Diocese of Covington - Education at PO Box 15550, Covington, KY 41015-0550 US - February 26, 2009

Members Present: Ms. Kim Halbauer, Mr. Peter Laterza, Mr. John Lonneman, Sr. Judith Niewahner, S.N.D., Rev. Thomas Robbins, Mr. Dennis Scanlon, Mr. Paul Scheper

Staff: Dr. Lawrence Bowman

Excused Absences: Rev. Mr. James Bayne , Ms. Ann Ulbricht, Mr. Michael Ward

Sr. Judith led the opening prayer. In attendance was Ms. Deanna Hengge, chairperson of the St. Joseph, Cold Spring, Board of Education.

It was moved (Mr. Laterza—Sr. Judith) to accept the minutes of the February 5, 2009, meeting. All in favor.

Ms. Melissa Holzmacher, principal of St. Joseph School in Cold Spring, reported that the school is working on increasing enrollment and held its first open-house. Many who toured the school signed to attend. A special Day of Gratitude for the Sisters of Notre Dame is being held; the school wants to keep alive their tradition. Most students go to Bishop Brossart High School (BBH), but students go to many different high schools. The supportive faculty is a wonderful gift to the school, working very well together and respecting each other. They do excellent cross-curriculum work; for example, the music teacher and librarian recently cooperated on a project. The school has a strong academic tradition. Students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities.

Ms. Dorothy O’Leary, principal of St. Therese School, reported that the school’s theme for this year is Navigate with Christ. St. Therese has been working with Children Incorporated; this year it is a School of Contribution. They are working on coming up with two projects that will involve the whole school as well as projects for each grade. Next year it will go to the next level with Children Inc. To Mr. Laterza’s question, Ms. O’Leary replied that St. Therese is still a stewardship school and that there has been a decline in enrollment. One factor is that there is nowhere to build new homes within the parish boundaries.

Ms. Sharon Bresler, principal of St. Thomas School, reported that K-8 enrollment has been declining, but pre-school numbers have been rising. Prospective parents and students are invited into the building. Much time is spent in writing grants, with success this year with two science grants and an arts grant. For mathematics and reading there are two classes in grades K-5. Spanish is taught in all classes from pre-school to grade eight. There is now a new video-editing lab to complement the one that was already there.

Mr. Thomas Seither, principal of BBH, reported an enrollment of 380. The school has an academic enhancement program with two teachers and a teacher with a master’s degree in special education. There are eight Advance Placement offerings. The Fine Arts program consists of instrumental offerings and a chorus. The school has purchased twenty-six acres of land across the highway from its present location. In future years the land will be used for an outdoor athletic complex. In line with the school motto of Charity First, a group of volunteer students from BBH, Newport Central Catholic, and St. Patrick High School are going to Uganda this summer where volunteers helped out two years ago. This summer twenty to thirty language students will go on a trip to Spain and France. At least quarterly, the schools in the district meet to discuss various issues. To Mr. Bowman’s questions, Mr. Seither responded that the school site consists of eight acres. There is a very good relationship with Reverend Gerald Reinersman, the school’s Pastoral Administrator, who attends the school’s board meetings very faithfully.

Sr. Dolores Gohs, C.D.P., principal of St. Philip School, reported that many of its students attend BBH. The entire parish and school community is planning for the 2010 centennial celebration. Each year students win scholarships and do well in the diocesan-wide academic competition. The school is small and offers individual attention and strong academics. A retired engineer works with gifted children. Spanish is offered; there is a counselor from Catholic Charities. There is a great spirit in the school community. The technology program is very good. Grants, printers, and laptops have been obtained from IBM. Smartboards are in every classroom.

Mr. Michael Clines, assistant superintendent, reported on public relations efforts being made by the diocese. On September 29, 2008, an advertisement was placed in The Messenger listing Catholic school open-houses. From January 20 through February 16 on Insight television, 418 spots were run, promoting Catholic schools and registration. During the weeks of January 22 and January 29 (two weeks), a two-page advertisement was placed in the Recorder of Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties (90,000 copies a week) promoting both Catholic education as a whole and individual schools. Cost-effectiveness was a goal. On January 27 during Catholic Schools Week, the Blessed Sacrament Chorus and St. Agnes teachers appeared on the Insight cable television program Northern Kentucky Magazine. On February 6 the annual Catholic Schools Week supplement appeared in The Messenger. One effect of these efforts can be to reduce the loss of students through attrition. Dr. Bowman noted that for the past two years, money from the secondary school funding program has been set aside for marketing and public relations. Mr. Scanlon commented that it made him feel proud to hear about Mr. Clines’s work.

Ms. Michele Ulrich, principal of St. Mary School, was not able to be present to report on the school’s public relations and recruiting efforts. In her stead, Ms. Theresa Greis, the assistant principal, reported. The school has a very good parent-teacher club that each year raises a large amount of money. Last year it raised about $50,000.00 at one fundraiser. Approximately $15,000.00 of that amount was set aside for public relations. A public relations committee was set up this year, meeting every other month. Board members received folders containing examples of materials that had been developed over the past few years. A brochure was sent out to prospective parents; a perforated card could be returned. Much work was done on a volunteer basis by parishioners who are graphic designers or printers. A mailing list of 3,000 to 4,000 was purchased. When prospective parents arrive, they sign in with name and address. For an hour and a half, prospective kindergarten students and their families visit the kindergarten class which sings a song for them. They spend time with a current kindergartener and the teacher and paint a picture. Each student receives a piece of paper which says "I can’t wait until kindergarten." A photograph is taken of the prospective child with his or her painting and is eventually sent home to the parent. In prospective parent packets there are letters from present kindergarten families. Non-gummy bumper stickers were made available with the school's theme for the year. Some of the items on display for the open house were letters from parents telling what they liked about the school. A packet of information was given to each prospective parent. Mentor families are assigned to new families. The public relations committee meets every other month. In the weeks after the open house, the assistant principal stays in telephone contact with prospective parents. Ms. Halbauer and other board members praised St. Mary’s public relations work.

