Catholic Education Boards: Limits and Latitude

A Short Tour on a Trend that will Change the Face of

Catholic Education

A Road Map

Collegiality in the Church The Catholicity of the Board How the Board functions What the Board does Some further considerations

Why Boards?

Vatican II documents Concept of lay ministry Ownership/stability Financial advice Develop/defend policy PR Assist administrator

Catholicity

Authority from Bishop Philosophy from Gospels Ministry in parish, diocese Consensus, dialogue, charity Formal/informal prayer Vision of the faithful

Nature of Boards

Juridic: non-parish, legal person Limited jurisdiction: usually

private,non-legal entity, limited by canonical authority

Consultative:non-legal, give advice, non-binding, must be consulted

Impermissible Areas

Grievances Hiring/firing/supervision Curriculum development Approval of materials Regulation Discipline

Public vs. Catholic

Juridic Levies/spends Hires/fires Curriculum Instr.materials Grievances Discipline

Consultative Non-binding No hiring/firing No curriculum No instr.mat. No grievances No discipline

Internal Functions

Leadership: Willingness to stand out from the crowdMembership: Representative, Selected, Length of term,size,

expectations, who may NOT serveDecision-making: consensus, not voteAgenda: make-up, distribution, moving it, place of prayer, inclusion of itemsMinutes: taking them, distributing them, importance, other recordsCommittees: importance, types, committee work

Effective Meetings

Start on time Be prepared Chair directive Follow the agenda Set a time limit for discussion Make decisions End on time

Effective Meetings

Work toward consensus Everyone contributes Avoid “parking lot meetings” Use small groups Write things down Make conflict “win-win”

Committees

Standing: finance, bldgs/grnds, student life, development, membership

Ad hoc: as needed Make-up Working

What does the Board do?

Strategic planning, including budget

Policy Development Evaluation

Strategic Planning

Annual goals, objectives, activities, projects

Long-range goals, objectives, activities

SWOT Avoidance of Crises

Managing the Budget

Board plans the budget Submits it for approval Monitors throughout the school

year Works in conjunction with parish

council, finance committee

Policy: a Guide for Discretionary Action

Comes from the Board Gives direction to the

administrator Sets a tone Translates vision into action Avoids crises

Policy cannot:

Control or supervise administrator Resolve problems after the fact Address isolated or petty items Substitute for programs

Policy: a guide for discretionary action

1. Faculty meetings are to be held regularly

2. Parents are expected to be involved in their children’s education.

3. All field trips are to be of an educational nature.

4. Students will not be allowed to do door-to-door solicitation during school fundraisers.

Regulation: mandates procedure

Comes from the administrator Outlines implementation of policy More specific than policy Meets the goal of the policy

Regulation: mandates procedure

1. Faculty meetings will be held the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

2. Parents will attend all parent-teacher conferences.

3. The principal will approve all field trips.

4. School personnel will send home notification of the ban on door-to-door solicitation at the beginning of each school fundraisingproject.

Origins of Policy

Persons Opportunities Problems Conformity to state, municipal

statute, diocesan directive Planning

Evaluation

Annual retreat Evaluation of internal functions Evaluation of external functions Evaluation of the board

relationships

Relationships

Pastor Administrator Parents’ organization Other parish organizations

The pastor

Canonical representative Promulgates all policies Is present for meetings Is ex-officio member of the board

The Principal

Is ex-officio member of the board May serve on a committee(s) Sole conduit to the faculty Writes regulation Provides timely information Expects mutual support

The parents’ group

Concretizes the vision of the Board

The board and the HSA

Plans programs Dev/app. Budget Forms policy Evaluates rel. to

administrator Insures quality

Catholic ed

Plans/supports programs

Fundraising Helps in regs Cooperates

w/administrator Enriches/

supplements Cath. ed