Parents refuse to give up as St. Alphonsus Liguori school faces closure once again

Parents of students at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic School in Prospect Heights again sprang into action with an online fundraiser to keep the school open after the pastor’s weekend announcement that it would certainly close at the end of the academic year, June 3.

Such efforts did win the 67-year-old school a reprieve in 2016, but the circumstances then were significantly different.

Then, the threat of closure was announced at the end of December 2015 and families were given the winter to reach a $400,000 fundraising goal that was ultimately met. It bought time to move the school’s attendance from 137 to the Archdiocese of Chicago’s preferred level of 225.

But this time, because the archdiocese and parish are in agreement that financial and attendance goals are sufficiently unattainable, no goal was presented to the school community, said Katie O’Dea, senior director of communications and marketing for the Office of Schools.

Nevertheless, a GoFundMe campaign launched by Natalie Evangelista of Prospect Heights had surpassed $25,000 of its $500,000 goal by Monday morning.

Though not highlighted in the pastor’s weekend message to the community, the budget deficit is closer to $750,000, O’Dea said.

Parent Barb Arnold of Des Plaines said the school community is not ready to stop fighting for the future of the school.

“The families are not giving up,” she said. “We’re trying whatever we can. Everyone has high hopes.”

Though she’s been sending her three children to the school for only the past three years, Arnold said veterans from the previous campaign believe success is attainable.

“People who have been here longer than me have really put their heart and soul into the school,” she added.

But Pastor Greg Wojcik’s letter to families is not the source of the hope they feel.

“The school and parish worked diligently to avoid this outcome by establishing a focus on budget efficiency and enrollment over the past year,” he wrote. “Despite solid efforts, enrollment declined sharply this school year and the projection for next year is similar, making the school’s deficit unsustainable.”

The letter states Cardinal Blase Cupich has accepted the recommendation to close the school.

Parent Rosemary Baroud is one of those who fought the threatened closure in 2016. She said the support of the principal and pastor of that time made the difference and is concerned over whether the archdiocese is getting correct information.

Baroud suggested closing St. Thomas Becket Church in Mount Prospect, which merged with St. Alphonsus two years ago.

But the official statement from the archdiocese said enrollment stability was the key factor.

“While raising funds is an important way to temporarily address a deficit, robust enrollment is necessary for long-term sustainability,” it read.

O’Dea said enrollment at the school was 174 this year, down 12% from last year, with only 135 already enrolled for next year.

No specific Catholic school is being suggested for the displaced students, though O’Dea mentioned St. Emily Catholic School in Mount Prospect, with its current enrollment of 300, is a possibility that wouldn’t be overwhelmed by additional enrollment.

And that would provide opportunities for displaced teachers as well.

“Families, faculty and staff will be supported in finding another Catholic school in order to continue their education and employment within the archdiocese,” Wojcik wrote.

The other archdiocese schools scheduled to close next month are St. Thomas of Villanova in Palatine, St. Catherine Laboure in Glenview, and St. William and St. Hilary in Chicago.