School community rallying behind St. Alexander's in Villa Park
Shirley Genovise is 83 years old, but that didn't stop her from staying up all night for a 14-hour prayer vigil to save her parish school.
Genovise's children and grandchildren attended St. Alexander Catholic School in Villa Park, which may be forced to close due to declining enrollment.
"I am praying with all my heart that it will remain open," Genovise said. "It is an absolute imperative."
The vigil is part of a community-wide effort to keep the 84-year-old school open that includes "We Believe in St. Alexander's School" signs in windows of Villa Park homes and storefronts and donation jars in local businesses. Fundraising efforts have netted more than $200,000 in donations and pledges in less than eight weeks.
Principal Glenn Purpura learned Nov. 24 that the Joliet Diocese is recommending St. Alexander, which has just 128 students, close at the end of the school year or reinvent itself as an early childhood center.
The school responded with a five-year plan to increase enrollment by lowering its comparatively high tuition.
Currently, families pay $4,600 for one child, $6,800 for two children and $8,200 for three or more. The tuition would be decreased next year - for new families only - to $2,800 for one child, $4,800 for two children and $6,800 for three or more.
Fundraising and a tuition tithing program would make up the difference.
The majority of current families have agreed to the two-tier tuition to keep the school open, "with the understanding that over time we'll bring those numbers closer together," Purpura said.
The school made its case to a planning committee of the Joliet diocese earlier this week.
Bishop J. Peter Sartain is expected to receive a report on Jan. 19 based on a study of all 67 schools in the diocese. The final decision on school closings or consolidations is likely to be made in January.
"I see they (St. Alexander's supporters) are raising funds, and I think that's commendable, but every school in the diocese is raising funds," said Doug Delaney, spokesman for the diocese. "I think we'll just have to wait and see what the recommendations are.
"We're in the process of doing everything we can to maintain the strong Catholic school system, but, as are all dioceses, we're struggling financially and with numbers."
Driscoll Catholic High School in Addison closed its doors in May, despite a last-ditch effort by supporters that raised nearly $1 million in 20 days. Christ the King School in Lombard became an early learning center for ages 3 to 5, and St. Joseph Catholic School in Addison and St. Charles Borromeo in Bensenville merged.
Whatever happens, the effort by St. Alexander's parents, parishioners and the community has been nothing short of inspiring, Purpura said.
"We've done what we could in the amount of time given to us," he said. "Now it's in God's hands. It always was."
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>What:</b> A pair of fundraising events for St. Alexander Catholic School</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>When:</b> Saturday, Jan. 23</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Where:</b> St. Alexander School gym, 230 S. Cornell, Villa Park</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>For adults:</b> "Band Together for St. Alexander School" is a band night featuring Send in the Clowns and Wombat Carnival, with a special appearance by Marty Brown, from 7 p.m. until midnight. Tickets are $10; limited admission; must be 21 or older; drinks, snacks and alcoholic beverages will be sold.</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>For kids:</b> Youth dance party for ages 6 to 16, from 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $5; adult supervision provided; drinks and snacks will be sold.</p>
<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Details:</b> Visit <a href="http://www.stalexanderschool.org" target="new">www.stalexanderschool.org</a> </p>