Bishop Larry Maze, chairman of All Saints’ Episcopal School Board of Trustees, watches as the school’s rector, the Rev. Bill Martin, high-fives seventh-grader John Myers Wednesday shortly after the board announced its decision to keep the school open for at least one more year.(Melanie Duncan ThortisThe Vicksburg Post)

All Saints’ Episcopal School will stay open at least another academic year, officials decided Wednesday after hearing pleas from parents and alumni at the school’s monthly board meeting.

“We were jumping up and down and clapping like kids,” said fine arts teacher Cate Brown. “We’re ecstatic.”

Trustees of the boarding and day school on Confederate Avenue in Vicksburg are 20 clergy and laymen from the Louisiana, West Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas dioceses. Their decision to reverse their previous vote to close in May was unanimous.

“Without the enthusiasm of the parents’ group we would not have been encouraged to make this step,” said board chairman Bishop Larry Maze of the Diocese of Arkansas.

A group of about 20 parents, alumni and friends of the school organized last month to rally and help raise money for the school founded as a girls’ college in 1908.

“We need the financial support of the whole All Saints’ family,” Bishop Maze said.

He said the school must raise $750,000 and increase enrollment to 90 students from the current 83.

The board also voted to raise tuition by 15 percent, up from the $18,300 a year for boarding students and $5,000 a year for day st

udents.

The Rev. Bill Martin, rector, had announced to students and faculty Jan. 20 that the school would have to close at the end of this school year. Although enrollment has been rising, the school’s endowment has been taking a beating in financial markets, and operations were headed into the red. The 83 students contrast with 188 enrolled 20 years ago.

“The mutual energy of the alumni, parents and friends began to show and was infectious,” Martin said Wednesday. “The board saw the hope they had for the school. We’re deeply grateful to the parents, alumni and the local support of people who wouldn’t give up on this school,” he said.

James Carter of Ridgeland, an alumnus and a member of the parents’ group, said this morning that the students, parents, board and faculty will work together over the next year to raise the $750,000.

He said parents will meet with Martin soon to devise a plan for the fund raising.

Teachers, parents and students expressed cries of joy and relief at hearing the news of the reprieve.

“This is the best news because there’s no other school like this,” said 15-year-old eighth-grader Stuart Foote.

Eighteen-year-old Heather Mills said though she’ll graduate this year, she is happy about the decision.

“There are so many kids here who have a bright future, I feel really glad they’re staying open,” she said.

“It’s the best decision they could make,” said physical education teacher Pam Piazza. “It’s the only decision they could make.”

Alexis Frisbee has a son enrolled in the school and said the parents’ organization is ready for the challenge to keep All Saints’ open.

“The board has promised 100 percent participation,” she said. “I think they have risen to the occasion and are the leaders they should be.”