In an e-mail to school families on Friday, May 27, St. Augustine Preparatory School President, Father Paul Galetto, announced that his tenure is ending on June 30.
He said he had been informed of the decision on May 25 by Father Anthony Genovese, OSA, who is the chairman of the Board of Directors of the school as well as the Provincial Superior of the Augustinian Order.
“While I strongly disagree with this course of action, I acknowledge that Father Genovese has the authority to make this decision,” Father Galetto said. “As President of the Prep I have made decisions with which others have not agreed.”
The school’s Board of Directors, who stated they did not take part in Father Genovese’s decision, were set to meet last Thursday, to ascertain the reason for Father Galetto’s departure.
Support among the school community for Father Galetto has built, with a Parents Rally at the Prep, with the Austin Society (Mothers’ Club) and Men of the Prep (Fathers’ Club), taking place on Thursday, June 2, the day of the Board of Directors meeting.
A student rally is planned for Friday, June 17.
A 1974 graduate of St. Augustine Prep, Father Galetto returned as a teacher in 1982 and had served at the Richland school as president starting since 1998.
Under Father Galetto, the school completed a 14,000 square-foot arts and sciences building, and, most recently, a 100,000 square-foot, $21 million complex that houses a chapel, science labs, school offices, a gym, and swimming pool.
Thanking teachers, staff, parents, students, alumni and benefactors, and the Augustinian community, Father Galetto noted, “If I have offended anyone, I apologize. It has always been my intention to treat everyone with respect and love.”
He ended the letter by writing that he believes “many great things were accomplished in my time here at the Prep and I had plans for many more. I am sorry that I will not be able to see them to fruition.”
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