The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is expected to publicly announce the findings of its blue-ribbon commission on education during a 4 p.m. news conference on Friday, Jan. 6.
Earlier that day, from 10 a.m. to noon, the 16-member commission will release its recommendations in front of parish pastors and school presidents and principals during a meeting at Neumann University in Aston, Delaware County.
Those administrators presumably will have time to reveal the information to staff and students before the news conference. The recommendations will be posted online that day.
The Rev. Charles J. Chaput, archbishop of Philadelphia, will review the findings. He recently wrote a letter that was read at Mass that “many” schools in Philadelphia and the suburbs might have to close or combine because of declining enrollment.
There are 156 archdiocesan schools in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Seventeen of those schools are in the Northeast.
Since 2003, the archdiocese has closed five local schools: Mater Dolorosa and St. Joachim in Frankford, St. Bartholomew in Wissinoming, St. Leo in Tacony and St. Bernard in East Mayfair.
There are 17 archdiocesan high schools. North Catholic and Cardinal Dougherty closed in 2010. ••
