WESTFIELD – It was announced during the press conference on March 29 that, as part of the future success of St. Mary’s Parish High School, a new Parish School Board would convene to map out the future of the 100+ year old school.
Monday evening April 23rd the reconstituted Parish School Board met and early Tuesday morning messages were left for Fr. Frank Lawlor, pastor, for information from that meeting.
After two days of attempting to reach Fr. Lawlor he fielded our inquiries Wednesday afternoon. When he was questioned about the results from the Monday meeting he said that he could not respond and that, “all comments must come from Mark Dupont at the diocesan communications office in Springfield.”
Questions to Fr. Lawlor about some basics of the new board, such as quantity of board members and names, he again stated that we needed to contact the diocese.
Repeated attempts to reach Mr. Dupont from the diocesan communications office for comment were never returned prior to press time.
Information The Westfield News was able to gather prior to the Monday meeting indicated that there had previously been nine members on the school board which included the principals from both the elementary and high schools and seven members of the community. The principals and two of the original nine returned.
A person within the parish, who requested to remain anonymous, indicated that Board members had been instructed by Fr. Lawlor not to speak to the press on Board matters.