Transcript Effective School Board Operations and Building Partnerships

Effective Educational School
Advisory Council Operations
and Building Partnerships
Presented by Dr. rosemary j. henry
Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
Topics
• School Advisory Council Composition and
Committees
• Committee Reporting
• Principal/Council Communication
• Council Evaluation
• Professional Development for Councils
• Building Partnerships
Perspectives
“Catholic Schools are national treasures
and they must be preserved.”
Margaret Spellings
Former U.S. States Secretary of Education
“It is the responsibility of all Catholics to
support Catholic schools”.
USCCB
Purpose of School Advisory
Committees
• To ensure strong viable, accessible and
affordable Catholic schools
• To aid the school in responding to its mission to
the Church
• To expedite the business functions of the school
• To provide an organized and orderly process for
addressing school issues
• To perform strategic planning for the
sustainability of the school
Composition of Committees
• Share time, talent and treasure
• Diversity of membership-gender, age
• Representative of the cultural diversity of
community
• Special expertise and wide array of gifts/skills
(careers and professions)
• University, business, social agencies, parish,
alumni, legal, finance, building and construction
• Composition matrix (template)
Standing Committees
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Executive
Budget and Finance /Audit & Compliance
Facilities
Strategic Planning
Advancement (public relations, enrollment
management, fundraising, alumni relations,
grants)
• Education and Quality Assurance (including
technology)
• By-laws –Committee Roles
Ad-Hoc Committees
Committees serve special needs and are
temporary in nature
• Nominating
• Mission, Philosophy, and Vision
• Catholic Identity
• Principal Search
• Sports
Committee Forums
• The important work and planning of the Board
should be completed in Committee Forums—not
during Board meetings
Procedures
• Each committee should complete a planning
worksheet (see template).
• Each committee should present a written report
during Board meetings (see template).
Principal /Council Communication
• Educating the Council
• Modeling open communication
• Updating Council on topics: Catholic identity, academics, religious
education, enrollment, new programs, successes, challenges
• Essential Elements of a Principal’s Written Report (template)
Impact:
• Council members are informed and can spread the Good News
about the school.
• Council members become ambassadors for the school.
Council Assessment and
Evaluation
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Highly effective Educational School
Advisory Councils do not just happen!
Effective Councils result from an
assessment process that includes:
1. Standards
2. Evaluations
3. Development Plans
School Council Assessment and
Evaluation
Priorities
• All members of the Council and
administration must be involved in the
assessment/evaluation process.
• The assessment and evaluation process is
to be conducted annually.
Purpose of Assessment and
Evaluation
• To strengthen Council performance and
effectiveness
• To provide the platform for planning efforts
• To help the Council to play a vital role in
the school’s ability to fulfill its mission
Assessment and Evaluation Tools
• Discussion Questions for School Advisory
Councils (template)
• Evaluation standards
(template)
• NCEA Measuring the Mission Evaluation
Findings and Outcomes for Council
Evaluation
• Members commitment to the work of the Council
is revived
• Meetings become more focused and therefore
more productive
• Members’ roles become more clearly
understood
• Committees accept definite tasks and
accomplish them
Training and Professional
Development for Councils &
Boards
Exceptional Councils invest time and resources in
ongoing Council development.
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Membership in Boards and Councils NCEA
Webinars
Webcasts
Wikispaces
Conference calls with other Councils/Boards or
consultants
• Council/Board Publications
School Board Training and
Professional Development
Each school deserves an effective Council –
now - more than ever.
Information for Council/Boards:
www.ncea.org/departments/boards/webinars.asp
www.ncea.org/departments/boards/webcasts.asp
1 (800) 711-6232
Building Partnerships
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Community partnerships are a win-win
relationship for all.
The community becomes invested in Catholic
schools.
The community becomes ambassadors for our
schools.
The students learn the importance of service
and gratitude.
Partnerships (template)
Challenges for all School Advisory
Councils
• To keep our schools Catholic
• To provide a high quality education in a nurturing environment
• To keep our schools open, accessible, affordable, viable and vibrant
• To foster partnerships between parishes, the school and the
community
• To pray for God’s help---we are not alone.
Going for the Gold Standard in
School Advisory Councils
• Goals established by each committee
• SMART Goals
• Specific, measurable, attainable, results
oriented, and time bound
• Strategically prioritize goals with Principal and
Pastor
• Backward Design- start with the end in mind
• Develop action steps
Gold Standard
• Recruit and engage committee members to achieve
goals
• Committees present written reports on a regular basis
highlighting goal progress
• Examine SWOT
• Celebrate successes
• Examine support provided to the Principal—spiritual,
physical, emotional, material, sounding board
• The silver and the bronze are only second and
third…Jesus only wants our best…We must go for the
GOLD!
To Teach As Jesus Did
A Model for School Advisory
Councils
• Jesus spread the Good News.
• As a Council how do you spread the Good News
about your school?
• Jesus walked among the people and surmised
the needs.
• As a Council how often do you attend school
activities?
To Teach as Jesus Did
• Jesus taught by example and promoted
Gospel values.
• As a Council how are you ambassadors
for Christ through your ministry and work?
• How do you promote your school?
To Teach As Jesus Did
• Jesus taught through story and parable.
• As a Council what academic and spiritual
formation stories can you share with the
community?
• Jesus talked to the masses and led them to
believe in HIM.
• As a Council what families have you lead to the
school and to believe in its mission?
To Teach As Jesus Did
• Jesus engaged people of all ranks and
classes.
• As a Council how successful have you
been in recruiting people of diverse rank,
skill, gifts and ethnic background to serve
on committees?
To Teach As Jesus Did
• Jesus encouraged others to live a life of
faith, love, and hope.
• As a Council how have you worked to
ensure a hope filled vibrant future for your
school?
• As a Council how have you contributed to
a faith filled and nurturing environment?
To Teach As Jesus Did
• Jesus worked miracles.
• As a Council do you tell the story of how
your school works miracles in the lives of
its students?
Question
The Notre Dame Task Force on Catholic
Education questioned:
‘Will it be said of our generation that we
presided over the demise of the most
effective and important resource of
evangelization in the history of the Church
in the United States?”
Reflection
“Will it be said that our generation lacked
resolve to preserve this national treasure
built upon the sacrifice of untold millions?”
Reflection
“Will it be said of our generation that:
We abandoned these powerful instruments
of justice that provided educational
opportunities and hope for families
otherwise trapped in poverty?”
Reflection
SURELY NOT!
When the story of Catholic schools is written
historians will look back on our age and
marvel that against great odds---
WE CHANGED THE ENDING.