CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Archdiocese of Chicago said its school officials will be meeting early next week with leaders of a small Morgan Park Catholic school that may have to close its doors in the fall.
St. Walter School Principal Sharon O'Toole said the families of the 118 students are doing everything they can to raise the money to keep the school open. The money would cover the operating deficit this year and the projected deficit for next year.
"What it comes down to is, we truly do need help from outside resources, people who care about education, school choice," she said.
O'Toole said St. Walter School is still trying to meet the deadline set by the archdiocese: to raise another $160,000 by this coming Monday.
"We believe if we had a little more time we might be able to implement some more fundraising. We have a Queen of Hearts raffle running. We have other events planned for the spring. But we need the time to do that."
The archdiocese says it must verify the money raised so far but is open to extending the deadline.
"We want to give them every possible minute to raise the funds they've been asked to raise," says Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
"I've been impressed with the level of local support at the school."
Rigg added: "I've learned not to predict these things. So, we'll see how things look early next week."
