Catholic school damaged by Florida hurricanes will close permanently

St. John Vianney Catholic School in St. Pete Beach, Florida, will permanently close at the end of the school year because of damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

WFLA-TV reports that the campus has been closed to students since Hurricane Helene brought flooding on Sept. 27 and caused critical damage to its electrical, HVAC, roofing, and structural systems.

Students have had their classes moved to three locations since October, including Cathedral School of St. Jude, the Pastoral Center, and St. Petersburg Catholic High School.

St. John Vianney is in its 74th year and has 250 students, pre-K through 8, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reports.

Parish leaders say they have explored multiple options, including building a new school, but the ideas were deemed not practical and the decision was instead made to close the school permanently.

"Our church and school, all 14 buildings, suffered catastrophic damage from either 14 inches to over four feet of water," said Janet Czyszczon, the school's director of advancement and engagement. "Unfortunately, over 95% of all of the contents were ruined in every building."

Until the end of the 2024-25 academic year, St. John and St. Jude will operate as two schools on one campus. Next year, St. John Vianney students and faculty will be folded into the Cathedral School of St. Jude as permanent students under a single school.

In a letter to families, Bishop Gregory Parkes wrote:

“Though I am saddened by the impact of these storms on our community, I find great hope in the future of a united school community that will continue to provide an exceptional, faith-filled Catholic education for our young people.“