Parents, faculty trying to save Driscoll High
A band of Driscoll Catholic High School parents and faculty are teaming up to try to keep the school from closing.
Driscoll Athletic Director Bob Carlson said the group organized after meeting with representatives from Christian Brothers of the Midwest, who oversee operations of the 43-year-old secondary school in Addison and laid out their case for shuttering the school.
The plan is to raise $1 million and devise a way to resuscitate the school by April 20. Carlson said they will be using a proposal that successfully staved off closure of Notre Dame High School in Niles as a blueprint for the plan to keep Driscoll going.
"It worked for them three years ago and the plan will be fine-tuned to our needs," Carlson said.
The group has started the Web site savedriscoll.com to help their effort.
Kevin Convey, Christian Brothers' director of education, said the school is facing a $1 million operating loss at the end of this school year and it will take more than that amount to keep the school open.
"It was clearly pointed out at the meeting that it would take several million dollars," he said. "We made no promises other than to review the plan."
Convey said earlier that Driscoll's school board had approached Christian Brothers and the Joliet Diocese for a $3.5 million loan to help with operating costs and capital improvements, but they were rejected.
School officials notified parents, students and faculty Thursday that the school was slated for closing. The notice came a day after officials announced a tuition price freeze. Convey said a combination of low enrollment and loss of revenue necessitated the school's closing.
The athletics powerhouse has seen enrollment decline during the past five years from 465 students to its current enrollment of 311 students. Convey said next year's enrollment was targeted at about 270 before Christian Brothers decided to pull the plug.
Driscoll is renowned for capturing seven straight state 2A football championships through 2007, and the girl's basketball team secured a state championship trophy just a few days ago.