Hope, anger at closings

By Hilary Anderson
special contributor

Robert Zeegers calls himself a perennial optimist. That’s a value serving him well with the closing of St. Michael School (24th Place, Chicago) where he is principal. His is one of 16 archdiocesan Catholic elementary schools to shut their doors this June.

“I have been in Catholic education for 30 years and know reality of the financial aspect of operating a school,” he said. “I firmly believe the Holy Spirit is among us and somehow this all will work itself out. Everything has a purpose.”

The closings—and the opening of three new Catholic elementary schools in Chicago—was announced in January by Superintendent Nicholas M. Wolsonovich. Two North Side schools also be consolidated. He said the moves come in response to changing demographics.

Many of the closing schools were running hundreds of thousands of dollars in deficits, Wolsonovich said. “If we had all the money in the world, we wouldn’t have to close any schools, but that isn’t the case,” he said. But he lauded the schools’ “rich legacy of service to their communities.”

Lourdes High School, Chicago, also will close.

In fiscal 2001, schools across the archdiocese lost $49.6 million. The archdiocese provided $9 million in grants to schools. That investment will continue at $6 million annually. In addition, the Big Shoulders Fund provides $2.5 million in grants to schools this year, along with $6 million in scholarships.

At St. Michael’s Zeegers proactively faced the challenge of closing St. Michael, hiring a part-time counselor to talk with students and families. Then Zeegers
initiated some novel ways to memorialize the school.

One is an autograph book with the school’s name and logo for every student, not just the graduating eighth-graders. On the last day, teachers, students and staff and alumni will release balloons into air the with the school’s name and its years of existence—1954—2002.

“These are symbolic messages,” Zeegers said. “If anything, this closing has brought us closer together.”

Zeegers is glad, and a little proud, that most of his teachers have found new positions.

Like Zeegers, Nancy Taylor, administrator at Cicero’s Mary Queen of Heaven parish, is optimistic about her staff and students’ future.

“I was not surprised by the news,” she said. “We were being subsidized. It was hard acceptance at first but our school family understands why. Now it’s just sadness because this school has been around since 1914.”

Taylor said about a third of her students plan to attend nearby Catholic schools while another third are transferring to public schools. The rest are undecided.

All of St. Clare of Montefalco’s 14 seventh graders are happy they will be accepted at nearby St. Gall where a variety of activities already are underway to make them feel welcome.

But school staff member Paulette Heredia expressed the sentiments of many: “It’s devastating, painful to hear the news,” she said. “The school’s been here 92 years. I was hoping my grandchildren would attend here like my children and I did.”

The school will hold an all alumnae Mass June 9 followed by a final walk-through.

“We are asking for donations of memorabilia,” Heredia said. “One former parent asked for some of the coat hooks that once hung tiny coats in our primary building. They now grace the entry hall in her home.”

For others, the closing were much more bitter. “The news was devastating,” said Sabrina Roy, principal of Blessed Sacrament/Our Lady of Lourdes School. St. James, (Chicago), principal Linda Brusky said she and her staff were surprised by the closing.

“As principal I tend to blame myself for not keeping the school open,” Roy said. “I also am devastated as a parent. It was like a family here.” Roy said, though, she has reached acceptance. “Our school consultant, Bob Davies, has been really helpful,” she said. “I can’t be angry any longer. I prayed on it and know we did all we could do. We must go forward now. I just hope we all find a job and the children don’t lose their faith.”

Zeegers acknowledges their sadness.

“I, too, am saddened a lot of schools are closing in areas that don’t have another Catholic anchor because our schools are the backbone of the church and they give our children a faith tradition. But the realities of being able to pay the bills are there.”

Queen of Heaven’s Taylor carries a message to those facing the closing.

“Our schools will never die. Like it says on a prayer card, ‘...to live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die.’ Mary Queen of Heaven School will always remain in our hearts as will all those schools that have etched a place in the hearts of others.”

List of school closings