Tamyra Hower, preschool teacher at St. Thomas More School in Omaha, works with students this past spring. The Catholic Schools Office Vision for Schools Task Force recommended to Archbishop George J. Lucas the establishment of regional boards and expanded marketing and development programs for archdiocesan Catholic schools. Photo by Lisa Maxson/staff.
THE FUTURE OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Regional boards included in plan for Catholic schools By DEACON RANDY A. GROSSE The Catholic Voice
A special task force recommends the establishment of regional boards and expanded marketing and development programs for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Omaha in a report presented to Archbishop George J. Lucas June 28. Click here to read a summary of the report.
The archbishop said he endorses in principle the recommendations included in the Catholic Schools Office Vision for Schools Task Force's plan, which he said provides "a course forward, with the overall goal of strengthening, expanding and improving Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Omaha," according to a statement released to the media.
The 14-member task force, led by Msgr. James Gilg, superintendent of Catholic schools, was formed earlier this year to identify challenges facing the schools and offer a plan to address those issues.
Calling the school system "one of the richest blessings of this archdiocese," Archbishop Lucas said the schools deserve "the recognition and support of our priests and people."
"I am grateful to the task force for establishing a strong and positive vision for the future of our Catholic schools," he said in the statement. "With this fine beginning, we now have years of hard work ahead to insure that we put our resources to best use and offer a Catholic education to as many young people and families as possible."
Mark O'Brien, coordinator of marketing and strategic planning for the Catholic Schools Office, said the regional boards are to operate in support of the site-based management of each school. "They'll provide a mechanism we don't have," he said.
According to the report, the boards will be staffed with school leaders and business and pastoral advisers, with the Catholic Schools Office providing support to the boards.
The task force recommended immediate organization of two regional boards - one in urban Omaha (including current CORE inner-city schools and other schools in urban Omaha) and a second in the Columbus area to begin addressing issues in those areas.
Archbishop Lucas agreed those boards will be established as pilot boards for the remainder of the archdiocese after "appropriate consultations are made with those who will be affected," including the current CORE Board, as well as pastors and principals from all the schools involved in each of those regions.
The plan also recommends creation of a committee on school models and academics, working in conjunction with the proposed Center of Catholic School Initiatives at Creighton University, to address all aspects of education, including research on trends and practices and provide assistance for the Catholic Schools Office and the regional boards.
Development efforts - both at the parish and archdiocesan level - will focus on providing the financial resources necessary for the operation of the schools and the achievement of academic goals and vision, according to the plan.
The marketing effort, O'Brien said, will focus on a message from Archbishop Lucas supporting Catholic schools. That message will be supported by communications efforts emphasizing the commitment of the archdiocese, the responsibilities of individuals and parishes and the accessibility and affordability of Catholic schools.
The plan also proposes an outreach program to young parents, non-Catholics and immigrant Catholic parents to become a part of the Catholic schools network in the archdiocese.
Work on development plans and the marketing efforts will get underway soon, O'Brien said.
