"Alive in the Spirit,” the five-year Pastoral Plan of the diocese makes several references to Catholic schools and their importance to furthering the message of Jesus. In promulgating the five-year plan, Bishop has offered several challenges to the School Councils to ensure strong, stable Catholic schools.  The following goals and objectives create the markers for developing the future of our schools.

Goal III:             The Teaching Ministry of the Church

3.2       Assist parents and participate in the families of their children through Catholic schools; promote the theological formation of catechists along with other aspects of their ongoing education.

3.5       Study and support the need for new and/or relocated Catholic schools which can serve Catholic children of future generations in the light of the newer demographic patterns and for the highest of educational quality.

3.8       Expect Catholic School Councils to be committed to participation in ongoing and special learning opportunities in order to be good, effective, and efficient leaders.

Goal IV:            Catholic stewardship of Church resources

4.4       Support the persons who have met the criteria set forth for Catechist certification.  Require ongoing learning opportunities and support mechanisms that foster continued formation, including theological education.

4.9       Expect Catholic School Councils, principals, teachers, and staff to have a comprehensive study and understanding of the mission and philosophy of Catholic schools with a written and shared vision and plan for public understanding.

4.10     Expect that all Catholic schools are fully connected to electronic networks of information sources.  Teachers will have achieved competencies in the use of technology and its use in the learning environment. 

4.16     Help Catholic families who are in need and wish to send their children to a Catholic school receive financial assistance through a Tuition Assistance Program.  Recommend that in Catholic schools a cost-based tuition be charged to those who can afford the actual cost of tuition.

School Councils play a very important role in securing Catholic schools for future generations. Be sure that the School Council of 2002 is providing a strong base for the Catholic school of 2010.

Appeared: March 2002

• Manifests a respect for human life and dignity at every stage of existence
• Can relate to others with respect, listen carefully to another person, actively seek to understand the attitudes and opinions of others, can disagree with others and still respect them
• Tries to find the positive good qualities in people who are different from him/her
• Is willing to share some of his/her own talents to help others
• Is willing to speak out in defense of human dignity
• Can analyze social issues on whether human dignity is helped or harmed

• Understand what is included in the term "human rights" and knows what responsibilities go along with them
• Can cite instances where these rights are denied in society, can see the abuse of power usually involved and can identify legal means to address these violations
• Is willing to defend the human rights of others when threatened
• Is willing to advance the common good in society

• Recognizes the importance of and is committed to exercising responsible membership in the family and community
• Is committed to taking positive steps to build up family life at home and in the community
• Has a well-developed civic sense and is a participating member of the community

• Given his/her best at work and is prepared to defend the rights of workers when necessary
• Has values beyond economic gain in choosing work

• Is willing to put the needs of the poor ahead of secondary needs
• Is committed to sharing personal resources to help the poor
• Works to lessen the poverty by empowering people ro end their dependency

• Is aware of responsibilities to others throughout the world
• Is committed to work for world peace
• Works to counter attitudes that emphasize differences, whether national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological

• Participates in the formulation of the philosophy and mission of the school
• Formulates goals and objectives of the school
• Formulates policies which guide the administrative staff in working toward the objectives
• Accepts responsibility of the budget
• Participates in the selection and retention of the principal
• Provides for development, including public relations and marketing

Gosner, Gerber, Tinker, and Stuhr, a Chicago consulting firm, defines development as follows:

The overall concept of development holds that the highest destiny of an institution can be realized only by a total effort on the part of the institution to analyze its educational or programmatic philosophy and activities, to crystallize its objectives, project them into the future, and take the steps to realize them.

Development:

• is not simply an attempt to raise dollars through more or varied fundraising techniques;
• is a systematic effort to attract friends for the school and build confidence in it for the long term;
• requires common understandings on the part of all involved in the leadership of the school:
  • Understand basic concept of development, i.e.; “friendraising”
  • Understand the mission and philosophy of the school
  • Assume long-term effort and involvement of people.

Every school community has a personality which is revealed by how it handles everyday occurrences with its publics. Recognizing that administration is the responsibility of the principal, a public relations committee could reflect with principals on the following questions in light of present practices and the impact they have on parents, students, parishioners, neighbors and inquirers.

How are telephones answered?

How are visitors welcomed to the school? Do signs point the way to the office?

How are halls decorated? Do they communicate the message of a Catholic School? What is the message?

How do office staff respond the visitors? When are parents welcome in the building? How are they involved in the life of the school?

How are students recognized for achievements?

What kind of orientation programs exist for new students, for new staff?

How are concerns of parents handled by teachers and administrators?

In what ways does the school secretary see herself as an important part of the school’s public relations effort?

In what ways are students, parents, and faculty encouraged to be goodwill ambassadors for the school?

How would you rate parent-teacher conferences in terms of creating goodwill?

How are schedule changes communicated to parents and faculty?

What kind of image do your school handbooks and publications convey?

How do you provide for feedback in your building? from your parents? from the graduates?

Development and Public relations is an everyday part of the role of the school council members. Our publics want to hear about our schools. Many times, the message of our schools being institutions of formation and education can be silenced if we fail to communicate our message of the good news of Jesus. Make a promise as a School Council member today, to never let the sun go down, unless you have shared the good news about our Catholic schools. The mission and message are clear:

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation.”
Mark 16:15