
Queen of Peace High School to close in June
Shock and sadness rippled through the southwest suburbs this week, after a Tuesday night announcement that Queen of Peace High School will close its doors at the end of the school year.
Established in 1962 by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, the Burbank school at 7659 S. Linder “has provided a mission-driven, college preparatory education for more than 15,000 young women over the past 55 years,” according to a statement from the school.
The announcement came just 10 days after the death of Sr. Jeanne Flanagan, OP, the school’s founding principal and a woman long respected, admired and cherished by the Queen of Peace community.
Tuesday’s news also broke just five days shy of Catholic Schools Week, an annual observance designed to celebrate and reinvigorate Catholic education.{{more}}
ÒThis has been a most difficult and heart-breaking decision,” said Queen of Peace President Anne O’Malley, a 1975 alumna of the school. ÒThe financial realities and declining enrollment over the past 10 years make it impossible to sustain a superior four-year academic experience for the bright and deserving young women of Chicago’s South Side. As a result, the Board of Directors, with approval of the Sponsor’s Council and the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation, have determined that the school will discontinue operations as of June 2017.”
According to Tuesday night’s statement from the school, while the annual per student cost to educate is $15,500, tuition at Queen of Peace is set at $10,500. However, more than 60 percent of students require financial assistance throughout their four years of high school.
ÒWe appreciate all of our invaluable donors and longtime supporters but we simply have not been able to raise the more than $1 million above-and-beyond tuition required each year to continue to ensure a quality education,” O’Malley added.
Designed to accommodate 1,400 students in the 1960s, the school has an enrollment of 288.
ÒWe have a wonderful campus and excellent faculty providing challenging Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curricula introduced in 2015. It is truly a loss to no longer be able to provide these opportunities for the talented young women who are destined to become our future leaders,” O’Malley said.
A transition team has been established to help students identify the best options for completion of their high school education. Personalized recommendations will be provided for schools based on academics, extra-curricular activities and interests, and personal match. Two school fairs will be held for students and parents to meet with representatives of other Archdiocese schools. A transition fund will assist students requiring financial aid to complete their Catholic high school education.
ÒWe are working hard to provide solutions to help ease the transition for our girls with a personal profile developed for each student to provide a good path forward. Nothing is perfect but we hope it will help,” O’Malley said. ÒWe continue to believe in the potential of each Queen of Peace student to reach for the stars and achieve her dreams just as so many of our remarkable alumnae have done since our first graduating class of 1966.”
Queen of Peace alumnae, as well as parents of current students, took to social media late Tuesday to express emotions ranging from shock to sadness to anger and frustration.
“We are having a sad evening,” one mother of a current student posted on Facebook. “My daughter and her friends (mostly basketball friends) are in contact … she is crying and sharing the news … all the girls are having a hard time.”
“We are going through the same thing at my house,” a second mom responded about her Queen of Peace daughter. “I have no clue on how to console her.”
Some expressed hope that Queen of Peace’s “brother” school, the all-boys St. Laurence High School, situated next door at 5556 W. 77th St., would go co-educational and provide a haven for Peace students.
In response, St. Laurence issued a statement of its own Tuesday night. It read, in part:
“We plan to work with Queen of Peace’s leadership team in order to provide help in any way we can. During their first year of existence in 1962, we opened our doors to them as their building was under construction, and we intend to open our doors to them again during this time of transition if needed.
“St. Laurence remains committed to providing a quality Catholic education to its students and has no current plans to go co-ed. We have seen increases in enrollment over the last few years that provide us assurance that the changes we have integrated in recent years have been effective.”
Barring a last-minute miracle, Queen of Peace will join a long list of Catholic all-girls high schools that have closed in the Chicago area in years past.
On the Southwest Side, Maria High School, 6727 S. California, closed its doors in 2013–and today, a secular, co-educational charter school operates in the space.
Lourdes High School shut down operations at 4034 W. 56th St. in 2002. Today, a secular, co-educational Chicago public high school operates in the space.
When it closed, Lourdes students were invited to attend a new, all-girls “Lourdes Hall” campus in Bridgeport, attached operationally to De La Salle Institute. That arrangement will end this fall, when De La Salle goes co-ed.
In the southwest suburbs, Mount Assisi Academy at 13860 Main St. in Lemont closed its doors for good in May 2014. Among reasons for the closing were dwindling enrollment and resources.
In South Holland, Seton Academy closed last year. The former all-girls Catholic high school had gone co-ed in recent years in an attempt to stay open.
Local News

Fundraiser is Sunday for Pathlights
Tinley Park nonprofit One Less to Help One More is hosting a special community fundraiser for Pathlights in honor of June’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Month from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, at Oberweis at 7202 W. 159th Street in Orland Park. For shoppers, 20% of your purchases will be donated…

Incumbent Zalewski faces challenger for Dem nod in 21st District
By Steve Metsch Taking a break from the campaign trail – talking on a cell phone as he walked door to door – state Rep. Michael Zalewski (21st) said the choice facing Democratic voters on June 28 is simple. “I’ve said consistently that it’s the choice for voters between a record and a promise,” Zalewski…

Update: Morrison, Gorman duking it out for county commissioner spot
By Jeff Vorva In what is one of the nastiest races around, Sean Morrison and Liz Gorman are duking it out for a commissioners’ spot on the Cook County Board. Gorman had the job in the 17th District from 2002-2015 but gave it up to work in the private sector. Morrison took over and had…

