RUMFORD — A lot of support exists for the Holy Savior School, which will turn 100 years old in 2012.

But even some of those people question whether the Parish of the Holy Savior can continue to support the pre K-through-grade-8 school that currently enrolls 56 youngsters.

Carlo Puiia, a member of the parish’s Finance Committee, said there are those among the congregation that believe the parish is too small to have a school.

“On the financial side, it’s becoming more and more difficult,” he said, adding, “Many feel Catholic education is important.”

“It’s a large expense for a small parish as enrollment has dropped.”

During the current school year, the parish has provided about $75,000 of the school’s nearly $300,000 budget, said the school’s teaching principal, Barbara Pelletier. The school itself has raised $77,000 from fundraisers.

Whether the school continues until its 100th birthday and beyond is not a decision of the local Finance Committee, Puiia said.

It will be decided by the Portland Diocese.

Next month, Pelletier, who has been teaching at the school for 38 years, will go before the Diocesan School Board to report on the status of the school and how the program is going. She will also present a three-year plan.

Her school is among several that will make a report to the bishop said Sister Rosemary Donahue, superintendent of the church’s schools throughout the state.

“There are no decisions. We look at all the schools — finances and enrollment — every few years. We are concerned with all of our schools,” she said. “There are some folks who would like to see it (Holy Savior School) closed.”

Donahue has received letters from people with that belief.

Pelletier, who is one of a teaching staff of seven, said children at Holy Savior receive individual attention and learn in small groups, and they learn to serve the community and to evangelize for the church. Many parents are strong supporters of the school and volunteer for myriad school events.

Part of Pelletier’s three-year plan includes establishing a scholarship committee to help raise funds for pupil tuition through alumni and other donations. Current tuition ranges from $1,656 to $2,534 for kindergarten children and $2,153 to $3,450 for older students contingent upon the use of weekly church donation envelopes. A marketing committee is also being set up to recruit more students.

She said the school, which accepts children of all denominations, is reaching out to home-schooled youngsters who may need one or two subjects not taught at home. Holy Savior also works with public schools to offer programs, such as special education, to the church school’s students.

She believes a church-sponsored school is important to maintaining and advancing the Catholic faith and the local church.

“Our faith has to be taught” she said.

“We are being hopeful. There’s a lot of support for our school, more than against it,” she said.

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