The current chapter in the saga of the fight to reopen St. Margaret’s over in Tappahannock came to an end last week, as Judge John Martin dismissed the lawsuit filed against the Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia (CSDV), ruling that the Foundation for St. Margaret’s School (FSMS) did not have standing to sue.

While Judge Martin ruled in favor of the CSDV, he recognized that the closure of St. Margaret’s, which had been operating for 104 years before its sudden closure in July of 2025, was not only “a great loss to its students, faculty, and employees,” but that it “will certainly have a negative impact on the Town of Tappahannock.”

Although the lawsuit was dismissed, the FSMS made it clear they were merely down, not out, stating in a press release that “while we respect the ruling, we believe the important legal question of standing warrants closer examination, and we are actively evaluating all options, including an appeal, to ensure our donors, alumnae, and students have their day in court.”

The whole affair began back in October of 2024, when the CSDV informed the St. Margaret’s School Board of Governors that it had to raise $2.6 million for a “cash test” in order to issue employment and enrollment contracts for the next academic year. The school met the goal thanks to pledges and donations, allowing the contracts to be issued.

The CSDV, however, tipped its hand when it publicly doubted that the school would enroll 79 students by the fall or collect its pledges by June 30, in spite of indicators to the contrary. This behavior by the CSDV, which some might even call sabotage, continued through June, with the CSDV imposing more conditions and restrictions. Ultimately, the CSDV Board voted to close the school, with all but the two representatives from St. Margaret’s voting to do so. This led to the lawsuit in December that was ultimately thrown out by Judge Martin last week.

In the aftermath of the ruling, the FSMS said their long-standing commitment had been to welcome and support all students, not just those from affluent backgrounds, while embracing learners with a wide range of needs.

“From all evidence, CSDV saw this support of higher-need students as a weakness. We see it as a true Christian calling,” the FSMS continued in their statement, noting that the school had been welcoming refugee girls from Afghanistan and Ukraine to the campus on full scholarships in recent years, without any subsidizing from the Diocese.

“A diverse student body with financial need is not a liability—it is a testament to what St. Margaret’s stands for, and what CSDV should stand for.”

It remains to be seen exactly what the CSDV Board has in mind for the campus, which sits idle and uninhabited. The CSDV seems to have no interest in seeing the school reopened, as a $6 million offer from a friend of the campus to buy it from the CSDV was dismissed last year after the closure.

“Should the CSDV move forward with a sale, critical questions demand answers: Who will purchase these Virginia landmarks and athletic fields woven into our neighborhoods, and for what purpose?” asked the FSMS Board. “For years, decisions affecting St. Margaret’s have been made without meaningful input from or accountability to the people of Tappahannock, and CSDV’s track record gives us little confidence that our community’s interests will be protected.”

The FSMS reaffirmed its commitment to trying to get the school reopened. “We believe there is still a place for a safe, nurturing, all-girls school where every student’s potential is cultivated. We will continue this fight not out of bitterness, but out of love for the school, this community, and the students and donors who gave St. Margaret’s its soul.”