Diocese of Covington - Education at PO Box 15550, Covington, KY 41015-0550 US - December 11, 2008
| December 11, 2008 |
(unapproved)
Diocesan Board of Education
December 11, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
St. Timothy
Members Present: Rev. Mr. James Bayne, Ms. Kim Halbauer, Mr. Peter Laterza, Mr. Paul Scheper, Ms. Ann Ulbricht, Mr. Michael Ward
Staff: Dr. Lawrence Bowman, Mr. Isaak A. Isaak
Excused Absences: Mr. John Lonneman, Sr. Judith Niewahner, S.N.D., Rev. Thomas Robbins, Mr. Dennis Scanlon
Reverend Richard G. Bolte, pastor of St. Timothy parish, led the Advent Prayer Service and welcomed everyone.
Reverend Bolte reported that St. Timothy is a rather busy parish and that parishioners liked it that way. When the Bishop sent Fr. Bolte to St. Timothy's three years ago, one of the things the bishop asked him to do was to gauge interest in having a school. The pre-school program was started last year. Participation in the pre-school and kindergarten programs would be one way of gauging interest. The parish is going to need a new building even if a new school is not built. As the economy starts showing signs of recovery, the parish will ask the Bishop for permission to look more seriously into building.
There has been great interest in the pre-school program. At least as many children have been turned away as have come into the school. The parish school of religion (PSR) program is huge. St. Paul is the official school for St. Timothy. There are 1600 families in the parish which is nineteen years old. It is hoped that a successful kindergarten program next year at Timothy will mean that more St. Timothy children will attend St. Paul.
To Dr. Bowman’s question, Fr. Bolte answered that St. Paul School determines the school budget and costs are shared on a per-pupil basis. There may be differences where more than one child in a family is attending. To Ms. Halbauer’s question, Fr. Bolte replied that St. Timothy's kindergarten tuition will be the same as St. Paul's kindergarten tuition. Dr. Bowman noted that policy 6110 provides that the superintendent of schools may recommend expansion to other grade levels, with final approval by the Bishop. The new kindergarten program will complement the pre-school program which has been in operation for the past two years. To Mr. Laterza’s question, Fr. Bolte replied that about a little less than half of the students at St. Paul are from St. Timothy. Somewhere between two-thirds and three-fourths of St. Timothy children attend PSR classes. Less than a third of St. Timothy children attend St. Paul School. It is hoped that a greater proportion would attend a Catholic school, instead of just a PSR program. A PSR program is just one night a week. Two thirds of the parishioners attend CCD classes. One-third attend St. Paul. Father Bolte hopes those numbers would reverse if St. Timothy opens a school. Many parishioners support having a school, not all. Boone County provides bus transportation for the St. Timothy children who attend St. Paul. The bus comes early, does not make many stops; kindergarten levels 1-8 are on the bus; the trip can last from forty-five minutes to an hour.
To Deacon Bayne’s question, Fr. Bolte replied that the Bishop will make a decision concerning the Boone County Planning Report after his review is complete.
Ms. Deb Thomas, St. Timothy pre-school and kindergarten director, reported that the budget of the pre-school is free-standing; there is no parish support. To Mr. Laterza’s question, Ms. Thomas replied that the pre-school tuition was $110 for a three year old for two days a week and $135 for a four year old for three days a week. In each case the time is 9:00-11:30. There is a fifty-five dollar fee and a twenty-five dollar fee for supplies. To Dr. Bowman’s question, Ms. Thomas responded that hopefully there will be seventy-five kindergarten students next year; they are recruiting. There has not been pre-registration as yet. They are doing mass mailings and have been targeting the four year old pre-schoolers to stay at St. Timothy. She meets monthly with the staff from St. Paul. They are working together and communicating. The St. Timothy people attended the St. Paul open house. Both parishes want to have more children in Catholic education. The two parishes will have registration for their kindergartens at the same time. Dr. Bowman feels this is a very good example of parishes cooperating for a common purpose and ministry.
Ms. Lynn Mowery, principal of Mary, Queen of Heaven School (MQH), reported that their pre-school program should be developed. She is pleased with the Step Forward program used by the Boone County School System and adopted by MQH. It is an assessment, intervention, and progress-monitoring system. To Mr. Laterza’s question, Ms. Mowery replied that there is a significant disparity between the cost per child and the tuition and that the parish subsidizes the school.
Mr. Michael Jacks, principal of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) School, could not be present. He typed a report which was distributed to board members. Enrollment is 686, Pre-School-8, with thirty full-time teachers, and ten part-time, and a pupil-teacher ratio of 25-1. In 2006 IHM was a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School. Things the Board should know about IHM's program:
- Successful implementation of an Exceptionalities Program. This program provides instruction for resource as well as enrichment.
- Grades 6-8 Elective Program—Students are given the opportunity enroll in quarterly elective courses taught by their teachers. Courses range from Food and Nutrition to Fun Math Challenges to Life Survivor Sklls.
- This year IHM will produce its first play Willy Wonka at the Boone County Library in May.
