Student Body Reacts to Loss of Venango Catholic High School

OIL CITY--- This year, Niche.com ranked Venango Catholic High School as the 50th Best Private High School in Pennsylvania.
But, as we reported last week, the school is slated for closure after its senior class graduates this year.
"We were devastated," says senior Brennan Dougherty.
"It's imperative to keep this [school] open," says Dougherty's mom, Brenda Servido.
Reactive words from students and parents when they got the news last week.
The Diocese of Erie says only 67 students are currently enrolled and that is not enough to keep pushing.
"The declining school-aged population has put real pressure on maintaining an enrollment that is healthy both for the students as well as healthy for the compensation of teachers and just paying the bills," says Father Shane Mathew, Headmaster at Venango Catholic High School.
Some parents did argue that the Diocese did minimal advancement work.
"They have done little, very little to recruit in this area, and I think that will be very helpful. I think for each year, they can be raising the appropriate amount of money."
In a statement, the Catholic Schools office said it'd cost $1 million dollars above operating costs to keep the school viable over the next several years.
It also said:
"There was no evidence that an additional significant investment in marketing and recruitment would provide the results necessary for the school to reach sufficient operational vitality."
With that, Dougherty says she feels the administration is giving up on the school. Students have been passing out pledges around town to keep hope alive.
"I don't think they're giving us a chance," Dougherty says. "I think its been set that they just want to close because we are so far out."
"It's another loss in an area that has lost so much, but we're hopeful that by the end of the school year, and the sooner the better, we'll have a transition plan for every student," Father Mathew adds.
The Diocese is working with 43 underclassman students to get them transitioned into surrounding school districts.
The closest Catholic School is located more than 50 miles from Oil City.