Archdiocese announces plans to close St. Hubert School in Hoffman Estates

The Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools Thursday announced its intention to close the 65-year-old St. Hubert Catholic School in Hoffman Estates at the end of this school year.

However, a parent coalition at the school is not accepting the finality of the decision that came a day after a press conference to voice its demand for answers about the school’s finances.

“Every time we asked for information, we received no information,” said parent Jillian Bernas Garcia. “I think that this was always their plan. I don’t know what their approach was. We would fundraise and they would move the goal posts on us.”

She added that coalition members are still looking for either a reversal of the decision or an option to keep the school operating without the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese’s Superintendent of Schools Greg Richmond said in a written statement the decision to close St. Hubert was made in conjunction with those for Our Lady of Humility in Beach Park and four others in Chicago.

“We made these decisions with heavy hearts after months of discussions with each school,” he wrote. “We know the importance of these schools in each community. Unfortunately, the enrollment of each school is too low, and the ongoing deficits are too high. Many people have worked hard at each school to raise money and try to boost enrollment. We recognize and value those efforts but, in the end, the schools were not able to close the gaps and they are no longer sustainable.”

In the days since school parents broke the 18-month silence they said was imposed on them by the Archdiocese, other parishioners have said they had no idea the future of the school was ever under threat, Bernas Garcia said.

And the effect of the decision will be felt by a much wider community, Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod said Friday.

“St. Hubert — the church and the school — are an integral part of Hoffman Estates,” he said. “Many people in the Northwest suburbs went to school there. (They) were very important in the early development of Hoffman Estates. I’m very disappointed and upset about this.”