The principal and pastor of St. Monica School in Berwyn were scheduled to meet Monday morning with officials of the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and St. Patrick's School in Malvern.

The meeting, scheduled for 11 a.m., is to hear St. Patrick's appeal to the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia Blue Ribbon Commission recommendation to close both schools and consolodate them as a new school on St. Patrick's campus in Malvern.

Last Thursday, St Monica officials got word that St. Patrick's planned to appeal the recommendation. In an email sent to parishoners and school families St. Monica Pastor, Fr. William Trader said he was "dumbfounded" by the appeal which St. Monica leaders say has no grounds, based on the Archdiocese's requirement for appeals.

In a parish meeting Thursday night, Trader and St. Monica School Principal Lisa Hoban told the crowd they don't believe the numbers support St. Patrick's appeal and that St. Monica is moving forward with plans to close at the end of June. "We have to move forward," Hoban said, "if the appeal (by St. Patrick's) fails we can;t afford to lose a month."

After Monday morning's hearing the Blue Ribbon Commission has until February 14 to make a ruling. If the decision to close and consolidate both schools stands, St. Patrick's could appeal directly to Philadelphia Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput.