Catholic High may get second chance
A group has banded together in an attempt to keep a Philadelphia Catholic High School open under new leadership independent of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
A group has banded together in an attempt to keep a Philadelphia Catholic High School open under new leadership independent of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
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[audio: 091204tmcdsale.mp3]
The group, known as the “We are CD Foundation” offered to buy Cardinal Dougherty High School from the Archdiocese of Philadlephia for $20 million dollars. Donna Farrell is Director of Communications at the Archdiocese. She says the offer was a surprise.
Dougherty: We were not expecting this at all. After Bishop McFadden met with Mr. Schmidt earlier this week it was our understanding the group was going to do some fundraising or tuition assistance for our students as they go on to other Archdiocesan high schools.
The letter offering buy the property was published on the group’s website. It says the group wants to review financial information about the school in order to get a loan to make the purchase. Steve Schmidt, who heads the foundation, says the group plans to reopen the building as a private academy with a Catholic curriculum.
Farrell says the Archdiocese is reviewing the information.
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