Hoffman Estates Catholic school in danger of closing, parents say

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (WLS) — St. Hubert’s Catholic school has been in Hoffman Estates for 65 years. Parents and others associated with the school are worried its days are numbered, and they want to do whatever they can to save the school.

They are committed to keeping this school open. Parents, alumni, and supporters of Saint Hubert Catholic school say they have been doing all they can to try to save the school, and now they want help from the Archdiocese to come up with a plan.

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A few years ago, enrollment was over 200 students, but the parents say the school stopped offering tuition discounts to needy families forcing about a third of them to leave.

School parent Lea De Los Santos has two daughters here.

“My family has been at this school 11 years, since my children started in pre-K,” De Los Santos said. “This is another home for us.”

It is the only home close to home for many families who want to send their kids to a Catholic school.

Julie Chirinos has had four kids at the school.

“We’ve been at this parish since I was baptized in the 70s,” Chirinos said. “It is the best option.”

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The parents say they’ve been told the school has operated at a deficit of several million dollars in past few years. But they say they nearly met their $300,000 fundraising goal. They say they want to develop a plan with the help of administrators.

A spokesperson with the Archdiocese said in a statement in part, “Over the past two years, we have met seven times with groups including the pastor, school principal, finance council, school board, and school and parish families in an effort to stabilize enrollment and school financials.”

Parent organizer Jillian Bernas Garcia is praying for answers.

“It’s a valuable place in a really good community,” Bernas Garcia said. “We have a great parish and there’s a lot of vibrant families here.”

Parents say the Archdiocese has given them no formal deadline, but they say they’ve see the narrative of declining enrollment and budget deficits at other schools, and they want to keep it from happening there.