Savio Preparatory High School

St. Dominic Savio Preparatory High School, formerly St. Dominic Savio High School, was a Roman Catholic high school located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The school was founded in 1958 and closed in 2007.

St. Dominic Savio Preparatory High School
Address
145 Byron Street

,
02128

United States
Information
School typeHigh school
MottoPotius Mori Quam Foedari
(Death before Dishonor)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic, Salesians of Don Bosco
Patron saint(s)St. Dominic Savio
Established1958
FounderFr. Joseph Caselli, S.D.B.
StatusDefunct
Closed2007
School districtArchdiocese of Boston
PrincipalAnders Peterson (2007)
Grades9–12
GenderMale only (1958–1993), coeducational (1993–2007)
Student to teacher ratio1:14 (2001)
Campus typeUrban
Color(s)Red and White     followed by Maroon and gold   
SportsFootball, Baseball, Cross Country, Basketball, Hockey, Track
NicknameDom Savio
Team nameSpartans
NewspaperThe Spartan Forum
YearbookThe Spartan
Websitehttp://www.savioprep.org/ [dead link]

History

edit

The school was founded as an all-boys school in 1958 by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a Catholic religious order.[1][2] Alumnus Paul Abbott recalled a day when the student body voted on whether the school should add football or hockey as a new sport:

It was 1970, the Bobby Orr era in Boston, so we chose hockey.[2]

In 1993, the Salesians of Don Bosco closed Savio, but an alumni group led by Peter J. Bagley redesigned an education strategy, convert to a coeducational preparatory school and leased a portion of the property.[3]

New direction

edit

From 1995 to 2005, Savio Prep's enrollment grew to over 400 co-ed students. In 2003, a former athletic director pleaded guilty to molesting three female athletes, and in 2006 a former wrestling coach pleaded guilty to raping two students and hazing three others. Enrollment declined and finances became tight.[3]

School closed

edit

At the end of the 2006–2007 school year, the Salesian owners of the building did not renew the lease, citing the deteriorating condition of the building and lack of funds to repair it.[3] Concerned parents and alumni began meeting to discuss ways to keep the school open. The group called themselves "Save Our Savio,"[3] but could never muster enough funding or support to find the school a new location. It was clear that 2006–2007 had been the last St. Dominic Savio school year.

The building now houses the Edward W. Brooke Charter School. An addition has been built on the site of the former Salesian residence.[4]

Demographics

edit
Year Enrollment Religious

Employees

Lay

Employees

Total

Employees

1970s–1980s 440 9 n/a n/a
2000 381[5] 4 39 43
2001 400[6] 4 45 49
2002 392[3] n/a n/a n/a
2003 n/a 3 n/a n/a
2004 n/a 1 n/a n/a
2007 165[3] 1 n/a n/a

Heads of school

edit
Director Years Headmaster/Principal Years
Fr. Joseph Caselli, S.D.B.[1] 1958–? unknown 1958–74
unknown ?–1969
Fr. Albert Sofia, S.D.B.[7] 1969–72
Fr. Albert Sofia, S.D.B. 1971–73 Fr. Joseph Santa Bibiana, S.D.B. 1971–73
unknown 1974 Fr. Donald Zarkoski, S.D.B. 1974–81
Fr. Earl R. Bissonnette, S.D.B. 1975-1980
Fr. Jonathan D. Parks, S.D.B[8] 1981–98
unknown 1993–2000
Edward Minor[6] 2000–01 William P. Sullivan[6] 2000–01
unknown 2001–07 unknown 2001–06
Anders Peterson[2] 2006–07

Notable alumni

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Province of St. Phillip History 1945-1973" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b c "Facing its Demise, Tiny Savio Fights On". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Savio Shuts Down". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  4. ^ Mike, Fr (2013-03-02). "From the Eastern Front: Former Dom Savio Building to Be Sold". From the Eastern Front. Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  5. ^ "2000 Dom Savio Preparatory High School Yearbook". www.classmates.com. Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  6. ^ a b c "2001 Dom Savio Preparatory High School Yearbook". www.classmates.com. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  7. ^ "Obit Fr. Sofia". www.eastboston.com. Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  8. ^ Fr. Michael Mendl, S.D.B. "Fr. Jonathan D. Parks, Salesian, former principal of St. Dominic Savio H.S. has died". Eastboston.com.