June 30, 2011

Q: Why is the administration’s structure changing?

A: Changes in the Catholic Secondary Schools’ administrative structure are the next step toward achieving the vision and the strategic priorities identified as critical to building and maintaining a sustainable organization. Our vision statement, adopted in August 2010, includes 12 strategic priorities designed to guide the direction and growth of our schools.

Q: What changes are being made?

A: The new structure calls for the organization to be led by a canonical administrator -- a pastor -- with a president heading up external affairs for the schools. Principals at each high school will be charged with oversight of internal affairs, including day-to-day operations. 

Q: Who will be pastor and what is his role?

A: Father R. Louis Stasker will retain his role as pastor.

He will be responsible for ensuring adherence to canon law, including Canons 803 (designating the schools as “Catholic”), 806 (appointment of superintendent of schools and oversight of the school through the superintendent of schools), 1276 and 1279.

The pastor has reserved powers including:

• Approval of the philosophy and mission statements for the school.
• Establishment of the board of directors as a board of limited jurisdiction.
• Appointment of directors.
• Approval of the bylaws for the board of directors.
• Approval for all capital improvements, additions, structure changes.
• Approval for all borrowings.
• Approval and ratification of annual operating budgets.
• Appointment of legal counsel and approval to initiate or defend litigation.
• Approval of auditing counsel.
• Oversight to ensure no alienation of church property
• Appointment of the president based on the board’s recommendation.
• Approval of the principals based on the president’s recommendation.

Q: How is this different from the current pastor/president’s role?

A: The duties of pastor have been clarified (See question and answer above.) and the duties of President have been delegated. (See next question and answer.).

Q: Who will be president and what is his/her role?

A: Thomas Maj, current CSS principal, will serve as president.

He will be responsible for ensuring viability of the schools through the implementation of our vision’s 12 strategic priorities. To implement these priorities and in accordance with findings of the diocesan school governance study, the president is responsible for GRCSS external affairs, including oversight of mission effectiveness, business affairs, fundraising, Board relations and liaisons with external constituencies, including parishes and the community. Specifically:

• Faith Community:
  • Oversees the mission, charism and Catholic identity of the school.
  • Articulates and promotes the mission, vision and Catholic identity of the schools to the schools’ publics.
• Business  Affairs:
  • Employs, supervises, evaluates and retains business administrator(s).*
  • Oversees accounts payable and accounts receivable.
  • Oversees budget and financial planning.
  • Oversees financial management.
  • Oversees financial reporting.
  • Oversees all personnel functions.
  • Oversees plant and facility operations.

• Development Affairs/Institutional Advancement:
  • Leads comprehensive program to market the school for image, enrollment and resources.
  • Employs, supervises, evaluates and retains the development administrator(s).*
  • Participates in the cultivation of major donors and solicitation of major gifts for the schools.
  • Oversees fundraising programs including annual giving, special fundraising events, planned giving, capital campaigns, endowment growth, etc.
  • Oversees enrollment management activities to attract, admit and retain students.

• Board Relations:
  • Assists the board in the ongoing assessment and development of the mission.
  • Works with board to prepare, implement and report progress on strategic long-range plans.
  • Implements board formulated local school policy.
  • Serves as administrative office to the board.
  • Keeps board informed of school activities, accomplishments and challenges.

• Liaisons
  • Maintains good relations and communication with the diocese through the diocesan superintendent of schools or other representatives.
  • Maintains good relations and communication with the larger Catholic and civic communities including the media, organizations, businesses, corporations, foundations, etc.

* Personnel functions of the president include:

o    Works with the board in developing local school personnel policies.

o    Ensures fair and just local school personnel practices in keeping with the social teachings of the Catholic Church.

o    Employs, supervises, evaluates and retains the principal, business and development personnel and other select non-teaching staff.

o    Ensures annual performance evaluations are conducted for all staff.

o    Initials all employee contracts and work agreements.

Q: How is this different from the principal’s role as it currently stands?

A: Many of the duties ascribed above to the president formerly were assigned to a single individual in the pastor/president role. The new structure defines and clarifies the division of responsibilities between the pastor and president.

Q: Who will serve as principals and what role will they play?

A: Associate Principal Greg Deja of Catholic Central will take on the responsibilities of principal at Catholic Central.

Jack Young, who is currently associate principal at West Catholic, will serve as interim while a search is conducted for a permanent principal for the school. 

The principals are responsible for:

• Faith Community Affairs:
  • Ensure the integration of faith with the learning process as called for in the mission.
  • Ensure that all religious, academic and student affairs programs reflect the Catholic mission, charism and identity of the schools.
  • Employ, supervise, evaluate and retain the campus minister.*
  • Ensure implementation of a spiritual life program for faculty and staff.
  • Ensure implementation of a comprehensive spiritual life program for students including:
    • Liturgies and para-liturgical services.
    • Prayer life.
    • Retreats.
    • Service-learning program.
    • Campus ministry activities.
    • Good relations with feeder parishes.
• Academic Affairs:
  • Administers with staff the day-to-day operations of the schools.
  • Employs, assigns, supervises, develops, evaluates and retains professional administrators, chairpersons, teachers and support staff in close consultation with the president.*
  • Designs and implements with staff appropriate curriculum and teaching/learning processes (ensuring that the written curriculum is taught, tested and evaluated).
  • Ensures that effective guidance and counseling programs are in place.
  • Ensures appropriate communication with and involvement of parents in the educational process.
  • Ensures that up-to-date educational technology is in place and integrated into curriculum and instruction.
• Student Affairs
  • Designs and implements with staff effective co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
  • Employs, supervises, evaluates and retains the Athletic Director and activities administrator(s) and oversees the employment, supervision, training, evaluation and retention of athletic coaches and activity moderators.*
  • Ensures with staff implementation of policies concerning student discipline, decorum, health and safety.

* Personnel functions of the principal:

o    Employs, supervises, evaluates and retains professional administrative and teaching personnel and support for faith community, academic and student affairs in close consultation with the president.

o    Submits all contracts and work agreements to the President for his/her initials.