to urge you to meet with the Guardian Angels parents to provide them with answers and information, as well as hear their proposals. 

Guardian Angels has been an important institution in the Chelsea community for over 100 years. The school serves middle-class families, many of whom have been attending Guardian Angels for generations. The school has one of the lowest tuitions in the Archdiocese, ensuring accessibility for low-income families who want to attend a Catholic school. 89% of the school’s student body identify as people of color, and the school serves as an inclusive space for children to learn. 

This sudden announcement of the school’s impending closure late in the year has left families with few options. The deadline for applying public schools has already passed, and they have been left with only weeks to explore their options for other Catholic schools. These other school options have significantly higher tuitions, and families have not been provided with assurance that they will receive financial aid or assistance with transportation. 

We would like to schedule a meeting with the Archdiocese and families so that the families can be heard and provided with information. Please contact Senator Hoylman-Sigal's office at 212-633-8052 to help schedule this meeting. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. 

Sincerely,

Brad Hoylman-Sigal, State Senator, District 47
Jerrold Nadler, Congressmember, District 12 
Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President
Tony Simone, Assemblymember, District 75
Erik Bottcher, Councilmember, District 3