Fairfield-Hocking Catholic Schools Executive Committee Minutes from June 1, 2011

MINUTES (UNAPPROVED)

 

Attendance:     Msgr. Dunn, Fr. Kessler, Fr. Franks, Fr. Gideon, Fr. Walter, Fr. Reade

Erin Shornack, Pam Eltringham, Carlton Rider, Tiffany Wade

Kristin Gentile, Pat O’Rourke, Karen Wolfe, John Baughman, Kellie Boyden, Kim Kirchgessner, James Bryant, Cynthia Goss, John Snider, Brian Shonk, Linda Sheridan

Absent:                        Al Klinger

 

1.         Prayer – The meeting was opened with prayer by Msgr. Dunn.

 

2.         Introductions – Msgr. Dunn introduced himself as the chairperson of the Executive Committee.  He stated that Jeanette Kam, Office of Catholic Schools, will take minutes and a serve as a link between the Executive Committee, the Office of Catholic Schools, and Bishop Campbell. Each person introduced himself/herself and updated the draft roster.

 

3.         Remarks of the Chairperson – Msgr. Dunn stated that the make-up of this deanery committee, as determined by the Fairfield-Hocking Deanery Council is: the four pastors and Fisher Catholic chaplain, the four principals, and representatives of all Fairfield-Hocking Deanery parishes – the Lancaster parishes: 2; parishes without schools: 1; Fisher Catholic: 2.

 

Msgr. Dunn stated Bishop Campbell met with Pastors and with the joint elementary School Advisory Boards meeting to state his concerns about issues facing the deanery Catholic schools.   This Executive Committee is an outgrowth of these meetings with a goal of ensuring the future of PS-12 Catholic schools in the deanery.  Msgr. Dunn stated that he has no agenda and no determined outcome.  His job is to keep things in order and to be open to all ideas with no pre-set boundaries.  He asked that those committee members wishing to speak be recognized by the chair and that conversations outside of the meetings should be professional.  This board has many difficult and challenging issues to consider while preparing recommendations to submit to Bishop Campbell.

 

Msgr. Dunn ended his remarks by stating that this effort should be treated as a new beginning for the Catholic schools – nothing is set.  The Executive Committee, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is free to do the best we can for the parishes and Catholic schools of the Fairfield-Hocking.

Deanery.

 

4.         Topics for consideration (What does the FHCSEC want to talk about?)

• What are the 5-year enrollment trends for all three schools? What is the 5- to 10-year projection for PSR and the Catholic schools?
• Do we market Fisher Catholic as one school or use a Joint Marketing model
• How many students could we have? When do people leave the system?  Who leaves? Why?
• Who is the competition? What factors are creating this problem? How do they impact the schools?
• How does the competition impact cost?
• What is our philosophy of Catholic Education?
• What end result do we want?   Reason why we (Fairfield-Hocking Catholic Schools Executive Committee and the Catholic schools) exist?
• What are obstacles to parishioners starting their children in a Catholic school?  What are the internal obstacles to students continuing?  Would the increased coordination of the schools assist?
• When students leave the Catholic schools, some leave the faith.  Why?
• How do we understand what brings children in and keep children?
• Is the realignment of resources to address concerns important or not?
• How can we address maintaining enrollment from St. Bernadette to St. Mary’s to Fisher Catholic?
• What has taken place in other dioceses?  In our diocese?  Should we look at other models/options/scenarios?
• Should the three schools become one Catholic school system similar to Fairfield Christian?
• What effect did the restructuring of the public schools have on St. Mary’s enrollment?

Msgr. Dunn stated that the task of each sub-committee is to gather the relevant data and information, analyze it; organize it, and make recommendations to the Office of Catholic Schools and Bishop Campbell. The recommendations should be positive, creative and visionary.  Sub-committee members should be both members of the Executive Committee and from the parishes/schools at large.  He suggested that the chairperson of each sub-committee be an Executive Committee member and another member a recorder to the EC.  Additional members will be sought from the parishes and schools.

 

5.         Sub-committees for topics

The following sub-committees were established:

• Data – John Baughman, James Bryant
• Finance – John Snider, Brian Shonk
• Marketing – Pat O’Rourke, Cynthia Goss, Linda Sheridan
• Facilities/Personnel – Al Klinger, Kellie Boyden
• Communications  - Kristin Gentile, Karen Wolfe, Kellie Boyden, Kim Kirchgessner, Tiffany Wade

6.         Completion dates – Executive Committee recommendations should be completed by Dec. 31, 2011, with submittal to Bishop Campbell at that time.

 

7.         Schedule of meetings:  The next meeting of the Fairfield-Hocking Catholic Schools Executive Committee is scheduled for June 30, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Parish.  A long-term schedule was not set.

 

8.         Communications:  The following means of communication will be established:

Executive Committee Minutes – Fairfield-Hocking Deanery Website – Jeanette Kam

Parish and School websites – pastors and principals

Parents – school principals

Parishioners – pastors

Request for Volunteers for Sub-committees in parish bulletins – Jeanette Kam to parish offices

 

9.         Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned with prayer led by Fr. Kessler at 9:25 p.m.