Diocese to close Mission School at Hays for a year

The Great Falls-Billings Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church is closing a more-than-a-century-old school in Hays due to staffing shortages with the hopes of reopening it a year later.

A letter from Bishop Michael Warfel to parents, parishioners and community members of St. Paul Mission Grade School, forwarded to Havre Daily News, says the school will stay open through May but not reopen next fall.

“Our hope is we can reorganize the school and reopen in the following year,” Warfel wrote in the letter.

The diocese had not responded to a request for comment by printing deadline this mo...