Students await appeal rulings

THESE DAYS, Isabella "Izzy" Goschinski has to muster all the energy she can to focus in her classes at St. Matthew School in Mayfair.

It's the only way the eighth-grader can block out thoughts about the future of St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls, the school she has long dreamed of attending.

James O'Connell, an eighth-grader at St. Laurence School, in Upper Darby, has a vision for himself for the next four years: walking through high school wearing a Monsignor Bonner uniform.

They'll soon find out whether their dreams will come true.

The Archdiocese is expected to unveil next week which of the 49 schools it announced last month would close, will remain open. Both St. Hubert's and Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast are on the list to close.

A source involved in the appeals process said the committee reviewing the appeals will recommend to Archbishop Charles Chaput that he overturn at least some of the earlier decisions.

Waiting for that news has been excruciating, especially for eighth-graders like Izzy and James.

Both St. Hubert and Bonner officials appealed their closings, making note of how much money they've raised since the Jan. 6 announcement ($784,000 for St. Hubert and $1.4 million for Bonner, according to school officials.)

Postings on Facebook yesterday suggested an anonymous donor would make a matching donation if Bonner-Prendie raised $2.5 million. A Bonner official did not deny that possibility but said the school was still in the early stages of exploring the parameters of the generous offer.

St. Hubert's board member Kathryn Ott Lovell says 165 freshmen are committed for the fall if the school remains open. That's more than double the recruits St. Hubert had last year at this time, she said.

A school official projects an incoming class of at least 250 for Bonner and Prendergast.

"The hardest part is not knowing. And once the decision is made and it doesn't go our way, where do you go?" wondered Bridget O'Connell, James' mother.

Both kids have been active in saving the schools they hope to attend: Izzy had a letter published in the Northeast Times and helped in the production of "Save St. Hubert's" videos posted on YouTube.

James has taken part in pep rallies and his family will dine wherever a vendor promises proceeds to Bonner. He's also donated $35 in birthday and Christmas presents he received to Bonner.