Group raises money to stave off closure of Prospect Heights school

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) -- St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic School in Prospect Heights may be targeted for closure. Now, a campaign is quickly trying to raise $300,000 to keep the school open next fall.

The gym would normally be closed this week as it is winter break. However, as word spread about a possible closure some families came back to school.

"We are small," said parent Tony Marchetti. "It's a family here and we don't want to see it go away."

Parish contributions down, but parents, students and staff are working to save the school. So far, one-third of the fundraising goal has been reached.

A Chicago Office of Catholic Schools spokesperson acknowledged the fundraising campaign and said: "No final decision regarding the future of St. Alphonsus Liguori School has been made. Strategic planning for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago is always ongoing."

Mallorie Bromer, a former student, started a GoFundMe.com page to help her old school.

"It was heart breaking for me," Bromer said. "It's such a big part of my life."

So far, the crowd-funding site has raised nearly $3,000.

"I thought, nothing may come out of it, but I wanted to try," Bromer said.