Diocesan School Board discusses goals, key events, improvements

By Ambria Hammel | Sept. 3, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Six new members, including one priest, began their three-year term last month as members of the Diocesan School Board.

The Aug. 19 meeting, the first of the new school year, featured updates on Catholic school enrollment and campus improvements, as well as highlighting goals and key events coming up this fall.

The Diocesan School Board is a group of parents and community leaders who volunteer their time to further Catholic education. They also strive to keep it affordable and serve as the bishop’s policy arm.

“We have an easy job because we have a great product,” said Jim Barasha, chair of the marketing committee.

The marketing committee is working on new ways to get the word out to those within the diocese about the value of a Catholic school education, with a renewed focus on the Hispanic community. Among other plans is a new Web site, in addition to further networking with local school boards. It will also work with schools to promote the Year for Priests.

Another committee plans to send regular tips to school administrators to aid in their work. Roughly one-third of diocesan schools don’t have a development director to oversee fundraising, donations and capital campaigns. Development directors often handle marketing, public relations, advertising and media as well.

At least one ad hoc committee is forming on the Diocesan School Board. Ad hoc committees usually have a short-term focus, like the one forming now to examine the use of school chapels for weddings and funerals.

A more permanent task of the Diocesan School Board includes establishing an endowment fund for Catholic education. The board put on its first signature event, Night of Hope, last November.

Plans are well underway to further grow that endowment at this year’s Night of Hope. The Oct. 24 event, as well as continued work with the Catholic Tuition Organization of the Diocese of Phoenix, is aimed at keeping Catholic education affordable and accessible.

Each school is invited to purchase two tables and secure donors to fill them. The public is also encouraged to sign up for the event.

Dr. Elinor Ford, former superintendent of schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the first laywoman superintendent, will give the keynote address.

“You will be amazed at the pulse she has on Catholic education across the country and on the Diocese of Phoenix,” MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent for the diocese told her school board.

Last year’s Night of Hope drew 900 supporters and $78,000 for the endowment.

School board members, both at the diocesan and individual school level, are looking forward to the fall networking in-service. It’s Sept. 26 at St. Thomas the Apostle School and serves as a chance for principals, local school boards and the Diocesan School Board to connect.

Holy Cross Father Joe Copora, the founding pastor of St. John Vianney School in Goodyear in 1992, will be the keynote speaker at the in-service. He’ll discuss ways to keep Latinos in Catholic education and will speak solely to pastors Sept. 28.

Andy Rubalcava, president of the board and local contact for Arizona’s Catholic Parent Advisory Network, updated board members on related legislative issues.

He called the latest legislative session a “banner year” because Arizona legislators removed a sunset provision for the CTODP in July, expanded the tax credit to help foster children and children with disabilities, and ended a three-year battle to allow tax credit money to come directly from payroll deductions.

Mueller took a few minutes at the school board meeting to recap the latest campus improvements thanks to a $30 million grant from The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust for preschools, elementary schools and high schools.

“It’s rolling out the door every day,” Mueller said of the grant.

Over the summer alone the grant has allowed several elementary schools to install new roofs, signage, windows and sewer traps. Mueller told the board she was impressed with how the architects helped schools stretch their money. A major project at St. Gregory School — the addition of four classrooms — should be completed this fall.