Catholic School Governance The Mission and Function of Education Commissions & Boards

1. Catholic School GovernanceThe Mission and Function of Education Commissions & Boards

2. Prayer Eternal God Bless all of our schools that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; And grant that those who govern, those who administer and teach, and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth. These things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen

3. Questions • Why do we have commissions/boards? • What is the authority of a commission/board? • What are the areas of responsibility of a commission/board? • How should a commission/board function? • What are key characteristics of an effective commission/board, commission/board members, schools?

4. What is a Catholic Education Commission/School Board? A Catholic education commission/school board is a governing body whose members participate in the educational mission of the Church in collaboration with dioceses, religious congregations, bishops, pastors, and school administrators by acting as fiduciaries* for the Catholic community and by providing long-range direction for the school. *A guardian, one who has discretion, who will act with care, skill, prudence, and diligence as a prudent person in similar circumstances would act.

5. WHY DO WE HAVE COMMISSIONS/BOARDS?

6. Reasons for Commissions/Boards • To provide for stability & continuity • To assure fidelity to mission • To insure organizational effectiveness • To serve as a positive voice for the school

7. To provide resources for the school/connect the school to resources • To provide for collaboration, participation, ownership, & common vision • To enable leadership • To provide for multiperspectivalism[Different analytic perspectives which contribute to the elucidation of an issue or a problem.] • To provide direction in policy, planning, & finance

8. WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY OF A COMMISSION/BOARD?

9. Advisory • Governance • Gives advice.

10. Catholic School Board provides Catholic education to those who choose it, responsible for direction of one school, advisory, consultative or limited in jurisdiction Established by Episcopal/Congregational mandate Public School Board provides free education for all responsible for the general operation of a system regulatory in nature established by civil law Differencesbetween

11. Catholic Schools Board/Commission: Formulates & Adapts Policy Authority: Enacts Policy President/Principal: Initiates & Implements Policy Public Schools Legislature: Initiates, formulates, Adapts, & Enacts Policy State Board of Education: Establishes Regulations Local Board & Superintendent: Implements Regulations Principal: Manages Responsibilities

12. The Authority of the Commission/Board • The commission/board has the authority to make [recommend] any and all policy decisions which it judges to be for the good of the school in keeping with the limits of its jurisdiction. • The administrator should be allowed discretionary action in the implementation of commission/board policies. • The commission/board does NOT exercise administrative authority [except in keeping with a written policy to hire the administrator who then administrates the school].

13. The administrator may seek the advice of the board in administrative decisions but is not required to do so. • The administrator has full authority in the day-to-day operation of the school within the commission’s/board’s policy mandates. • The role of the administrator in a Catholic school is akin to superintendent AND principal in a public school.

14. Members of the commission/board act officially or with the authority of the commission/board ONLY • when meeting as a commission/board: the commission/board does not exist outside of the commission/board meeting, • when directed in a meeting to act for the commission/board, • when authority to act is given explicitly in the constitution or by-laws.

15. WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF REPONSIBILITY OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOL COMMISSION/BOARD?

16. Mission Effectiveness • Planning • Policy Formation • Finances • Selection & Support of Leadership • Development, Public Relations, & Marketing • Evaluation

17. ASSURE MISSION EFFECTIVENESS • Fundamental to an institution’s performance is a clear, strong mission and purpose. A successful organization must know what it does, why it does it and whom it serves. • The statement of mission should also explain what makes the organization distinctive and special and present compelling reasons for individuals and groups to support it.

18. What is the Mission of Catholic Education? • Catholic education is an expression of the mission entrusted by Jesus to the Church He founded. • Through education the Church seeks to prepare its members to proclaim the Good News and to translate this proclamation into action.