Dr. Bowman reviewed the calendar that would be used to implement the annual Catholic Identity review. Toward the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, orientation would be provided to schools as needed. There is an annual checklist. The mission statement should not be more than three sentences in length, should include the words "embracing the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ." It should be: part of the first school-liturgy each year; part of the focus of the first faculty meeting each year; posted in every classroom in the diocese; promoted to the school and wider community, for example, through bulletins and web pages. Other items on the checklist are: being a Catholic school in regard to religious instruction, worship, daily prayer, liturgical celebration, sacramental preparation, communal prayer opportunities, faculty retreats, grade-appropriate student prayer and retreat opportunities, use of Catholic symbols in classrooms and in liturgy and music, use of the word "Catholic" in promotional materials, building of community between faculty, students, and staff treating each other appropriately according to gospel-based morals. The document will be given to the principals each year, and they sign off, indicating that they are adhering to it to the best of their ability.

By October 30, 2009, each school should submit its revised mission statement to the Department of Catholic Schools (DOCS). In early November 2009 DOCS will review the schools' mission statements. Every five years the school will review its mission statement. By November 15, 2009, schools will send to DOCS their up-dated mission statements. In the spring of 2010, schools will make use of two documents, Catholic Identity Review Sheet and Recording Instrument (internal document). These include basic beliefs and Catholic documents from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the NCEA, and authors who have written on Catholic identity. The material on the Catholic Identity Review List is taken from sources listed in the bibliography.

Dr. Bowman stated that in August 2009 a computer spread sheet of the reporting document will be e-mailed to each principal. At the end of August, a meeting will be held for principals and business managers of schools and parishes. This is for the elementary schools only since the high schools already have a process and reporting form they use for the secondary school funding program. By October 15 they will have to e-mail back to DOCS their completed reporting forms. In October and November DOCS and the Finance Office will review the reports. In late November or early December, schools will then be directed to publish reports, e.g., in parish bulletins and web sites. In January 2010 the process will be reviewed.

Dr. Bowman reported that on Friday, February 20, Bishop Foys announced freezes for next year (2009-2010) on teacher and staff salaries and on tuition and fees. The annual Pro Life Essay Awards Banquet will be held on March 11 at Mary, Queen of Heaven parish. The annual Ministry Fair for the Diocesan and Parish Annual Appeal will be held on March 26. The Department of Catholic Schools will have an information table about the work of Catholic schools in our diocese at the Fair. The annual conference of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) on Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education (SPICE) is held at Boston College each June. This year the theme for programs is Creative Governance Models for Catholic Schools. The Sisters of Notre Dame are training its schools in a governance model. St. Timothy without a school and St. Paul with a school have a governance model as does the consortium for the Alliance for Catholic Urban Education (ACUE). As part of the Secondary School Funding Program, high school budgets are due at the Department of Catholic Schools by March 19. Dr. Bowman asked how many members would be finishing their second three-year term this year. To Mr. Laterza’s question, Dr. Bowman answered that as found in P9124 the term of membership for voting board members is three (3) years, commencing on the first day of July. A member may not serve more than two consecutive, full terms. Past members may be re-appointed after an interval of one year, if there is an opening. After serving for the first three-year term, a member may re-up for a second three-year term. Dr. Bowman stated that there are five deaneries in the diocese, each deanery having two voting representatives. There are also a voting priest representative and a voting religious sister representative. Thus there is the potential for twelve voting members. Everyone is appointed by the bishop.

Mr. Isaak Isaak who was not able to attend had documents distributed to the board. One summarized the religion teacher certification program for the summer of 2009 and contained information on: elementary level certification (basic, general, and advanced); permanent diaconate formation program (basic, general, and advanced); high school religion teacher requirements; director of religious education certification requirements; coordinator of religious education certification requirements; formation and skills for directors and coordinators of religious education; summer schedule 2009 (all courses at St. Pius X School, afternoon, evening, registration); workshops (prayer, adult faith formation, Christian morality, introduction to Scripture, catechetical process); course descriptions (basic beliefs, Old and New Testaments, sacraments, Church history, justice and peace, liturgy and rites; Jesus; Church: vision, mission, ministry). At the end of the booklet is a Catechist Registration Form.

On Monday, March 23, 2009, at St. Pius X’s Milligan Hall, Maureen Gallagher, Ph.D., one of the authors of Blest Are We Faith and Word Edition, will present the background information of the Blest Are We Faith and Word religion curriculum. The group will then break into two; RCL Benziger representatives will present in-services on methodology, one for school teachers and one for parish catechists. On Thursday, May 7, 2009, at the Villa Madonna Academy Theatre Room, there will be a presentation on how to get the most out of NCEA's Assessment of Catechesis Religious Education (ACRE). The annual Catechetical Leaders' Appreciation Reception will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at St. Pius X parish in Milligan Hall, starting at 4:30 p.m. The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) will be held in Kansas City from Thursday, November 19 through Saturday, November 21. For more information contact Isaak Isaak at 392-1529.

The executive committee will meet on March 6; the next regular meeting is on Thursday, March 19 at St. Augustine School, Augusta. It was moved (Mr. Scanlon—Mr. Laterza) to adjourn the meeting which ended at 9:10 p.m. Dr. Bowman noted that members would probably be contacted about travel to St. Augustine, Augusta.

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