CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. -
North Country parents are angry that The St. Mary's Academy in Champlain, New York is closing.
On Friday, a meeting with church leaders did not end well.
After an emotional meeting at St. Mary's Church, parents were upset after they were told to leave.
"There's no way to treat people like that. I don't agree. I don't agree," says Nathalie Pie, whose daughter attends school.
Pie and other parents had come here with questions for church leaders about why St. Mary's Academy was closing.
"To have good answers. To know the truth about it," says Pie.
Before the sudden end, parents listened to St. Mary's priest, Father James Delbel, blame the school's closure on a lack of money. The Catholic school had been open for more than 100 years.
Parents were upset because they had raised more than $100,000 to keep the school open. When a big donor backed out, Eric Huberdeau said he was willing to write a check to close the $50,000 gap.
"Because I have three of my kids that come to this school," says Huberdeau.
But the church says it can't rely on unpredictable fundraiser's to close budget gaps every year. When parents argued, they were told the meeting was over and the school was closing.
"The motivation to come here was really the values in the school," says Pie.
While the fight continues to keep the academy open, Pie has already found a new school for her daughter, though it won't be religious.
"She won't get what she used to have over here," says Pie.
A new effort is aimed at church higher up's in hopes of convincing the bishop of the diocese to keep the school open. We reached out to Bishop LaValley but have yet to hear back.
