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Catholic Elementary School Plans To Fight Closure By Archdiocese

By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A small Catholic elementary school in Port Richmond plans to fight its planned closure by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Monsignor Joseph Anderlonis greeted parents by saying Saint George slayed the dragon. A fitting opening since little Saint George's elementary plans to fight the dragon otherwise known as the Archdiocese. This school is different from many because it raises it's own funding.

"We have a little deficit at the end of the year, we have a bazaar, we get more money in the bank, we pay our bills. We owe them nothing!" said Monsignor Anderlonis

Parents say the school is family.

"I went to school here, my son goes here, my sister teaches here," said one parent. "Plus we have a waiting list for certain grades to come in here, I mean that says a lot for our school."

Principal Daniel Markowski set up a review meeting for January 17th for the Archdiocese to hear the school's defense to stay open.

However, Markowski says the review committee is made up of the same people who decided on the list of schools slated to close.

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