LEADERSHIP SUMMIT ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
February 12, 2009

Best Advice

We must be:
- Positive
- Creative
- Resourceful
- Dreamers

We must articulate clearly:
- The Mission of the Catholic School
- New and clear vision
- Gifts and strengths of Catholic School
- Catholic Identity
- Our Story—we do more with less

We need to examine:
- What other (arch)dioceses have done under similar circumstances
- Root causes of problems
- Why Catholic parents are not choosing Catholic School for their children
- Effectiveness of current governance structures
- What other dioceses are doing
- New funding models
- Political options (vouchers)

We need to establish the premise that Catholic Education is a part of the overall Mission of the Church. 

We must recognize racial issues in the Church and its impact on Catholic Schools.

We need to develop a comprehensive plan that will make Catholic Schools viable for many years to come.

Consider expanding the Blue Ribbon Committee to include some teachers.

Recommendations

- Increase the number of PRIDE schools
- Create more Charter Schools
- Connect High Schools with Middle Schools for ongoing dialogue
- Inform and seek support and wisdom of:
   - Parents
   - Clergy
   - Graduates
- Centralize School System—move away from parish schools
- Archdiocesan-wide support of Catholic School funding:
   - By every parish
   - By a Cathedraticum designated for schools
- Increase lobby in Annapolis
   - Bus students to Annapolis when legislation is being decided
- Liquidate Church real estate to create endowment
- Develop a fair and just compensation package for teachers
- Include Catholic Schools in Intercessory prayer at churches on weekends
- Set observable criteria to define a successful Catholic School
- Develop new and creative partnerships with businesses and corporations.
- Examine:
   - Transportation
   - Leasing schools
   - Centralized capital repair fund
- Develop more aggressive marketing strategies
- Investigate our collective power by collaborating with other dioceses

Never overlook or disregard

- Problems are not a reflection of the quality of the academic programs
- Catholic Identity-we are not public schools
- Children first!
- The Mission of Catholic Education and the broader Church
- Missionary aspect of Catholic Schools
- The school is the Church for some students
- Connection to the Religious Community that founded the school
- The contribution made by Catholic Schools
- The great sacrifice the Religious Communities made years ago.
- Our Christ-centeredness
- Poor Catholic families first.
- New locations
- The responsibility of the Church to educate
- Evangelization within schools
- Once you lose something it is more difficult to get it back!
- Avoid creating “haves” and “have nots”
- Never compromise values
- Overburdening generous donors
- How we affect children’s lives is eternal
- Unique sense of community that positively impacts parish and community
- Catholic schools are the most effective evangelization vehicle of the Church
- Be willing to model a new paradigm with openness from the top down.