Chicago, Jan. 18, 2024 - St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero and St. Odilo School in Berwyn, two long-standing institutions of Catholic education, will be closing their doors in June of this year. The closure is a direct result of the termination of the Invest in Kids scholarship program by Illinois legislators a few months ago, which provided financial assistance to over half of the students in these schools.

Rev. Radek Jaszczuk, C.Ss.R, pastor of St. Frances of Rome School, expressed his deep concern over the closure, stating, "While we have navigated tight budgets in the past, the loss of the scholarship program has created an insurmountable gap." Rev. Bartholomew Juncer, pastor of St. Odilo School, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the scholarship program was vital for the hard-working families who wanted a Catholic education for their children.

The closure of these schools leaves St. Leonard School in Berwyn and Our Lady of Charity School in Cicero as the remaining options for Catholic education in the affected communities. Families have been encouraged to consider enrolling their children in one of these schools for the upcoming academic year. In a gesture of support, teachers and staff at the closing schools will be offered positions in other archdiocesan schools.

Greg Richmond, superintendent of Catholic schools, acknowledged the academic success and strong interest in Catholic education, stating, "We believe the best way to keep Catholic education alive and thriving in Cicero and Berwyn is to consolidate our efforts on supporting one excellent school in each community." Richmond further explained that attempting to sustain four schools would have put all of them at risk in the future. He expressed concerns that more closures may be on the horizon for the archdiocese.

Richmond also highlighted the remarkable dedication of Catholic schools during the pandemic, as they provided in-person instruction and preserved learning gains for the children they served. He expressed hope that elected officials would reconsider and extend the Invest in Kids scholarship program, recognizing its importance in supporting Catholic education.

The closure of St. Frances of Rome School and St. Odilo School marks the end of a combined total of 196 years of Catholic education at these locations. The loss of the Invest in Kids scholarship program has created a significant financial burden for these schools, making their closure inevitable. The affected communities are now faced with the challenge of finding alternative options for their children's education, as Catholic education in Cicero and Berwyn becomes more limited.