Students and parents of St. Frances of Rome Catholic School protest the closing of the school on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. A group of at least two dozen parents gathered outside the Holy Name Cathedral’s rectory Saturday to convince Cardinal Blase Cupich to reconsider the decision to close their children’s grade school in west suburban Cicero.
“We have requested an open parent forum to have our questions answered,” said parent organizer Betty Paz, who has a 7th-grade daughter at the school. Paz said the group of St. Frances parents pooled their money to rent a bus and make the 35-minute drive from Cicero to Holy Name Cathedral in River North.
In a statement to the Tribune Saturday afternoon, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Greg Richmond said the archdiocese is committed to keeping schools open, but the loss of the tax credit program funds is costing the church millions.