The new bishop first raised concerns about declining enrollment and the financial sustainability of the school last November, sparking a controversy among Cathedral backers who believed a decision to rebuild the school at its Surrey Road location had already been made by former Bishop Timothy McDonnell, who retired last summer.
SPRINGFIELD — Monday is decision day for the future of tornado-damaged Cathedral High School.
After four weeks of reviewing a "draft plan" for the future of Catholic education in the diocese, the Most Rev. Mitchell Rozanski will announce his decision about the fate of Cathedral High School during a diocesan press conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday at 65 Elliot St.
The highly anticipated announcement follows a Jan. 23-24 problem-solving workshop held at the Genesis Spiritual Life Center in Westfield where the bishop met with 15 Cathedral stakeholders to discuss the feasibility of rebuilding the Surrey Road school.
At the conclusion of last month's meetings, Rozanski – who characterized the sessions as "optimistic, upbeat and realistic" – said he would need a period of due diligence to determine if an unspecified plan would work.
The workshops, facilitated by Msgr. John Bonzagni and Kathy Bort, were a culmination of a review process begun by the diocese in the fall after Rozanski raised concerns about Cathedral's financial sustainability – including students' ability to pay the $9,300-a-year-tutition.
The new bishop first raised concerns about declining enrollment and the financial sustainability of the school in November, sparking a controversy among Cathedral backers who believed a decision to rebuild the school at its Surrey Road location had already been made by former Bishop Timothy McDonnell, who retired during the summer.
The uncertainty surrounding the fate of the school has triggered a community wide debate with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal urging the diocese to rebuild the school, which has been a fixture in the East Forest Park neighborhood since 1959.
Neal helped secure a $29 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help rebuild the school.
Following the bishop's statement, a grassroots organization – the Committee for Cathedral Action – stepped up its campaign to save the school, holding rallies and fundraisers to support the cause.
The Surrey Road School, originally built for 3,000 students, had about 400 students when the tornado hit.
Since then the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has rented the vacant Memorial School in Wilbraham and enrollment has declined to 217 this year.
Cathedral High has launched a $10 million an Endowment Fund for Tuition Assistance. Last month, the school announced it had raised $3.3 million in the drive.