NABCCCE

2002 Outstanding Board Award

St. Stanislaus School Board
Chicopee, Massachusetts

The characteristics that make this elementary school consultative board effective are its role in the 1998-2000 accreditation process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, its monthly in-service training for all board members and its annual orientation program for new members, its active role in the process of budget and finance, its annual self-assessment, and its establishment of an endowment fund to ensure the fiscal stability of the school.

The board has made a difference by implementing several major projects. The quarterly newsletter, now upgraded into a development tool, is mailed to parishioners, alumnae, and other community members. A part-time development director was hired to market the school and assist with recruitment and retention efforts. The Strategic Planning Committee was established to address both short and long-range issues. It assisted in the development of a Crisis Intervention Plan and recommended upgrading the security systems. The board promotes the endowment fund, which has reached $1 million. And it has promoted several programs that support the school's mission and vision. One program, the annual golf outing, raised more than $10,000 and brought visibility to the school.