Feb. 01--With the deadline looming for raising $400,000, supporters hoping to save St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic School are ramping up student recruitment efforts to ensure the Prospect Heights school remains open next fall.
Comparing the school to "The Little Engine that Could," St. Alphonsus parishioner and marketing director Betty Cloud said that supporters are celebrating Catholic Schools Week with school building tours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. last Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
"We have had our ups and downs over the last few months, but we are determined to succeed," Cloud said. "We hope to continue our tradition of excellence in education which began in 1958."
Cloud said supporters are hoping to achieve two goals by Monday, Feb. 8 -- raise $400,000 to fund operating expenses for the 2016-2017 school year and register 135 students.
The goals were set earlier this year by officials of the Chicago Roman Catholic Archdiocese, who have been meeting with concerned parishioners and school officials.
In recent weeks, several other Catholic schools, including St. Agatha Catholic Academy in Chicago, St. Peter School in Antioch, Seton Academy in South Holland, and Saint Edmund School in Oak Park,have been told they're closing in the fall. In addition, officials also announced a merger between St. Margaret Mary School and Northside Catholic Academy in Chicago.
St. Alphonsus has been told it must meet fundraising and enrollment goals or risk closing. To date, Cloud said the school has received $332,000 in donation pledges, with $110,000 already paid, and 80 students have registered for next year.
All pledged donations must be paid by Feb. 8 to be included in the $400,000 goal, she said.
To aid in recruitment, student fliers were printed in Polish and Spanish because of the increasing numbers of Polish and Latino immigrant families in the community. Parishioners are now circulating a petition asking the archdiocese for permission to offer a Polish language Mass on Sundays, Cloud said.
The school is also offering a discounted, "in parish" rate for families who attend St. Thomas Becket Catholic Church in Mt. Prospect and St. Joseph of the Worker Catholic Church in Wheeling, Cloud said.
"We're getting new payment checks from our pledges and more students registering every single day,"she said. "We've been so blessed with the outpouring. Now, we're hoping that families will come out to see our beautiful school, and visit with our teachers."
Cloud said families interested in registering students or donating to St. Alphonsus Ligouri Catholic School can visit www.saintalphonsusschool.com or call the school office at (847) 255-5538.
kcullotta@tribpub.com
