Incarnation Parents Claim Archdiocese Has 'A Target On Our Heads'

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL -- Parents at a Palos Heights Catholic grammar school in danger of closing, claim the Archdiocese of Chicago has put a target on their heads. Incarnation Catholic School must have three years’ worth of operating expenses in the bank and increase student enrollment to 225, all by Jan. 15. Now families, parishioners and alumni are praying for a miracle.

In September, Archdiocesan officials met with the Incarnation school board and warned them that unless the school boosted student enrollment by 120, Incarnation would be shuttered at the end of the current school year. The school’s leadership was told they needed to bank $600,000 to remain open. The Archdiocese also imposed a media blackout, instructing pastors, parents, faculty and parishioners not to discuss the possible closing with members of the media.

“We were following the rules and being quiet,” Andrea Covert said, mother of a seventh-grade son. “I think they [the Archdiocese] thought we were going to fade away.”

Another south suburban school, Our Lady of the Ridge in Chicago Ridge, is also rumored to be closing at the end of the school year. The Chicago Ridge parochial school won a reprieve last year when families and supporters raised almost $225,000 to keep the school’s doors open for the 2017-2018 school year. Covert said that Incarnation could easily absorb Our Lady of the Ridge’s enrollment, which would put Incarnation above the 225-enrollment benchmark. Covert said Incarnation’s appeal for a 30-day extension was denied by Archdiocese on Monday.

“We cannot enroll Our Lady of the Ridge kids until after the announcement [of schools closings] is made,” she said. “All we need is 30 days. Time costs nothing, so give us a chance. Is that not what Catholicism and Christianity are all about?”

A $1.5 million endowment from the Agnes Walsh Family Fund has left the school building in sound shape. Covert’s son uses a walker and wheelchair to get around the school. While the endowment cannot be used for operating expenses, Incarnation has used the interest on capital improvements, such as making the building ADA-compliant.

“Which makes us the perfect campus to stay open,” Covert said. “We’ll never have to come up with a raise-the-roof or save-the-boiler fundraiser.”

Erica Gray, of Crestwood, has two daughters at Incarnation and has been trying to drum up corporate sponsors. The school held a fundraiser at 115 Bourbon Street last weekend, where supporters raised around $50,000. Incarnation parishioners have also started an online fundraiser to save the school through GiveCentral.org.

“It doesn’t seem like the archdiocese cares much for children,” Gray said. “They’re a business. The bottom line is what they care about.”

With no extension to save themselves, both moms say it’s going to be tough to attract new families to enroll their kids in Incarnation during Catholic Schools Week later this month. If Incarnation and Our Lady of the Ridge both close, families would leave their respective churches to seek a new parish and school community elsewhere. Being “on a list” decreases Incarnation’s chances of attracting new students

“If you have a pre-K student you want a community to stay in for eight years,” Gray continued. “Both schools are very involved and like the community they’ve built. We could be a powerhouse. If we had a little help from the Archdiocese, but they’re in the business of closing schools instead of keeping them open and helping them flourish.”

Chicago Catholic Schools communications director, Anne Maselli, said the threat of Incarnation’s closure dates back three years, when Archdiocesan officials first met with parish and school leadership to discuss Incarnation’s diminishing enrollment. The school was also told that if enrollment continued to worsen, and Incarnation was unable to finance its own operations, the Archdiocese would not be able to support the school’s operating deficit.

“Parish and school leadership understood and agreed to this,” Maselli said in an email. “No final decisions have been made.”

Covert said Incarnation has about two years’ worth of operating expenses in the bank. If Cardinal Cupich was to see their building, “there would be no way in his right mind he’d close our school.” Merging Incarnation and Our Lady of the Ridge would allow both schools’ seventh-graders to graduate together next year with kids they’ve known since kindergarten, instead of scattering them.

“I’m sick of reading about this ‘Renew Our Church,’ she said. “This is a perfect example of what is being done, to get churches to work together to save resources. Instead of being Christian and letting us merge our schools, the Archdiocese is putting up a roadblock.”

To make a donation to help keep Incarnation School open, visit Give Central/Incarnation School. Covert estimates that the school needs to raise $55,000 by Monday, Jan. 15.

Photo: Courtesy of Incarnation Catholic School