19. Since the Christian vocation is a call to transform oneself and society with God’s help, the educational efforts of the Church must encompass the twin purposes of personal sanctification and social reform in light of Christian values. [To Teach as Jesus Did, 1972]

20. …the [Catholic school] is educating its student to promote effectively the welfare of the earthly city, and preparing them to serve the advancement of the reign of God. The purpose in view is that by living an exemplary and apostolic life, the Catholic graduate can become the saving leaven of the human family [Declaration on Christian Education, 1966].

21. [The Catholic school aims] to develop in the school community an atmosphere animated by a spirit of liberty and charity based on the Gospel. It enables young people, while developing their own personalities, to grow at the same time in that new life which has been given them in Baptism. Finally it so directs the whole of human culture to the message of salvation that the knowledge which the pupils acquire of the world, of life and of humanity is illumined by faith[Declaration on Christian Education, 1966].

22. [The Catholic school has as its aim]…the total formation of the individual….These premises indicate the duties and the content of the Catholic school. Its task is fundamentally a synthesis of culture and faith, and a synthesis of faith and life; the first is reached by integrating all the different aspects of human knowledge through the subjects taught, in the light of the Gospel; the second is the growth of the virtues characteristic of the Christian [The Catholic School, Congregation for Catholic Education, 1977]

23. The Role of Catholic School Governance in Assuring Mission Effective • Understand mission and purpose • Be committed to the mission • Let mission drive decision making, organizational planning, assessment, & accountability: Integrate mission & values into operations • Articulate core documents

24. Educate its members • Evaluate mission effectiveness: • Do decisions of the commission promote & reflect the values articulated in the mission statement of the school? • Is the school remaining true to its original purposes? • Review the mission statement for adequacy, accuracy, and validity

25. The process of determining what a school intends to be in the future and how it will get there, Planning for an institution’s future is critical for its success PLANNING

26. PLANNING • gives the commission/board purpose and focuses its energy • is proactive: Translates the mission of the school into objectives and goals that can be accomplished • is done in cooperation with the pastor/president/principal • is long-range—a definition of & a blueprint for the school’s desired future

27. WHY PLAN? • TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE • TO STIMULATE FORWARD THINKING • TO BUILD TEAMWORK AND EXPERTISE • TO INFLUENCE RATHER THAN BE INFLUENCED • TO PROVIDE DIRECTION

28. The Role of Catholic School Governance in Planning • To initiate and “own” the plan. • To support, renew, and approve the plan • To actively participate in the planning process by asking good questions, expecting good answers, and serving as resources in areas of personal and professional expertise.

29. Catholic identity Religious education Programs/activities Public relations Development Personnel Spiritual growth Academic curriculum Marketing Plant & facilities Finance Governance Parents Recruitment School community Mission integration Planning involves

30. Policies are broad, general, and direction setting statements or guidelines. Some policies call for regulations to set a tone or to establish the schools position. Formulating policy is the responsibility of the board. Regulations are specific, concrete, and tightly written. Some administrative regulations arise our of necessity and do not flow from policy. Determining how policy is to be implemented is the responsibility of the pastor and his administrator Characteristics of Policies

31. Policies: • clarify expectations for students, parents, teachers, & others • codify and preserve board decisions • foster continuity and consistency • are intermediaries between the school’s philosophy and objectives and its regulations, programs, procedures, and organizational structures • give general direction to the administration (pastor/principal/president) • anticipate and forestall crises • reduce subjectivity, inconsistency and arbitrariness

32. Policies CANNOT • control or supervise the administrator • resolve specific problems after the fact • address isolated cases, exceptions, petty item • substitute for programs • be in conflict with diocesan or congregation policy

33. Good Policies: • respond to/anticipate need • are clear enough to give guidance and broad enough to give space • are written down in plain language • are effectively communicated • are regularly evaluated (annually)

34. Getting to Policy • Determine the need. • Identify the issues and facts. • Gather relevant data. • Draft the policy [consider and be able to explain the rational and the consequences]. • Present & clarify. • Consult if/as appropriate. • Discuss & vote: accept, amend, defeat, table, send back to committee for reworking. • Gain approval by appropriate authority. • Promulgate. • Follow-up.

