- What is the Blue Ribbon Committee on Catholic Schools?
In February 2009, Archbishop O’Brien empanelled a committee to develop a strategic plan for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. This decision arose from growing concerns about a widening affordability gap caused by sharp declines in enrollment, and increased financial challenges, as well as an overall need for a long range plan that assures a strong Catholic school system.
- Who is on the Committee?
The Archbishop selected Mr. Frank Bramble, a Director of Bank of America and a Catholic school graduate to chair the Committee. Mr. Bramble, in consultation with the Archdiocese, selected 16 leaders from the fields of education, business, and philanthropy to serve on the Committee. View the full list of members.
- When will the recommendations of this plan go into effect?
Archbishop O’Brien must first officially approve the recommendations in the plan. He will ask his priest advisors and principals for any feedback before doing so. However, the Archbishop has said that he plans to adopt the great majority of the recommendations and has asked the Office of Schools Planning to develop a detailed Implementation Plan by November 1, 2010. It is expected that implementation for some of the recommendations will begin this summer.
- What did the committee examine?
Over the course of a 16-month period from March 2009 to June 2010, the Committee conducted a 360-degree evaluation of the Archdiocese’s Catholic schools and created a Strategic Plan that contains 56 recommendations aimed at achieving the overarching goal set by the Archbishop: “To make Catholic education as affordable and accessible to as many Catholic youngsters as possible as well as to non-Catholics in some of our more impoverished communities.”
- Did the Committee consult with other school systems, as well as parents, teachers and others?
Yes. Viability Assessments were conducted for every school and demographic and financial trend analyses were performed. Best practices for Catholic school sustainability were researched and extensive analysis of governance models were conducted. Listening sessions, focus groups, and a six-month public comment period gathered feedback from parents, school presidents and principals, teachers, priests, donors and others interested in Catholic school education.
- What did the Committee recommend?
In its Strategic Plan, Blue Ribbon Committee on Catholic Schools; A Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Committee focuses on four areas they identified as critical to the long-term success of Catholic schools: Catholic Identity, Academic Excellence, Governance and Stewardship. Among the recommendations are:
- the creation of an Archdiocesan Catholic School Board;
- new hybrid governance model for elementary schools;
- financial support of Catholic schools by all Catholic parishes; and
- expanded tuition assistance for students.
- When will the Archdiocesan Catholic School Board be formed?
Members of the Archdiocesan Catholic School Board will be appointed by the Archbishop and it is hoped that the first meeting of the Board will take place this fall.
- What is the new model of governance for schools and why is it needed?
The new model – the Archdiocesan Collaborative School model – is recommended by the Committee as the preferred model of governance for elementary schools. It combines the benefits of centralized governance (including heads of schools reporting to the Superintendent) with the benefits of local community involvement and a sense of ownership and decision-making at the local level.
The Committee believes that the most critical factor affecting the success of a school is the school principal, yet under the current parish and interparish models, the Superintendent’s ability to appoint, remove, or transfer a principal is limited. Likewise, expertise in curricular and instructional issues should rest with educators, yet in some schools those with primary decision-making authority, such as the pastor, may have little or no background in such matters. Pastors are increasingly being asked to take on more pastoral responsibility that detracts from their time to oversee a school’s operation and the principal.
Under the new model, the local School Board would be comprised of individuals with strong ties to the local community. A Canonical Representative (such as a local pastor), appointed by the Archbishop, would represent the interests of the parish communities in the area, coordinate priests to provide worship services at the school, and serve on the School Board. Thus, the model calls for collaboration between the Superintendent, who selects and mentors principals, and the local School Board, which is involved in key operational decisions affecting the school.
- How will Principals be affected by the Plan?
A key recommendation included in the Strategic Plan is the development of a Principal Leadership Institute. The Committee believes that principal leadership is a critical factor in successful schools and that providing educational opportunities for current school leaders and developing new principals must be a priority for the Archdiocese. Current demographics suggest that the Archdiocese will need to identify several new principals over the course of the next decade to lead Catholic schools. A Principal Leadership Institute is needed to prepare for the future, as well as to support principals in addressing immediate administrative and operational leadership demands.
