Borrowing planned to renovate five Luzerne County Catholic schools

The Diocese of Scranton Catholic School System Inc. plans to issue up to $8.25 million in tax-exempt bonds to repair and renovate a dozen of its schools, including five in Luzerne County.

This plan was discussed at last week’s Luzerne County Council work session because the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) of 1982 requires nonprofits seeking the issuance of tax-exempt financing to obtain approval from governmental entities where the subject facilities are located.

Council’s proposed resolution makes it clear the county is not pledging or obligating any funds for the project and won’t be liable for payments.

The five Catholic schools included in the package, according to paperwork submitted to the county: Holy Redeemer High School on South Pennsylvania Boulevard in Wilkes-Barre; St. Nicholas/St. Mary School on South Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre; Good Shepherd Academy on North Maple Avenue in Kingston; Holy Rosary School on Stephenson Street in Duryea; and St. Jude School on South Mountain Boulevard in Mountain Top.

Attorney Brian Koscelansky of the Stevens & Lee law firm is serving as bond counsel for the Catholic School System and said it is seeking council approval of the resolution at council’s Sept. 9 meeting.

A required public TEFRA hearing will be held before this vote, on Aug. 28. Council members had no objection to Koscelansky’s request to hold one central hearing in Lackawanna County because the financing will be processed through Lackawanna County’s Redevelopment Authority. Koscelansky said he will provide Luzerne County Council with a hearing transcript.

Council Vice Chairman Brian Thornton sought clarification on the project scope.

Koscelansky said the updates will include roof and window repairs or replacements, and one needs a boiler. No expansion is planned.

“It’s really updating,” Koscelansky said.

The borrowing paperwork also references the purchase of capital equipment, including technology.

The other Catholic schools outside the county that will be addressed in the project, the paperwork says: All Saints Academy, Scranton; Our Lady of Peace School, Clarks Green; La Salle Academy, Jessup; Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School, East Stroudsburg; Notre Dame Elementary School, East Stroudsburg; St. John Neumann Jr./Sr. High School, Williamsport; and St. Agnes Elementary School, Towanda.

A Diocese of Scranton Catholic School System strategic growth plan posted online at the start of this year included a goal to address facilities, saying it “recognizes that it must continue to invest in buildings that are safe and secure.”

The plan projected the need to spend $7.36 million through 2027 to address critical school building projects. In addition to roof and window projects, it cited needed HVAC system and electrical upgrades, masonry work and improvements to school grounds.

It provided these enrollment statistics for the 2024-25 school year at its Luzerne County schools, along with a percentage on how those figures relate to capacity based on each school’s current staff and classroom structure:

• Good Shepherd Academy, 549 (99%).

• Holy Family Academy, 121 (48%).

• Holy Rosary School, 198 (79%).

• Saint Jude School, 294 (74%).

• St. Nicholas/St. Mary School, 265 (76%).

• Wyoming Area Catholic School, 158 (63%).

• Holy Redeemer High School, 439 (82%).

Holy Redeemer serves students grades nine through 12, while the others provide instruction from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, it said.