That ticking sound you hear is the countdown to a day of reckoning in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Friday is Decision Day, when the blue-ribbon panel that has been studying education issues in the archdiocese will deliver their much-anticipated report.
It is expected to recommend that as many as 40 archdiocesan elementary schools and four or five high schools be closed.
As you can imagine, that is causing a lot of heartache across the region.
Last night we were able to delve a little deeper into the situation on our weekly Internet live-stream show, “Live From the Newsroom.”
We were joined by three people who know all too well what is at stake. They would be the Rev. James Olson, president of Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast; William Brannick, the principal of the two Drexel Hill schools; and Reanne Maskart, a senior at Prendie.
You can watch the replay of the show here.
Rev. Olson again indicated that he is trying to prepare the students, staff and greater school families for any possibility.
Archdiocesan school closings are not exactly new here in Delaware County, in particular in the eastern end of the county.
But even Rev. Olson admitted we have never faced anything like what most believe is coming on Friday.
We will have staffers in several locations to deliver the news as to what schools are being closed just as soon as it is announced.
You can check back to DelcoTimes.com all day on Friday for updates.
We’ll also have a full preview of Friday’s expected actions in both the print edition of the Daily Times and DelcoTimes.com.
In the meantime, the clock is ticking.
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