Hales Franciscan needs $300K to stay open, trustees say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Board of Trustees at Hales Franciscan High School told parents and staff that the school needs to raise $300,000 to remain open in the next school year.

Hales Franciscan is a private, 4-year Roman Catholic high school in Bronzeville at the corner of 49th and Cottage Grove. Trustees said the school, which has only 97 students, needs that money within the next month to open in the fall.

In 2007, Chicago Bulls super star Michael Jordan donated $5 million to help the school with a $15 million fundraising campaign.

"Hopefully, there's so many millionaires, hopefully people will decide to sponsor and take the school into consideration," Latanjia Pryor said.

Hales started as an all-boys school and turned co-ed in 2013. Some parents are blaming declining enrollment and failed fundraising efforts for its decline.

"When i saw the numbers for the past two years have been very low, since my son has come into the school, it's a great possibility that they're gonna close," Cherrita Sanders, parent, said.

"That would be terrible for us as a whole school because I know Hales offers good sports teams and a good education. So Ii would be very disappointed," Jalen Griffin, student, said.

The school has set up a gofundme page and is making a plea to anyone in the community to donate.