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.