Sr. Elizabeth Ann, principal of St. Joseph Academy, could not be present. She typed a report which was distributed to board members. Enrollment is 174, Pre-School-8, with eleven full-time teachers, and three part-time, and a pupil-teacher ratio of 16-1. The following are new: academic team, student council, Spanish, and sports. Seventh and eighth graders have an extra class each week; the first edition of their school newspaper was so well received they are publishing a special Christmas edition. On December 18 in Covington, student council will deliver the food they collected to the Franciscan Daughters' Mission.
It was moved (Mr. Scheper) to accept the minutes of the October 23, 2008, meeting. All in favor.
Dr. Bowman stated that at the meeting it was noted that Mr. Mike Clines, Assistant Superintendent, would be working on marketing. Deacon Bayne said two areas must be addressed: present students must be retained and new students must be found. Ms Ulbricht said that perhaps a committee should be formed to help Mr. Clines. To Ms. Ulbricht’s question, Dr. Bowman responded that such a committee could be a part of the Planning Committee. Ms. Halbauer noted that an important part of the retreat was spent discussing Catholic identity in the schools.
Committee assignments for 2008-2009 were discussed with the following results:
Finance:
- Halbauer, Kim
- Laterza, Peter
- Scanlon, Dennis
- Lonneman, John
- Niewahner, Judith
- Robbins, Tom, Fr.
- Bayne, Jim, Deacon
- Scheper, Paul
- Ulbricht, Ann
- Ward, Mike
- Clines, Mike (Asst. Superintendent, marketing and enrollment)
Dr. Bowman commented that he had told Mr. Clines that people may be contacting him concerning retaining students. Ms. Halbauer said that there are roughly three on each of the committees; that there is nothing that says a board member may not be on more than one committee; and that committees may include members who are not on the Diocesan Board. Dr. Bowman noted the main responsibility of the Finance Committee is to determine a recommended salary scale. One aspect to an individual teacher's raise is his or her increment for years of experience. To Ms. Ulbricht's questions, Dr. Bowman replied it is up to the individual schools to arrive at budgets and tuition rates that will cover expenses. Schools may not pay less than salary scale rates; they may pay more.
Dr. Bowman noted that Ms. Ulbricht, Mr. Ward, and Ms. Halbauer are on the Districting Review Committee. To Ms. Ulbricht's question, Dr. Bowman replied that there is the districting surcharge issue and the issue of district boundaries. If district boundaries are changed, it could affect high schoolers except those in St. Patrick, Maysville. For others it may affect where they send their children to school; it may affect the enrollment of various schools. Only Covington Catholic, Holy Cross, Notre Dame, and St. Henry charge the surcharge. Two of these schools have significant amounts of money involved in the surcharge. Mr. Ward stated that it seemed several principals did not want changes.
Dr. Bowman reported that these education policies relating to the synod document of 2006 were discussed at the retreat. On Saturday, January 10, the synod documents will be presented to the full diocese: diocesan pastoral council. It will be given to local pastoral councils (pastors and board chairs), indicating what departments will be doing this year and their rationales. Copies of plans will be given to them, and they will get input from their people in the form of a written response. After approval it will be worked on the following year. This year the Department of Catholic Schools will be working on a standardized reporting form for the costs of Catholic schools and on Catholic school identity. The Catholic school identity piece will come to the policy review committee of the Diocesan Board as a policy recommendation. On January 11 two additional policies were proposed: that ACRE (Assessment of Catechesis Religious Education) be used by all schools and that the results be used to improve religious education; and that school functions not interfere with observance of Sundays and Holy Days. Policies and regulations may be needed.
Dr. Bowman reported the Bishop has decreed that January 22, will be a day of prayer and penance for the entire diocese. Every school will have a prayer service in the morning; principals will lead the prayer. Board meetings on that day are prohibited. There will be ten regional prayer meetings at parishes. The new date of the Diocesan Board meeting is January 29. Members of the Diocesan Board of Education are invited to attend the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass celebrated by the Bishop at the cathedral on January 28. Reserved seating will be available for board members. The theme this year is "Catholic Schools—Celebrate Service." In a ceremony after Mass, awards for diocesan teachers of the year and inclusive education will be distributed.
As treasurer of the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), Dr. Bowman will attend the group’s executive committee meeting. As a representative of the Schools Division of the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education (CACE), he will attend their winter meeting. As representative of the Kentucky Non-Public Schools Commission (KNPSC) to the National Council for Private School Accreditation, he will attend its national meeting.
The convention of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) will be held in Anaheim, California, during Easter Week, April 14-16 and Dr. Bowman has been invited to give a presentation on the spiritual vocation of Catholic School Leadership. The Kentucky Non Public Schools Commission (KNPSC) is creating a committee to track athletic issues in the state as they relate to private schools. Bishop Foys has approved the selection of new religion text books for schools and CCD programs of the diocese.
The executive committee will meet on Wednesday, January 7, 2009; the next regular meeting is on Thursday, January 29, 2009, at Holy Family School which is located at St. Benedict’s parish in Covington around sixteenth or Seventeenth Street, east of Madison Avenue. It was moved (Mr. Laterza—Mr. Ward) to adjourn the meeting.