2010 Board Awards Descriptions - National Catholic Educational Association

The 31-year-old Trinity School Board of Trustees is a board of limited jurisdiction with 19 diverse individuals with varied and complimentary skills, including 3 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur who help them stay true to their mission. Grounded in prayer, this Board remains focused on strategic planning, has active committees that include many professionals in the field, supports the school's marketing and development initiatives, and communicates regularly with the school community.

The school's new leadership model has improved its ability to meet the unique needs of students and parents in the Primary and Middle Schools. The long-anticipated preschool was initiated with great success, meeting a real need within the community and improving kindergarten enrollment immensely. Many of the strategies suggested by the Marketing Analysis conducted by an independent consultant were implemented with positive results for both retention and recruitment. The initiation of the Julie program answered another need in the Trinity community and enabled them to minister to students who previously could not be served. Like the preschool, the Julie program flowed directly from the school mission and philosophy and was in complete harmony with the SND tenets.

The mission-driven approach by the board and its ability to effectively communicate with the community at large had another very tangible result in the creation of an endowment. The leadership demonstrated by the board's 100% participation in annual giving also was a key element in strengthening annual giving even in difficult economic times, thus improving the school's financial position.

With the support of the NCEA and in the spirit of Saint Julie, the patron saint of Trinity School, the Board of Trustees remains committed to the needs of the times and to teach the children what they need for life.

This 35-year-old advisory board for a parish elementary school (PK-8) has nine elected members with professional expertise as educators, school finance professionals, business executives, attorneys, ministers, journalists, engineers, and volunteers. The board meets monthly and operates several active subcommittees, composed of both board members and non-board members.

In recent years the board has adopted a new constitution to align itself with archdiocesan best practices, established active committees to work on development and marketing and recruiting efforts, reduced the school's reliance on a parish subsidy by 70%, updated facilities, established the school's first endowment fund, developed a survey and presentation analyzing 5 years worth of standardized test scores, revised the policies on tuition collection, and conducted an open forum meeting to obtain parent feedback on concerns and priorities for board action.

The board seeks to maintain the school's award-winning academic success while emphasizing a strong Catholic identity. It emphasizes collaboration and a shared leadership model with its principal and parish administrator. Because the board works to develop and maintain strong relationships and respect for others, differences of opinion lead to growth and to better decisions, rather than to conflict.

This 21-year-old advisory board for a K3-6 elementary school has 12 appointed and 22 ex-officio members. The board is humbled by the dedication of the staff, the ever-faithful presence and guidance of the principal, and the never-tiring shepherding of the pastor. The school has been dedicated to serving the community for 50 years.

The board and its members bring everything necessary to assure the success of each student and reinforce to each teacher the board's support and recognition of their commitment. Being Franciscan and faithfully Catholic gives this board and especially the school the unique edge and perfect strength to be daringly different in a community so much in need of someone who will make a difference.

This 38-year-old, 11-member advisory committee (board) has been a tremendous asset to the school and parish community. Probably its most important function has been to help in the development of a long-range strategic plan for the school. This plan has embraced all the necessary arenas of demographics, finance, and marketing.

Through in-service, each member of the committee has demonstrated a clear sense of its mission to serve as a policy making body, to support the school administration, and to advance a broad sense of the Catholic education and identity of the school, whether in providing the means for curriculum improvement, encouraging community involvement, or supporting social justice initiatives. This committee has a clear sense of the importance and the range of its mission, the challenges of Catholic education today, and the willingness to engage the entire St. Charles community in projects it has undertaken to enhance the school.

The St. Charles Borromeo School Advisory Committee has been a very active group which has sought consensus in its deliberations, has been very forward thinking amid the challenges it has faced, and has an almost uncanny balance in both its very practical nature and its visionary approach. The faith, hope, and charity that have characterized its deliberations, its activities, and its wisdom have been very edifying for the school community’s sense of a promising future.

This 22-member consultative board of a pre-K-8 school draws from members of diverse expertise and varying business backgrounds. Mutual trust and open communication among the board, the school, and the church have led the board to its many accomplishments. Committees and subcommittees keep projects on track and effectively oversee project planning, development, and implementation.

The board's successes are derived from its proactive, committed, evaluative members who constantly seek creative and resourceful ways for school improvement. Accomplishments include a new school Web site that provides a wealth of vital information and trivia and instant access to important information including the school calendar, school events, and frequently asked questions. The Web site is continually updated, with an eye toward the environment. School forms and flyers typically sent home over several weeks in the weekly “family envelope” are sent home just once. Thereafter, they are accessible on the Web site, thereby reducing the volume of paperwork sent home on a weekly basis.

The board's aggressive marketing efforts singlehandedly facilitated increased school enrollment for two straight years. The board has maintained very low school tuition despite the addition of Smart Boards in every classroom and the development of a two-teacher C.L.A.S.S. center designed to assist teachers and challenge students in all grades.

An indoor/outdoor banner also was given to each board, which proudly proclaims to the community the quality of the school and the importance of its board.