Salt Lake City, Utah
NABCCCE
2001 Outstanding Board Award
This consultative board is made up of both elected and appointed members. Effective communication and collaboration among board members, faculty, parents, and the parish community are keys to the board's success. The principal and pastor work together well with the board. Full participation in meetings is encouraged and all comments and opinions are respected. Board representatives attend meetings of the parish council and school associations. The student council president attends one board meeting each quarter. An extensive communication network with parents includes open forums, cluster meetings which have been replaced with surveys, a bulletin that addresses parent's concerns, a marketing brochure, a brochure listing accomplishments, a school website, a "Back to School Night" to present board plans to parents and faculty, articles in the monthly school newsletter, and announcing activities at parish masses. Active committees are another key to this board's success.
The board also conducts an annual evaluation of its accomplishments, goals, and committee composition, as well as an annual evaluation of the principal. This all-day event includes new members and outgoing members, providing both continuity and new ideas. The board developed a dynamic Five-Year Strategic Plan which is reviewed and updated each year. This was helpful in achieving accreditation from the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.
The board redefined the Development Committee to make it more effective. This committee now assists with grant applications and soliciting corporate sponsors.
The National Association of Boards of Catholic Education was invited give the initial training when the board was established in 1995. It was invited to give further training in 1998 and in 2000. The latter training included members of some new boards that were being established in the diocese. As a result, this board provides orientation for its new members and ongoing training of all its members, and has a clear vision of its mission and how to achieve it.
The excellent training and involvement of board members have resulted in some of St. Vincent's board members also serving on the diocesan board. As the diocese strives to have an active board in all of its elementary schools, it considers St. Vincent's board to be "a leader and a model" which is now "ready to train our new boards."