To: Metro Desk

Contact: Joseph Gurdak, 847-827-8100; Paula Waters, 847-840-6235, both of the Advisory Board of Notre Dame High School for Boys

NILES, Ill., Oct. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Archdiocese of Chicago and the Board of Notre Dame High School today announced they are nearing the end of the school's leadership transition process. The Provincial Superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross Priests, Indiana Province and the officers of the new not- for-profit corporation that will receive the school's assets signed the official Letter of Intent for transfer of ownership in September. Final documents for the legal transfer of assets are being prepared now. In addition, the Archdiocese and the Board have been meeting to create the civil and canon law structures necessary to set up Notre Dame as an independent Catholic school.

"The Second Vatican Council anticipated and called for lay leadership of our Catholic institutions," said Nicholas Wolsonovich, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago. "Notre Dame will serve as our prototype for lay leadership while preserving our Catholic identity. Cardinal George has challenged us to create a structure that meets the needs of the Church and the community and to support its success."

"The process has moved along very swiftly and we are in the final days of canon law document preparation," said Joseph Gurdak, advisory board chair and president of the new not-for- profit corporation. "We will be welcoming students with great enthusiasm to our open houses on November 2 and 12."

Experts in both canon and civil law will finish their work this week. Christopher Nowotarski, JD, of Stone, Pogrund & Korey, a Notre Dame board member and Rev. Patrick Laggas, JCD, Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Chicago are both working on behalf of the school to craft a structure that will ensure the long term vitality of Notre Dame High School.

On October 9, members of the new board visited the Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, an independent Catholic school that was formed in 1974 when its two sponsoring religious communities ended their involvement. The school has thrived under new leadership and now ranks consistently at the top in its area. Cathedral has been twice-recognized as a No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, a U.S. Department of Education award honoring academically superior schools. "It was an inspiration to see the excellence this school has achieved under dedicated lay and religious leadership," said Robert Flood, Notre Dame alumnus and board member. "My nephew attends Cathedral and has grown strong in his faith and well rounded in academics and extracurricular activities. Cathedral's leaders were generous with their time, advice and encouragement. We want to preserve Notre Dame's tradition and reach for an even more successful future. "

Prospective students are invited to open houses on Thursday, November 2 from 5:30-8:30 pm and Sunday, November 12 from 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m at the school located at 7655 W. Dempster Street in Niles.

About Notre Dame High School

For more than a half century, Notre Dame High School, a Catholic, college preparatory school located in Niles, Ill., has prepared more than 11,500 young men for life beyond college. Located on 28 beautifully landscaped acres, Notre Dame currently serves approximately 780 students from Chicago's Northwest Side and northern suburbs who receive an education for both mind and heart. In the pursuit of their full potential, the Dons of Notre Dame, the Gentlemen of Mary, experience excellence in academics, a vibrant spiritual life, opportunity for leadership, involvement in extracurricular activities and a school spirit like no other. For general inquiries contact Teresa Connelly, Media Relations Specialist, at 847.779.8622 or tconnelly@ndhsdons.org.

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/© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

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