St. Mary of the Annunciation Interparish School Board
Danvers, Massachusetts

The characteristics which make this advisory board successful are its make-up of a wide variety of high level professionals from the community, its effective committees and meetings, its communication with constituents, its long-range planning and vision, and its efforts to retain teachers by increasing salary and benefits. Key to the success has been spending a considerable amount of time redesigning the make up and structure of the board. Also the pastors of the two parishes are involved and work well with the principal.

Programs have continually been upgraded and the school has continued to be accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. When it became apparent that further program improvements would be limited by the condition of the aging building, the board took aggressive and comprehensive action to remove the limitations. Over a 3-year period, the board prepared a thorough needs assessment, space audit, constituent survey, and feasibility study. This led to a $1 million fundraising campaign and building program. The building, now renovated around the needs of the curriculum and student services, will sustain the school and the quality of education it provides into the future.

As the first elementary school in the diocese to initiate an ongoing development plan, including the hiring of a development director, it has been called upon to provide assistance to other schools. Responding to today's needs, two new policies have been designed to keep students safe: "zero tolerance for verbal/physical threats" and "sexual harassment."

This board has continued to improve itself by inviting NABCCCE executive director, Regina Haney, to conduct a training workshop. One of the things that came from the workshop is a process to orient new members. This board would be pleased to offer its story and assistance to other boards.