School Pres. Quits Over Catholic Closings Controversy

Brother Timothy Ahern, President of West Philadelphia Catholic High School, turned in his resignation on Thursday

The Catholic school closings controversy has prompted the resignation of Brother Tim, the President of West Philadelphia Catholic High School.

The school was recommended for closure by the Blue Ribbon Commission and Brother Timothy Ahern decided not to appeal the commission's decision. All the other high schools did appeal.

"Unfortunately, that decision created an untenable atmosphere for Brother Tim within the school," the Archdiocese said in a press release sent out Thursday afternoon.

"Brother Tim knew he could not meet the criteria," said Eleanor Dezzi, a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission, Chair of Friends of West Catholic and former classmate of Brother Tim's. Both graduated from West Catholic. "There was nothing appealable. He was absolutely right."

After the appeal process was formally over, a group of West Catholic faculty members and administrators came to the Archdiocese with their own packet of information, Dezzi said.

"Number one, it wasn't the proper way to do it. And number two, it still didn't meet the criteria. . .What we were looking for -- was there a way for sustainability and affordability? Nothing was in there that would show that," Dezzi said.

Dezzi said Brother Tim's decision to resign was made with a very heavy heart. "He's been a terrific leader. Look, he's a West Catholic grad himself! He lives and breathes West Catholic. The building is closing. The West Catholic spirit will go on."

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Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Thomas Rooney, has been assigned as the Acting President for the remainder of the school year.

In all, 44 elementary schools and five high schools have been slated for closure. Enrollment is down 72-percent since 1961 and the Archdiocese says it can't afford to continue supporting all the schools that are open. 

Archishhop Chaput will make the final decision on which schools will ultimately close. His list is expected to be made public next week.

West Catholic: Burrs of the 21st Century from West Catholic on Vimeo.

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