PORTAGE PARK — A surge of emotions hit Joshua Rivera when he thought about the looming closing of St. Ladislaus, a small Catholic school on the Northwest Side he’s attended since pre-kindergarten.
“We’re feeling really sad and we’re pretty disappointed, but change is a good thing,” the 11-year-old said as he huddled in a semi-circle with his buddy, Piotr Fedczuk, and their mothers in the school’s empty parking lot at 3300 N. Lockwood Ave. recently.
“I kind of feel disappointed that the school is closing because it’s such a good school,” Joshua added.
Piotr, 10, like most of the St. Ladislaus kids, will likely attend either St. Bartholomew School at 4941 W. Patterson Ave. or St. Ferdinand School at 3131 N. Mason Ave., but the Rivera family is still choosing from a gaggle of options.
“I see it as a chance to make new friends. And if you have friends going to the new school, at least you’re going to know someone at the new school,” said Piotr, dressed in a navy blue sweatsuit and proudly bearing the St. Ladislaus logo on his chest.
After Piotr’s mom left, Joshua’s mom, Michaelene, found herself in charge of the two boys, who sprinted out of the parking lot in pursuit of the ice cream truck briefly before she reminded them they had yet to have dinner.
“We’re like family here because it’s such a small school, and that’s the saddest part. It’s just life: You sometimes go your separate ways. I’m sure they’ll keep in touch,” Michaelene Rivera said.
After dismissal on a recent school day, the school was quiet and the halls were empty save for a few backpacks lining the dimly lit hallway and the occasional child peeking out from a classroom.
Principal Catherine Scotkovsky took her job about three years ago when enrollment was around 80 kids.
“For financial reasons, we just kind of ran out of time,” Scotkovsky said, pointing to enrollment and proximity to other schools as reasons for the closing.
“We can’t continue to have all these Catholic schools with low enrollment with other schools near us with empty seats. We need to put together a better model for Catholic schools than every parish having their own schools. That’s just the reality. That doesn’t mean I want to hear that.”
The tall, stern woman with soft eyes said she fell in love with the school, which now boasts 107 students, seven full-time teachers, two teaching aides and a secretary. When the school closes in June, most of the staff will be out of work, and some of the parents are still struggling with finding a new school, she said.
“This is hard on [the parents] and very hard on the kids. This is a big adult issue and it’s hard for kids to understand the whys. It’s hard for some parents to understand, too. It’s a pretty big issue,” she said.
According to surveys administered by the school, around 65 percent of parents plan to have their children continue in Catholic schools, while the others were undecided or choosing between public or charter schools. The ones deciding between Catholic schools are mostly looking at St. Ferdinand or St. Bartholomew, Scotkovsky said.
“It’s still very sad. It’s very hard for them to leave. This is their family. This is their home. They are looking for new schools, but some aren’t finding what they want. I hope when they enter their schools in the fall they find their new home,” Scotkovsky said.
But the school, which turned 100 last year, is preparing a big block party to allow the community, alumni and students to say their final goodbyes. The party, scheduled for May 30, will feature food, a bounce house and a DJ along with a 5 p.m. Mass, she said.
After the Mass, alumni are invited to take a tour of the school with their former classmates one last time, Scotkovsky said.
Scotkovsky said she doesn’t know what would happen to the school building once it closes.
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