'Severe budget deficits:' Several Catholic schools in Brooklyn to close, merge

Some major changes are in store as several Catholic academies in the borough are set to close or merge at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.
Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Academy in Mill Basin is one of the three Catholic academies closing their doors.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Academy is also among one of the schools closing, as well as another school in Queens.
Meanwhile Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy and Saint Brigid Catholic Academy will merge effective for the 2019-2020 school year.
The new school will be located at St. Brigid's in Bushwick and will be called St. Brigid-St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Academy.
School officials say declining enrollment and the severe budget deficits are the reasons that decision was made.
News 12 is told students at the affected schools will be accommodated at nearby Catholic academies and as long as they've met all their financial obligations, they'll received a $500 tuition assistance grant if they attend an academy or parish school within the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The superintendent called the situation an emotional time, adding these decisions came after intense analysis. 
Parents tell News 12 they found out about the closing at a board meeting last week.
"We asked them if a tuition increase would help. I kid you not, the whole meeting everyone was just sitting there like, 'The school is closed, there's nothing you can do," says Christ Dabel, a parent at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Academy.
News 12 is told information meetings will be held this week.
Parents rallied together Monday night in Flatlands, trying to think up what they can do to save the schools and considering the responsibilities they are willing to take up to raise money for them.