35. FINANCES The Commission/Board: • provides financial oversight • assures that fiscal policies and practices are mission focused • develops the budget and provides for a realistic funding of the budget. • ensures adequate resources and monitors their use. • oversees financial management by developing policies which will ensure a financially efficient operations.

36. provides for reasonable tuition, just salaries, financial aid, and adequate maintenance & development of property and plant. • provides for financial accountability by reviewing the monthly/quarterly statements of account • oversees investments by formulating and monitoring an investment policy and strategy • maintains fiscal transparency

37. SELECTION & SUPPORT OF LEADERSHIP • The administrator is the leader of the school, possessing full administrative responsibility for the school under the authority of the pastor/president. • Selection of the administrator must conform to diocesan/congregational policy. • Research states that the administrator is the key to the success of the school.

38. The administration (pastor, principal, president) needs, expects, and has the right to the support of and positive reinforcement by the commission/board collectively and individually. • For good relations, clarify roles and responsibilities, keep one another informed, and understand each others’ roles.

39. DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC RELATIONS,& MARKETING A major role of governance is to insure that an institution has the resources to be effective: The quality and quantity of students who use the school’s services, friends who understand and appreciate the mission and role of the school,and funds for capital and operating purposes are essential resources every school needs.

40. DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC RELATIONS,& MARKETING A systematic effort • to attract funds for the school • to attract friends for the school • to build confidence in the school for the long term • to enable the public to know about and understand the school • to create good will • to attract students to the school • to realize the school’s desired future

41. The Role of the Commission/Board in Development, PR & Marketing • to provide leadership in creating, adopting, and monitoring planning for each area • to be askers--under the direction of development staff • to be cultivators--create a positive awareness of the school through advocacy

42. to be ambassadors--enhance the school’s public standing & ensure a healthy and accurate image • to be identifiers--identifying gift opportunities • to help realistically access the feasibility of fund-raising goals • to ensure adequate budgeting for development

43. EVALUATION Assessing effectiveness by monitoring and oversight, that is, by asking the right questions and expecting good answers

44. evaluate its internal operations: composition process of identifying new members committee structure & functioning meetings relationships with key constituencies overall performance evaluate its external effectiveness evaluate its relationship with the pastor, principal, president enable an evaluation of programs to ensure that they are of high quality and consistent with the mission of a Catholic school enable a professional evaluation of the principal through the Office of Catholic Schools The Role of the Commission/Board in EVALUATION

45. Professional Evaluation of the Principal The principal of the school deals with all the individuals and constituencies in the school. Consequently, the principal moves in an atmosphere of constant approval, criticism, pressure, acceptance, gossip, and informal evaluation.

46. To make a principal less vulnerable to casual, partisan evaluations, a professional evaluation based on agreed upon professional expectations is conducted via the Office of Catholic Schools. • Evaluation should empower, build confidence, and encourage as well as stimulate discussion of goals and focus energy. • Both governance members and the administration (pastor, principal, president) need to understand that their effectiveness is interdependent--the success of one is the success of the other.

47. One Additional Board/Commission Role:Generativity • Recruit, communication expectations, & orient new members for the commission/board • Assess & define membership needs: experience, skills, influence, affluence, demographic, etc. • Orient new members to how the commission/board functions & its members (by-laws) • Orient new members to the organization that is the school: its mission, programs, services, goals, and aspirations as well as issues and opportunities

48. The Basic Focus of a Commission/Board: a Summary • Mission: Understand, Articulate, Live • The Future: Ensure it & Provide for it

49. The Commission’s/Board’s Basic Responsibilities: a Summary • Enable mission effectiveness & purpose • Ensure effective planning • Provide overall direction • Ensure adequate resources & monitor their effective use • Select and support the administration (pastor, principal, president) • Enhance public image • Assess and review performance • Monitor programs and services

50. HOW SHOULD A COMMISSION/BOARD FUNCTION?