Columnists |
 |
Taking Ownership of Our Schools
by AJ Czerwinski
Last January, FAITH magazine published a special report, Securing the Future of our Catholic Schools. In it, Bishop Trautman called the supervision and support of our Catholic Schools “one of the most crucial responsibilities” of the Erie Diocese.
He also noted we must recognize our educational system cannot thrive unless we are dynamic and creative in response to demographic changes we cannot control. At the time of the report, the diocese was preparing to initiate an aggressive marketing campaign with the goal of creating strong, vibrant schools to attract new students and families. We are pleased to update you on the progress that is being made.
During the first year of his tenure, Vicar for Education Father Nick Rouch quickly became familiar with the challenges of overseeing seven high schools, two middle schools and 31 elementary schools operating within the 9, 936 square miles of the Erie Diocese. One of the most comprehensive steps he and the Catholic Schools Office took this year was locking arms with The Advancement Counsel, a full-service consulting firm that specializes in Catholic school advancement. Their experience and track record, their comprehensive approach to the sustainability of schools and their commitment to Catholic education made them a perfect fit.
The Advancement Counsel is shaking up the way individual schools think about their financial stability. The days of Catholic schools raising money strictly through candy bar sales, magazine drives and other short-term fundraisers are being replaced by a more long-term, coordinated approach to sustainability. Strategic planning continues for each school, with an advancement program as a key component in each road map for the future.
This year, seven workshops are being presented throughout the diocese for pastors, principals, board members and other individuals from all 40 Catholic schools. They began last August and will conclude in May. The facilitators are Larry Furey, a partner with The Advancement Counsel, and Chris Hagerty, who is both an associate with The Advancement Counsel and advancement director at Cathedral Prep High School in Erie. Hagerty was instrumental in bringing The Advancement Counsel to Cathedral Prep a few years ago, and the impressive results helped convince the diocese to expand the consultant’s role. Hagerty says his association with the company has been transformational both for Prep and in his own life.
“We share a deep passion for the success of Catholic education,” he says, “a passion that is rooted in mission with a clear vision of a future filled with unlimited possibilities for the young people under our care.” He is convinced that a comprehensive advancement effort lays the foundation that empowers people to take ownership of their schools. At each workshop, teams of school leaders are learning how to approach alumni, business leaders and other possible financial resources. Leadership and communication skills are being fine-tuned to ensure positive results and school leaders are invited to imagine what their school could look like in the next three to five years.
The teams are also learning how to build relationships in the community; how to set up an advancement office and how to secure revenue from special events like golf tournaments. The next step will be to develop annual fund programs that invite people to make unrestricted gifts to the school each year. Eventually, schools will move toward major gift programs and planned giving efforts.
Workshop evaluations to date have been overwhelmingly positive, and Fr. Rouch says the Catholic Schools Office has been very impressed with the commitment of so many pastors, principals and volunteers. “They come to the workshops; they are very attentive and ask a lot of good questions,” he says. “They clearly care about our schools. They know the challenges that are out there, but there is a real sense of hope.”
The workshops are just the first step in the plan; the diocese will continue providing assistance whenever necessary as each school’s advancement team continues moving toward sustainability.