World Wiffle Ball Championship returning to south suburbs
The 43rd World Wiffle Ball Championship is returning to Memorial Park in south suburban Midlothian on July 16-17. “We’re excited to gear up for this year’s Championship at Memorial Park in Midlothian. We can’t wait to see old and new Wifflers alike this summer come together to beat some plastic,” said Mike Baniak, Commissioner of…

Morrison, Gorman duking it out for GOP county commissioner nod
By Jeff Vorva In what is one of the nastiest races around, Sean Morrison and Liz Gorman are duking it out for a commissioners’ spot on the Cook County Board. Gorman had the job in the 17th District from 2002-2015 but gave it up to work in the private sector. Morrison took over and had…

Justice police arrest teen in Suri Davis murder
By Bob Bong A 14-year-old boy was arrested last week in the murder in November of Argo High School sophomore Suri Davis. Justice police said the teen was arrested June 13 and charged with one felony count of first-degree murder in the November 22 shooting death of Suri Davis, 15. Police said the teen lived…

2 incumbents seek Dem nomination in newly drawn 6th District
By Steve Metsch It doesn’t happen often, but voters in the newly drawn 6th Congressional District have an unusual choice in the Democratic primary. Because of redistricting, two sitting members of Congress are going toe-to-toe for the nomination in the June 28 primary. The district covers the Midway Airport area, Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood and the…

Justice welcomes Commissioners Park revamp
By Carol McGowan Justice residents and officials welcomed a break from the hot weather last Saturday to officially open the revamped Commissioners Park. Justice Park District Executive Director Jennifer Bonbrake, Park Board President Carrie Bernardoni, and Commissioner Tabatha Sutera all took to the podium to address the crowd that gathered for the 10 a.m. ribbon…

Pro Soccer Report: Kowalksi, Pugh score for Red Stars in draw at KC
Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Chicago Red Stars suffered a big blow on defense when defender Kayla Sharples was ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Sharples’ replacement in the starting lineup on June 18 was Amanda Kowalski. The Arlington Heights native decided to add some offense to her game,…

Area Sports Roundup: Troy Grevengoed leaving Richards to coach volleyball at Chicago Christian
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer As the girls volleyball coach at Richards, Troy Grevengoed coached against Chicago Christian when two of his daughters played there. He has also watched his daughters from the stands as a fan. Now, he enters a third phase. Grevengoed is the new girls volleyball coach at the Palos Heights private…
Neighbors

CAPITOL RECAP: Pritzker to call special session after Roe v. Wade overturned
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker will call a special session of the General Assembly in the coming weeks to focus on legislation to strengthen women’s access to abortion and other reproductive health services in Illinois. Pritzker made that announcement Friday, just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court released an opinion overturning…

6 Republicans vie to unseat Pritzker
By PETER HANCOCK & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Republican voters in Illinois will choose from six candidates to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in the upcoming June 28 primary. The field includes a conservative farmer and state lawmakers who is the recent polling frontrunner, the mayor of Illinois’ second largest…

Candidate interview: Alexi Giannoulias looking to reclaim statewide office
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] Illinois voters might know Alexi Giannoulias as the state’s treasurer from 2007 to 2011, or they might know him as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate who lost to Republican Mark Kirk in 2010. He’s now looking to get back into public life as he runs for secretary…

Pritzker to call special session on reproductive rights
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker will call a special session of the General Assembly in the coming weeks to focus on legislation to strengthen women’s access to abortion and other reproductive health services in Illinois. Pritzker made that announcement Friday, just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court released…

Candidate interview: Anna Valencia running for secretary of state
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] This story is part of Capitol News Illinois’ coverage of the race for secretary of state ahead of the Tuesday, June 28 primary. We’re reaching out to the candidates this week to discuss their policy positions and plans for the office should they be elected. Chicago City Clerk…

Republicans see opening in secretary of state race
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – For the first time in nearly a quarter century, there is an open race for the office of Illinois secretary of state as incumbent Democrat Jesse White prepares to retire, and Republicans hope that will give them an opportunity to pick up a statewide elected office.…

Candidate interview: Secretary of state hopeful David Moore
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] This story is part of Capitol News Illinois’ coverage of the race for secretary of state ahead of the Tuesday, June 28 primary. We’re reaching out to all of the candidates this week to discuss their policy positions and plans for the office should they be elected. Chicago…

Tom Cullerton sentenced to 1 year in prison for embezzlement
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A federal judge in Chicago handed down a one-year prison sentence Tuesday for a former state senator who once chaired the Senate Labor Committee. Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of embezzlement for receiving salary and benefits from…

CAPITOL RECAP: State Supreme Court again declines to rule on FOID Act
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – In a 4-3 decision with a blistering dissent from the Republican minority, the Illinois Supreme Court declined to rule on a question of whether Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Act is unconstitutional. It was the second time the case of the People v. Vivian Brown came before the court and…

State audit finds billions in unemployment fraud
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A state audit released Thursday found nearly $2 billion in federal money intended to help unemployed Illinoisans during the pandemic was lost to fraudulent claims in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Employment Security blamed “insufficient and flawed federal guidance” and a lack of controls on a…