The Archdiocese has begun efforts to develop this Institute with the education departments of College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Loyola University Maryland, and Mount St. Mary’s University. Professional development opportunities offered by the Principal Leadership Institute, will be not in lieu of a Masters Degree and state certification, but rather will supplement those basic credentials expected of Catholic school leaders.
- Will priests still be involved in schools?
Yes. Throughout the listening sessions and focus groups, and through public comments, the Committee heard from parents regarding their desire to have an increased presence of Catholic priests and religious in their schools. Catholic school principals and teachers also expressed a desire to have priests more available for liturgy, reconciliation, devotions and prayer.
The spiritual leaders of a Catholic school – school chaplains, pastors, presidents and principals – not only provide their own witness to Catholic faith, but also lead faculty, staff and students in the practice of that faith. The school community needs to be aware of these spiritual leaders, and the collaboration of these leaders with all faculty and staff is important. The head of school is responsible for assuring that these leaders are known to the school community and participate regularly in the life of the school.
Under the new governance model recommended in this strategic plan, Canonical Representatives, working with Principals and School Chaplains, will be instrumental in leading the spiritual life of the school. In addition, the Canonical Representatives are responsible for integrating parish life into the school and school life into the parish or parishes.
- When will increased tuition assistance be available?
During the upcoming school year the Archdiocese will award approximately the same amount that it has awarded during this past school year (2009/2010).
The Strategic Plan outlines several ways in which tuition assistance can be increased. First, the Blue Ribbon Committee supports the Archbishop’s call for all parishes to support Catholic schools, whether the parish has a school on its campus or not. Second, the Plan calls for the Archdiocese to conduct a capital campaign to support Catholic schools. Third, the Archdiocese will continue to work with its Partners in Excellence Donors to support scholarships for those who have financial need in the Baltimore and metropolitan area.
- How is Catholic school tuition affected by the Strategic Plan?
The Blue Ribbon Committee made several recommendations to the Archbishop concerning tuition. The Committee found that there is great inconsistency in the tuition and fees charged throughout the Archdiocese. Some schools charge a base fee and then tack on several different fees, making the actual cost higher than what first appears. There are differences in in- and out-of-parish tuition rates, different rates for siblings, and difference for Catholic students and students of other faiths. Even though it may not be labeled as such, when one student pays less tuition than another, this is tuition assistance.
The Committee did not recommend a single uniform tuition rate across all schools. Rather, it recommends that each school set its tuition rate to reflect its costs of educating students. It is recommended that each parish have one tuition rate and that all fees – except an application fee (to cover processing and testing) and a registration deposit (a non-refundable fee to hold a child’s place for the following school year) and fees for optional services (such as before- and afterschool care, transportation, music lessons, etc.) – be bundled into one tuition rate. This would allow families to compare more easily their out-of-pocket costs and create a more level playing field among competing schools. Some schools have already moved to this method of calculating tuition.
The bundling of fees and including them in one tuition rate is a first step at moving toward development of a tuition model that reflects, at a minimum, the true cost of educating a student. It is important that parents understand all of the actual costs of providing a Catholic school education. Even if there is offsetting income (from tuition assistance or development contributions), knowing the actual cost of the education is important for planning and budgeting purposes, for parents’ appreciation of value given, and for the overall long-term financial stability of Catholic schools.
- How else might my child’s school be affected by the Strategic Plan?
The Committee believes that planning for the future is an important objective for every school. The Committee recommends that each school develop its own five-year Strategic Plan. Proper school planning and accountability will help assure the security of the Catholic school system and the viability of individual schools in the coming decades.
Planning for the facility needs on each school campus is also important. The Committee also recommends that every school develop an annual facilities plan that addresses: ongoing and deferred maintenance, future facility needs, and adequate annual budgeting to cover facility expenses. In addition, the Committee recommends that the Archdiocese have a study conducted every five years to define short- and long-term capital needs of each school.
- Where can I read the full report by the Blue Ribbon Committee?
The report is available for viewing/downloading at www.archbalt.org/aplacetogrow
- If I am interested in learning more about enrolling my child in a Catholic school, what should I do?
For a list of Catholic schools or for more information about enrolling your child in a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, visit our web site or call 1-800-5-CATHOLIC
