Archdiocese to hear Catholic school closure appeals

CENTER CITY - January 12, 2012 (WPVI) -- Supporters will make their case to save several Catholic schools on Thursday that are slated for closure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

Two review committees will oversee the appeals process during closed meetings.

One panel will hear cases for the four high schools on the closure list, while the other will accept appeals for the 45 elementary schools.

Archbishop Charles Chaput will then make a final decision, which will be made public by mid-February.

Since the list of schools targeted for closure or consolidation was made public last week, students, teachers and parents have been holding demonstrations at their schools protesting the decision.

On Thursday morning, the Action Cam was there as students and teachers lined up outside Our Lady of Ransom in Northeast Philadelphia.

Officials in the archdiocese say declining enrollments are forcing the closures, which will displace almost 24,000 students.

The archdiocese's student enrollment is down 35 percent since 2001.

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