St. Cornelius Launches Effort to Raise $250,000 View Full Caption

JEFFERSON PARK — St. Cornelius School is more than halfway to its goal of raising $250,000 by Friday to avoid being placed on a list of schools the Archdiocese of Chicago is considering closing, school officials said Wednesday.

More than $135,000 had been raised for the school as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, as parents and church members began to develop plans for the long-term viability of the the Jefferson Park Catholic church and school at 5252 N. Long Ave., according to the school's Facebook page.

Principal Christina Bowman said she was pleased with the community's response to the church and school's Oct. 2 plea for help after officials were informed that the archdiocese would no longer give the school $250,000 a year to cover a deficit created by the school's declining enrollment and lagging fundraising.

Elizabeth Durkin, a parent of a St. Cornelius student, said she was working with other parents and parishioners to develop new fundraising ides to ensure the long-term viability of the school, which is almost 90 years old.

"We need to get the word out about what a good school we are," Durkin said.

St. Cornelius School is working to put itself in "good standing" with the archdiocese before Cardinal Francis George makes "significant financial decisions" before he retires in mid-November and is replaced by Spokane, Wash. Bishop Blase Cupich, said the Rev. Daniel Fallon, the pastor of St. Cornelius.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: