While this news is sad, I would like to say that this decision has been the conclusion of discussions between myself as Parochial Administrator, Mrs. Cassie Okey (the leader of the school), Kari Kelley (Director of the Daycare for Little Chargers Daycare), and the St. Charles Parish Council. We are all in agreement that this is the right decision for the Montessori School.  

Despite the sadness of closing of the school, the closing will bring about a number of benefits: 

• The daycare has 9 babies enrolled under one-year old, 13 children between the ages of one and four, and 12 children older than four-years old interested in after-school care. It is clear that Cassville has a demand for the daycare and not for the school. We are making a big impact with the daycare, and this is only our first year.  

• Adequate staffing for daycare can be difficult. The daycare would gain two qualified teachers to support daycare operations. 

• The daycare will become more financially sustainable due to the inclusion of the three-year-olds.   

• At school, students should be learning throughout the day. Therefore, the expectation to have 2 teachers is needed for the school. In daycare, the expectations are relaxed so a three-year-old room could manage with 1 teacher. 

 • There is the saving of expenses without a principal.  

• It will no longer be necessary to follow both school rules for Diocese of Madison and daycare rules for the State of Wisconsin.  

• Cassie can assist Kari should Kari need additional leadership help with the daycare. 

In conclusion, while Fr. Mark, Fr. Sudhakar, and I would like to keep all of our schools going as long as we have the money, the teachers, and the students, it has become clear to me, Mrs. Cassie Okey, Mrs. Kari Kelley, and the St. Charles Parish Council that the Montessori School should close due to lack of enrollment. We want to thank everyone who has participated in the support of the school, especially Mrs. Cassie Okey, who has done a wonderful job over the past two years trying to reinvent the school as a Montessori School. We know that this decision is tough, but we believe that with the school closing, we can make Little Chargers Daycare even stronger and have a good, positive, and big influence on life in Cassville. Mrs. Cassie Okey, Mrs. Kari Kelley, the St. Charles Parish Council, and I will be available after Mass on Saturday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the school to answer any further questions that you might have. 

Thank you for your patience and may God bless you, 

Fr. Steve Brunner                                                                                                                                                        Parochial Administrator