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Board of Directors
Reno, Nevada
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Bishop Manogue Catholic High School |
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Cotter Schools
The Board
1115 West Broadway
Winona, MN 55987
Principal Jennifer Elfering
Cotter High School and Junior High School are known collectively as Cotter Schools and have been in existence for one-hundred years. Originally created as a boy’s school, they are now both co-ed. The Board of Directors is just over twenty-years-old and their members serve the school with robust governance and a commitment to Catholic education. The board is comprised of 10 members; four parents, four representing the community, a local pastor and a secondary individual of choice. The last two members are both appointed by the Bishop of the Winona Diocese. The governance of the board now includes a standing Finance Committee and four ad-hoc committees; Academic, Facilities, Student Life and Catholic Identity. Personnel and Nominating Committees are assigned by the Chair as needed.
The Challenge before Them
The board recognized a critical need to increase school enrollment as well as to provide a new school gym. There was also a need to revisit the mission and vision of the school and to create a new strategic plan to put the school on the right track.
How They Overcame It
The board revised their mission and vision statements and staying true to them, the structure of the board was deeply over-hauled; ad-hoc committees were created to develop long range initiatives, new board policies were formed and they established a, first-time-ever, standing Finance Committee. With these new foundations in place, and during the midst of celebrating the school’s one-hundred-year anniversary, the board launched a capital campaign. Understanding the benefits of reaching out into the community, the board combined their campaign with a local parochial elementary school, despite the separate governing boards, and prior to the public announcement, attained sixty-percent of their campaign goal. One-third of the proceeds have been dedicated to enrollment initiatives.
What the Future Holds
The board members are committed to thorough and timely work, with great attention to detail as well as communication. Achieving a great deal in a short time, they provide professionalism, a high level of service, and a passionate commitment to achieving the best possible education for all of the students of Cotter Schools.
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Saint John Neumann Catholic School
The Board
721 Polo Road
Columbia, SC 29223
Principal Barbara Cole
St. John Neumann Catholic School is an award-winning school that was founded in 1986. Their Advisory Board’s fourteen members serve after being appointed (by the pastor), selected (by the board) or elected (by the parents) to their posts. Representing both the parent and parish populations, each member was chosen due to their background in a specific area of need. The board is comprised of lawyers, a marketing expert, financiers, a construction entrepreneur, stay-at-home mothers and a government worker. This board’s diverse expertise offers a multiplicity of talents to the school.
The Challenge before Them
Years ago, Catholic schools did not worry about marketing. Now, in a world where Catholic schools are experiencing across-the-board enrollment decline, marketing properly and effectively is crucial. Recently, a new public school, originally planned as a magnet school, opened a mile away from Saint John Neumann. Faced with this new and close competition, the board had to come up with a marketing plan to show why St. John Neumann was the clear choice.
How They Overcame It
Since 2009, the board’s main focus has been in the development and promotion of the school. A complete overhaul and creation of the school’s marketing material went into effect at that time. Utilizing parent resources, barter and trade tactics and ingenuity, the board created their marketing plan with a beginning budget of zero. By trading advertising space in the school newsletter with advertising space in a local paper (parent-owned), by bidding out to only parent-owned copy shops for the advertising material and by using photographic and graphic-minded parents to shoot and design their material, the board built what is now a comprehensive marketing image for the school. Part of their marketing package has been to develop five “one-sheet” fliers, each spotlighting a specific aspect of the school: the Pre-School, the Discovery Center, Special Area Instruction, Awards and Accreditations, and Differentiated Instruction.
What the Future Holds
Through the development of their five “one-sheets” and their all-inclusive branding efforts, enrollment has now grown and they have added four new classrooms, meeting areas and storage to accommodate their growing needs. With a little creativity, dedication, a variety of talents, energy, enthusiasm and passion, these fourteen people have accomplished an unbelievable feat for their school and their community.
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Saint Joseph Catholic School |
The Board
Saint Joseph Catholic School first opened its doors in 1954. Their board members are school administrators, parishioners, parish administrators and parents. Of the twelve members, seven are appointed and five are ex-officio board members. Each represents a wide range of professional expertise, which include business, sales, education, accounting, law, pharmacy and religious orders. Their governance style is wholly collaborative, with committees that work alongside the principal and the school. Their standing committees are: Catholic Identity, Communications and Marketing, Curriculum, Development, Enrollment, Facilities and Finance.
The Challenge before Them
Three years ago, the school was facing a financial crisis due to the decreased enrollment they had been experiencing for several years. From this, the advisory board saw a need to reexamine the direction of the school and to create one overarching plan to unite the mission of the school with its image, balance the budget and put Saint Joseph Catholic School back on the path to success.
How They Overcame It
The board worked collaboratively with the parish, principal and the Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) to establish a financial plan that allowed the school a subsidy from the parish and PTO, which would meet operating expenses, while a leaner budget was developed by the board. With an aim to reduce operating expenses further, the board established an Annual Fund: new procedures were written, a goal was established and marketing materials were produced. The Annual Fund has now met and exceeded its initial goal. To keep the school moving forward, they also established a Three-Year Strategic Plan, which will be reviewed and updated yearly. Each committee was charged with bettering the school. The endeavors born from this were to upgrade facilities, increase enrollment, validate curriculum, continue development activities, continue the Catholic Identity of the school and establish a quarterly color newsletter to communicate better with parents and parishioners. In addition, Saint Joseph Catholic School now has a new logo, established color schemes and tag line, all now proudly displayed on their updated website, each aiding the school in support of their new mission statement and presenting a unified image.
What the Future Holds
Saint Joseph Catholic School’s enrollment is now growing. Their school board can be found helping in every arena throughout the year, even staffing the Catholic Schools Week program efforts. By focusing on the individual expertise of each member, working as a team, but also the board empowers each member to take ownership for their piece of the puzzle, as well as the school as a whole. Each board member is a stakeholder in the school’s continued success.
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At the Board Award Luncheon, a 12-foot-long outdoor banner (co-sponsored by the Pearson Foundation and SchoolReach) announcing the 2012 Outstanding Board Award was presented to each awarded board (as seen here with Cotter Schools) so that prospective families and passersby will know that this is a high-quality school backed by an effective board.
