A former Catholic school closed for over a decade may be filled with people again after a New Jersey city council voted to acquire the property.
Vineland City Council agreed on Wednesday to purchase property belonging to the Christ of the Good Shepard Parish. Included in the property is Sacred Heart High School, a former institution overseen by the Diocese of Camden.
The city on Thursday declined to comment further on the acquisition, adding that the sale is not fully complete.
Reports say city officials have pondered turning the building into a community center. Doing so would repurpose the school that closed in 2013 despite several attempts to keep it open.
By purchasing the parish property for $1.25 million, Vineland acquires the school and the alumni building, according to Wednesday’s ordinance. It was unclear Thursday when the sale would be finalized.
The school closed in 2013 after facing mounting financial challenges and enrollment decline, forcing parents to use other options for private education.
Twice over the last decade, the Diocese planned to shut down the school, stoking a groundswell of support from alumni to save it through donations. About $1.2 million was collected.
About 168 students were enrolled at Sacred Heart around the time it closed. Twenty-three incoming students were to replace 52 graduating seniors at the time it closed.
A message from NJ Advance Media left for the diocese for comment on the sale was not immediately returned Thursday.
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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
