Jewish day school Talmud Torah in St. Paul could close

The board that runs a Jewish day school in St. Paul will meet this week to discuss whether the school should close.

Administrators at Talmud Torah say enrollment has sunk to 91 students this year, which might not be sustainable for next year.

But principal Sara Lynn Newberger says some parents started fund-raising efforts in the weeks after closure was first discussed.

"The board decision at the end of March was that we needed 70 students by the end of April, or they were going to have to close the school," Newberger said. "In the interim, there's now the possibility of a third choice -- something smaller than 70 and keep the school open. That will be considered by our board this coming Wednesday evening."

Even if the school does stay open, it won't have seventh or eighth grade next year because of a previous board decision to cut those grades.

Newberger says closing the school would be a notable loss for St. Paul's Jewish community.

"It allows students to see their Judaism as part of their lives, as opposed to something that they do; I go to school here and go to Jewish school here. This is all one thing, and that's an important option," she said.