20 Years of Successful Catholic School Consolidation Kenith Britt, President Rev. William Felix, Pastor Rusty Volk, Director of Development

Catholic School Consolidation • • • • • • • • The myths of school consolidation History of Chippewa Area Catholic Schools Leadership/Governance Relationships and collaboration System planning Development and public relations Recommendations Questions/Comments

Myths of school consolidation

Myth 1:

money.

Consolidating Catholic schools will save

Myth 2:

Laypeople will be able to run the system and Father will no longer have control.

Myth 3:

Major donors are more willing to give to a system.

Myth 4:

A system will eliminate competition between Catholic schools.

Chippewa Area Catholic Schools • • 1880’s-1980’s – 3 K-8 parish schools – 1 central high school (parish high school through 1964) Investigation for consolidation began in 1985-86 (Educational Task Force) – Financial problems – Inconsistencies – Enrollment declines

Chippewa Area Catholic Schools • CACS Established Fall 1987 – St. Charles Borromeo (primary) – Holy Ghost (intermediate) – Notre Dame (middle) – McDonell Central Catholic (high)

Leadership/Governance • • • • • Diocese (diagram) – Bishop (Canon 806) – Diocesan Policy for Catholic Schools – Superintendent/Director of Catholic Schools Pastoral Authority – Dean – Pastors of supporting parishes President (central administrative staff) Principals Education Commission/School Advisory Board

Relationships and Collaboration • • • • Parish and parish schools Parish and unified school systems Parish/Pastoral relationships Finance structure of the Church – Diocesan funding sources • Diocesan annual appeal • • Diocesan capital campaign Cathedraticum (Annual Parish Assessment)

Relationships and Collaboration • Finance structure of the Church (cont.) – Catholic school system funding • Parish subsidy • Parish building maintenance • Tuition and fees • Third-source income (development, foundations, fundraising, etc.) – Parish budget • Collections • Other sources

System Planning • • 12-18 month process (or more) Acknowledge the challenges (real) – Demographic trends (i.e., population, industry, etc.) • Resources: baptisms, government, education, chamber – Enrollment history/projections • Catholic and public schools – Surveys • Internal and external – Student/financial data • Resources: test scores, budgets, salary scales

System Planning • • • Stakeholder participation (Educational Task Force) – – Pastors/parishes Faculty and staff – – Parents Community/Benefactors – Diocese Formulating the plan Communicating the vision – Town hall meetings – – Parish meetings Development

Development and Public Relations • • • • • Development defined – Relationship building – People to people Director of Development School System development Development plan Public relations program – Marketing – Communication

Recommendations • • Leadership/Governance – Defined/Accountable – Competent and sophisticated Relationships and Collaboration – Pastors/Parishes – Faculty/Staff – Families – Community/Benefactors – Diocese

Recommendations • • System Planning – Strategic – Financial – Transparent Development and Public Relations – Education – Communication – Relationship building

Wrap up!

Questions/Comments

Contact Information

Chippewa Area Catholic Schools

1316 Bel Air Blvd.

Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 715-723-0538

www.cacs.k12.wi.us

Thank you!