Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph School Board
Kansas City, Missouri

This 30-year-old advisory board has 17 of its 20 members appointed by the bishop, who seeks diversity in gender and race, and particular skills needed. One of its strengths is to reconsider its historic role and to continually redefine the issues and how they need to be addressed. A recent two-year evaluation process has brought some significant changes in functioning and relationships. Changes include engaging more directly with local boards, administrators, teachers, and pastors. Effective committees that carry out board assignments and goals contribute significantly to the board’s effectiveness. Some type of training and meeting evaluation take place at each meeting, and more thoroughly once a year. The meetings are very productive because they are structured around a careful agenda and balance reports, discussion, evaluation, action, prayer, training, and evaluation. A new School Resource Committee initiated regular gatherings of school representatives to share best practices and build systematic dialogue on topics of mutual interest. The board recommended revision of the diocese’s program to identify “red flag” schools earlier, and the board began to work with them to strengthen them.