A Beloved Catholic School Faces Closure, Igniting a Fierce Community Uprising!
It's been a full month since the heart-wrenching news broke: St. Hubert Catholic School in Hoffman Estates is slated to shut its doors at the end of the academic year, a decision attributed to funding woes. But for the devoted parents, students, and alumni, this isn't just a financial matter; it's a fight for the very soul of their community.
On a recent Sunday, a determined contingent gathered at Holy Name Cathedral for the 10:30 a.m. Mass, their prayers amplified by a passionate rally. Their mission? To implore Cardinal Blase Cupich to hear their plea and consider new evidence they believe can secure the school's future. Faith and well-being, as one alum and parent, Michelle Flowers, poignantly put it, are pillars of their community, and they feel the archdiocese is dismantling them rather than fortifying them.
Following their powerful display at the cathedral, the group marched to the archdiocese headquarters. Here, they unveiled the fruits of their labor: a thorough financial review conducted by a hired forensic accountant. The findings were startling. "There is plenty of money for us to continue as a school for the next five years without any changes," declared St. Hubert parent Jillian Bernas-Garcia. She further elaborated, "If we were able to make a modest 10% reduction in costs, we would be cash flow positive in two years." This directly challenges the archdiocese's narrative of insurmountable deficits.
But here's where it gets controversial: parents argue that the archdiocese's decision, citing low enrollment and high deficits, stings even more because they were one year into a three-year turnaround plan. St. Hubert alum and parent Julie Chirinos shared, "Our deficit was over half a million dollars when they brought it to our attention. We worked so hard to turn that around, that in the very next year, our deficit was only $140,000." This dramatic reduction suggests significant progress was being made.
While the community is now pursuing a formal appeal process known as a Remonstratio, many parents are vocal about what they perceive as a lack of transparency and poor management from the archdiocese. Their sentiments echo those of parents from other schools facing similar fates. Laura Alvarez, a parent from Our Lady of Humility, shared her frustration: "They gave us six weeks to raise $1 million. There was lack of leadership in regard to transparency."
In response, a spokesperson for the Office of Catholic Schools at the archdiocese stated that these difficult decisions were the result of months of discussions and that, despite valiant efforts by many, the schools were ultimately not sustainable. However, parents counter that St. Hubert is the only Catholic elementary school within their district. The closure would force some families to relocate or undertake long commutes to maintain their children's Catholic education.
This situation raises a critical question: When does a community's dedicated effort to save a cherished institution outweigh an institution's financial pronouncements? Do you believe the archdiocese has adequately considered the community's financial findings and their deep commitment to St. Hubert? Share your thoughts below – we'd love to hear your perspective!
