Schools

Nativity BVM Supports Blue Ribbon Recommendation, Not St. John's Appeal

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has heard appeals from several of the Delaware County Catholic schools in the area.

Several Delaware County Catholic schools recommended to close or merge by the Blue Ribbon Commisson have appealed the recommendation to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput is expected to make his final decisions Feb. 15.

St. John Chrysostom in Wallingford appealed the Commission's recommendation to close the school and merge with at the Media facility on Jan. 17, according to The Delaware County Daily Times.

Find out what's happening in Mediawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Earlier this month, the .

St. John Chrysostom is not appealing the merger but appealing the move to the Media facility, according to the Times, saying their facility is better equipped for the merger over Nativity's facility.

Find out what's happening in Mediawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Times recently reported that school officials from both St. John's and Nativity are onboard with the St. John's appeal and agree the new regional school should be located at the Wallingford facility. However, Nativity officials told Patch that is incorrect and said they have asked the Delco Times to correct their misinformation immediately.

According to a Nativity representative, the entire Nativity BVM community— pastor, principal, parish and school—fully support the Blue Ribbon Commission’s decision to locate the new regional Catholic elementary school in Media at the current Nativity site. 

The Nativity BVM community has not joined the appeal to change the location, according to Nativity officials.

Four high schools and 44 out of the 156 elementary schools in the Archdiocese were recommend to close or merge at the end of the school year.

In Delaware County, 14 elementary schools are affected by the recommendations. Seven schools will close and then merge with seven other schools at that building's facility. New names for the regionalized schools are likely and the teachers and staff from both facilities will have to reapply for positions.

Once Chaput announces his final decisions on all school appeals, Nativity will comment further on its plans for the new regional school, according to a Nativity representative.


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