Diocesan School Board Meeting, September 12, 2012

The Diocesan School Board met on September 12. The first item on the agenda was a presentation on high school budgets and enrollment from Anthony Rabago, the diocesan controller. He reported that there are no areas of concern this year, and that enrollment is steady and in some cases has increased.

Committee Reports

• AZCPAN: Working on the Catholic Education Arizona rally held at the capitol after the Catholic Schools Week Mass in January. Also sponsoring a leadership program for high school students, encouraging them to become involved in legislative issues that affect our schools.
• Catholic Identity: Will provide a holy card with a prayer for the Year of Faith to every student in our schools. They are also developing a packet and welcome letter for all the schools outlining the events and purpose behind the Year of Faith.
• Marketing: Working on a survey of competing schools, a possible receptionist in-service, and the blog.
• Night of Hope: Invitations are at the printer, hoping to send out 2,000. Will audition high school students for the role of MC. Working on underwriting.
• Nomination In-Service: In-Service coming up Saturday, September 22. Everyone on the DSB should contact their local school board contact and encourage them to attend. The committee is working on developing a manual for local school boards, starting with a questionnaire to the boards asking them what their needs are. Looking at inviting two school boards (high school and elementary) to attend the DSB meetings.
• Year of Faith: Came up with a calendar of events for the year ahead.

Catholic Schools Office

• Sr. Melita, assistant superintendent, reported that over 1,000 elementary school students are participating in the fall sports of softball and flag football. The CYAA received a $2,500 grant to help pay officials. Committees are meeting to revise the math, language arts, and science programs in order to bring them in line with the common core curriculum.
• MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent, reported that ITBS testing will be the topic for Educator Day on October 8. Seven elementary schools and two high schools are beginning their accreditation processes. On September 14, the annual Leadership Day for elementary student councils was held at Bourgade High School. The norms allowing schools to call themselves private, independent Catholic schools were reviewed.
• MaryBeth gave a presentation on National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Elementary and Secondary Schools. The information contained in the presentation (and more!) can be found here.

Diocesan School Board Meeting, August 22, 2012

In an attempt to keep you up to date on what the Diocesan School Board is up to, we will be publishing abbreviated minutes from our meetings here so you can see what sorts of discussions are taking place every month.

Our first meeting of the year was held on August 22. It began with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Kieran Kleczewski in the Diocesan Pastoral Center's Chapel that included a brief commissioning ceremony for the new Board members. The Board then moved into its meeting room and began the formal part of the meeting with introductions.

The DSB committee heads then shared their goals for the year:

• AZCPAN: Pursuing affordable Catholic education, religious freedom in education, getting high school students more involved with Catholics in the Public Square, keep people informed about current legislative issues that impact education, and organize the Catholic Education Arizona rally that's held after the Catholic Schools Week Mass every year.
• Catholic Identity: Keep the Board focused on Christ, be a mentor to our local school boards, educate about and help celebrate the upcoming Year of Faith.
• Finance: Review the high school financial statements every month, participate in budget meetings held at the high schools, and offer financial advice to Catholic schools in the Diocese.
• Marketing: Come up with a web-based marketing handbook for Catholic schools and do an in-depth analysis of the marketing, tuition structures, curriculum and instruction approaches of the private, public, and charter schools in the Valley.
• Night of Hope: The event is November 3. Guardians of Hope this year are Sr. Mary Norbert Long and Catholic Cemeteries, with a spotlight on Katzin Music's tenth anniversary of working with our schools. Working on underwriting for the event.
• Nomination In-Service: Held the New Members Orientation session, will run the September 22 Board In-Service for all local school boards, working to facilitate the flow of information between the local school boards and the DSB, come up with a manual for local school boards, and encourage DSB members to act as mentors/advisors to the local school board.
• Executive Committee: Sets the agendas for the monthly meetings, discusses issues as needed
• Ad hoc committee established to update and understand CYAA policies and procedures

September 22 In-Service: Information about the in-service can be found here. The keynote speaker is Dr. Rachel Moreno, a professional specialist at the University of Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives, who will be speaking about National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools. The day begins at 7:30 a.m. with Mass and ends at 12:30 p.m. Several breakout sessions will be held. All of this takes place at St. Mary's High School, 2525 N. Third Street, Phoenix.

Catholic Schools Office Report:

• Cissy Frakes, assistant superintendent, reported that the school year begins with four new principals, two new preschool directors, and 70 new teachers. The CSO is beginning a new teacher evaluation and growth plan process that goes into effect this year.
• Sr. Melita, assistant superintendent, reported that the CYAA sponsored a meeting for all athletic directors, where the AIA recommendations for keeping students safe in the heat were reviewed.
• MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent, reported that Fr. Robert Bolding was installed as president of St. Mary's High School and the campus was blessed by Bishop Olmsted. 
• Construction projects: Xavier's Founder's Hall is to be dedicated, Bourgade is renovating their performing arts center, Notre Dame Prep is working on their athletic field. 
• On September 20, the Arizona Council for Private Education will give out their Educator of the Year awards and a diocesan school has been nominated for each one.

Next meeting: September 12 at 4 p.m. at the Diocesan Pastoral Center