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Last week, the St. Daniel the Prophet School community in Scottsdale learned that the school will close its doors for good in May. Queen of Peace School in Mesa could be next.

But the news does not have to break that way. The school could remain open next year if the community helps raise $150,000 in cash by March 15.

Queen of Peace also needs another $260,000 in pledges by March of 2012, the year the school in the heart of historic downtown Mesa would turn 70. Take a look at (and share) the appeal video the students helped make:

The school, like many in the diocese, has been hit hard by the economy and low enrollment. Things could improve with a little help. Seriously, it would take less than $1 each from the nearly 253,000 households that the diocesan directory says fill the pews every week.

That seems like a tiny sacrifice worth more than its weight in gold. Don’t forget that Catholic school graduates are highly educated with 97 percent going on to college.

Queen of Peace students need you to help keep the school open.

Also, about 75 percent of a school’s budget covers teacher salaries and benefits. Even if you don’t benefit directly from a Catholic education — yourself or a family member — you will in terms of quality leaders down the road both at the church level and in the business sector.

On a side note, you may have run across this news in the mainstream media already. I noticed its ChipIn fundraising page was posted Jan. 21.

We were only tipped off to the news this week. Occasionally that has happened in local church media where those at the parish level think that we automatically know about things. That isn’t always the case.

On the bright side, the fundraising total increased by $10 while writing this blogpost. Every little bit pushes Queen of Peace closer to its goal. And the clock is ticking.