If Villa Future is a supporting organization, who does it support?
Villa Future is a corporation set up to recieve charitable donations. Currently, tax exempt status and recognition as a NH Charitable Organization have been requested and are pending. We expect that both of these requests will be approved, retroactively to the filing dates. Villa Future's corporate status is as a supporting organization to St. Claudine Villa Academy, which is also expected to recieve tax exempt status. St. Claudine Villa Academy has been established to recieve the school assets of Villa Augustina School upon completion of a successful transition process.

Will the Villa Augustina be open for the 2008-2009 academic year?
We are more optimistic than ever that the Villa Augustina will be open not only this fall but for decades to come. This is the expressed desire of the Religious of Jesus and Mary (see RJM proposal under announcements), and the determined aim of the Transition Team and all of the parents, faculty and Villa community it represents.

Will the Villa Augustina remain a Catholic School?
Yes. The new Governance of the school will be by a new board of trustees that will be comprised primarily of lay persons. It is our strong desire that the Villa remain a Catholic school in the spirit and charism of the Religious of Jesus and Mary and St. Claudine. As always the Villa will dedicate itself to teaching children of all denominations and backgrounds.

Can a school be Catholic without religious community-affiliated governance?
Yes. Many Catholic schools throughout the country and in New Hampshire, including Mount Royal Academy in Newport, New Hampshire, operate as Catholic Schools, founded, funded and governed entirely by laypersons. Certain basic requirements spelled out by the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office must be met in order for a school to be recognized by the Bishop as Catholic. The Villa presently meets these requirements and will continue to do so.

Can the Villa become a Diocesan School?
At present this opportunity does not exist, nor is it necessarily the most advantageous way forward. The Villa is not affiliated with a parish, nor was it established as a regional diocesan school. Like Saint Anselm College, Bishop Guertin and other New Hampshire schools, the Villa was founded as an apostolate of a religious order. It will retain the independence it has had for the past ninety years while continuing to be recognized as a Catholic school.

What about the nuns who presently work at the Villa Augustina?
While they are subject to the will of their order,the four RJMs who presently serve at the Villa, Sisters Jeanine, Pauline, Therese and Diane, have expressed their heartfelt desire and intention to remain in loving service to The Villa Augustina for as long as their health permits.

Doesn’t the fate of the Villa ultimately depend on the state courts?
No. What does depend upon the New Hampshire courts is the disbursement of properties and assets. Court decisions may impact what the school looks like in the future, but many factors will shape the Villa’s future, and none more so than the determination, generosity and faith of the current Villa community. Media coverage “12/20 Probate Court must decide.” (see Media Coverage section of this site) makes clear, the Villa Augustina School is part of a charitable trust, so any transference of property and/or governance of this trust necessarily comes under the jurisdiction of the state courts. However, clear agreement between the RJMs and the school’s representatives (The Leadership Transition Team), will, we hope, facilitate a more expedient decision by the courts.

Who is the Leadership Team?
The five-member Villa Augustina Leadership Transition Team was chosen at a public meeting on December 18th. For more detailed information, see the Leadership Team section of this site.

What if the Villa doesn’t stay open?
We are determined and quite hopeful that this will not be the case. But in the event that that occurs, the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office staff has expressed its willingness to work collaboratively with the Villa community to help families transition to other Catholic schools. The superintendent would also do everything possible to assist Villa faculty and staff. All monies raised in the capital campaign effort are escrowed and would be returned to the original donors.

What about the baseball fields?
The most recent proposal from the Religious of Jesus and Mary states their intention to keep the land with the baseball fields within the RJM corporation and continue to lease them to Goffstown Junior Baseball for $1.00 a year.

Why do the RJMs want to close the Villa?
The RJMs stated that they are unable to be administratively and financially responsible for the School after June 2008. Many parents expressed a desire to keep the school open and the RJMs have said they would be willing to entertain proposals. That process in underway and we believe that we will be successful in keeping the Villa open for many years to come.

Is the Villa financially viable?
Yes, the Villa has both cash reserves and an operating budget that is manageable. The key to our future financial success is twofold. First, we must maintain and over time increase enrollment because the Villa’s budget, like most other schools, includes a significant amount of fixed costs. Secondly, we must be able to raise money through donations to help pay for capital improvements. This will help keep tuition rates at a reasonable level.

How can I donate to the Legal Fund?
You can send a check made payable to “Villa Augustina Legal Fund”. The Villa has set up an escrow fund to be used to pay legal costs incurred during the transition. These legal costs are for an attorney to represent us in proceedings with the Probate Court. The Court must ensure all assets of a charity (Villa Augustina is a not for profit organization which falls under their jurisdiction) are properly used for the stated charitable purpose. Any donations not used for Legal purposes will be transferred to the Villa Future Legal Fund.

How can I donate to the Villa Augustina Capital Fund?
Please click on the red "Donate to the Villa" button on this web site.