20 Years of Successful Catholic School Consolidation

Kenith Britt, President

Rev. William Felix, Pastor

Rusty Volk, Director of Development

• The myths of school consolidation• History of Chippewa Area Catholic

Schools• Leadership/Governance • Relationships and collaboration• System planning• Development and public relations• Recommendations• Questions/Comments

Catholic School Consolidation

Myth 1: Consolidating Catholic schools will save money.

Myth 2: Laypeople will be able to run the system and Father will no longer have control.

Myth 3: Major donors are more willing to give to a system.

Myth 4: A system will eliminate competition between Catholic schools.

Myths of school consolidation

Chippewa Area Catholic Schools

• 1880’s-1980’s – 3 K-8 parish schools– 1 central high school (parish high

school through 1964)• Investigation for consolidation began

in 1985-86 (Educational Task Force)– Financial problems– Inconsistencies– Enrollment declines

• CACS Established Fall 1987– St. Charles Borromeo (primary)–Holy Ghost (intermediate)–Notre Dame (middle)–McDonell Central Catholic (high)

Chippewa Area Catholic Schools

• Diocese (diagram)

– Bishop (Canon 806)– Diocesan Policy for Catholic Schools– Superintendent/Director of Catholic Schools

• Pastoral Authority– Dean– Pastors of supporting parishes

• President (central administrative staff)• Principals• Education Commission/School Advisory

Board

Leadership/Governance

Relationships and Collaboration

• Parish and parish schools• Parish and unified school systems• Parish/Pastoral relationships• Finance structure of the Church– Diocesan funding sources• Diocesan annual appeal• Diocesan capital campaign• Cathedraticum (Annual Parish Assessment)

Relationships and Collaboration

• Finance structure of the Church (cont.)– Catholic school system funding

• Parish subsidy• Parish building maintenance• Tuition and fees• Third-source income (development,

foundations, fundraising, etc.)

– Parish budget• Collections• Other sources

• 12-18 month process (or more)• Acknowledge the challenges (real)– Demographic trends (i.e., population,

industry, etc.)• Resources: baptisms, government, education,

chamber

– Enrollment history/projections • Catholic and public schools

– Surveys• Internal and external

– Student/financial data• Resources: test scores, budgets, salary scales

System Planning

System Planning

• Stakeholder participation (Educational Task Force)– Pastors/parishes– Faculty and staff– Parents– Community/Benefactors– Diocese

• Formulating the plan • Communicating the vision

– Town hall meetings– Parish meetings– Development

• Development defined– Relationship building– People to people

• Director of Development• School System development• Development plan• Public relations program–Marketing– Communication

Development and Public Relations

Recommendations

• Leadership/Governance– Defined/Accountable– Competent and sophisticated

• Relationships and Collaboration– Pastors/Parishes– Faculty/Staff– Families– Community/Benefactors– Diocese

Recommendations

• System Planning– Strategic– Financial– Transparent

• Development and Public Relations– Education– Communication– Relationship building

Wrap up!

Questions/Comments

Chippewa Area Catholic SchoolsChippewa Area Catholic Schools1316 Bel Air Blvd.

Chippewa Falls, WI 54729715-723-0538

www.cacs.k12.wi.us

Thank you!

Contact Information