Blagojevich Laments Closing Of High School Attended By Daughter
UPDATED 03/15/12 8:35 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) - During his final formal speech before going off to prison, deposed Gov. Rod Blagojevich lamented the impending closure of St. Scholastica Roman Catholic girls' high school in the Rogers Park neighborhood.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago said St. Scholastica Academy at 7416 N. Ridge Blvd. has been struggling financially for the last 15 years and does not have enough money to remain open.
Amy Blagojevich, the ex-governor's older daughter, attends the school.
"Bad news came again today, and one of the things I find comforting to me as a dad, as I have to leave my kids are in great schools – nice, safe, warm environments with great teachers and great students – and we learned today that Amy's school, St. Scholastica, is closing down, and that is a grievous blow to both Patti and to me," Rod Blagojevich said.
Blagojevich's remarks were interrupted when one of the many supporters in the crowd around his Ravenswood Manor neighborhood home draped an American flag around him and his wife, Patti. But he continued on to plead for someone to come forward to save the school.
We hope that if there's anybody out there that cares about that beautiful little Catholic girls' school, St. Scholastica, and they want to help keep that school open, if you can open up your hearts and do whatever else is possible to keep that school open, that sure would mean al lot," he said.
The school said it regretted the decision to close.
"We are deeply saddened by the need to close SSA," Sister Patricia Crowley, prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, said in the statement. "St. Scholastica Academy has educated thousands of young women who have served our world well in business, religious and civic spheres. Our graduates are solid leaders, family members, friends, and genuinely fine women."
The school said it could continue offering classes next year for incoming seniors if there is enough interest. If not, the school will help transfer students to other Catholic high schools and try making arrangements for those students to receive St. Scholastica diplomas.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
