Population changes in Pittsburgh have led to the closure of many schools, including the St. Rosalia School in Greenfield by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2018.
Even famous alum Mike McCarthy — current Dallas Cowboys head coach, who famously beat his hometown Steelers as head coach of the Packers in Super Bowl XLV — couldn’t save it, despite raising thousands of dollars to support the school over the years.
But this building is going to see new life soon, and the hope is that it will continue as a school for generations to come. Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh purchased the former St. Rosalia school campus in June, with plans for a $9 million capital campaign to renovate it as the new home for the Yeshiva boys school.
In late November, Yeshiva Schools received a $2.5 million grant from the Charles M. Morris Charitable Trust. On Dec. 6, Yeshiva received a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the state for $2 million.
The grant will support the renovation of the 48,000-square-foot facility which has been empty for many years. The plan is for 17 classrooms, along with science labs, multidisciplinary facilities, a gym, an auditorium, as well as common gathering spaces.
“We’d like to thank Governor Wolf, Senator Jay Costa, the legislature, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, and our local elected officials for this grant,” says Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum, CEO and Head of School for Yeshiva Schools. “Their support of our school’s educational mission and future empowers us to continue providing quality education to our students.”
Yeshiva Schools has provided Jewish education for Pittsburgh since 1943. They currently serve about 200 families and 450 students, providing both Judaic and general studies. Improvements are also planned for their longtime school buildings on Wightman Street and Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill.