Phase I – Educational Options Assessment

 

 

Task:

To define and evaluate a range of options for educational collaboration among greater Hamilton Catholic Schools, enhancing the educational excellence of St. Ann, St. Julie Billiart, and St. Peter in Chains Catholic Schools

 

Timeline – November 15, 2006 – March 15, 2007

 

 

Action Steps:

 

1. Conduct an orientation meeting of the Greater Hamilton Catholic Education Collaborative Planning Team to review the overall scope of work during the Phase I – Educational Options Assessment and the roles and responsibilities of various individuals and groups involved in this effort. The orientation will include, but may not be limited to:

    • Project Overview
    • Principles of Collaboration
    • Roles of Finance and Communication Subcommittees
    • Development of IndividualSchool Educational Profiles
    • Development of Educational Excellence Initiatives
    • Concluding Educational Options Assessment

  2. Each parish and school will form a subcommittee to complete their Individual Educational Profiles (Self-Assessments) as facilitated by SLA. Subcommittees may include additional representatives beyond those on the combined collaborative planning team.

 

3. Facilitate two to three meetings of each parish-based subcommittee to develop and complete their Individual Educational Profiles (Self-Assessments) for their schools. Profiles will include qualitative and quantitative data as identified below:

a) Quantitative Data Elements, including:

      • Five-Year Enrollment Trends by Grade Level
      • Five-Year Financial History of the School
      • Community Demographic Data (provided by SLA)
      • Unique Special Programs of the School
      • Employee Trend Data
      • Facility Capacity

b) Qualitative Data, including:

      • Strengths of the individual school
      • Weaknesses of the individual school
      • Core Competencies of the individual school
      • School leadership culture
      • Operating structure

4.   Each individual parish or school will designate an individual staff member or    volunteer to complete the Archdiocese of Cincinnati LT3 Financial Model to create an online financial profile of their school using this resource provided by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. This will provide a consistent comparison of each school’s financial history.

 5.   Fully document each of three educational profiles for the Greater Hamilton   Catholic Schools, including the quantitative and qualitative data resulting    from meetings of the parish/school subcommittees.

 

6. Concurrent with the creation of Individual School Educational Profiles, facilitate the development of Educational Excellence Initiatives involving the faculty from the three schools of St. Ann, St. Julie Billiart, and St. Peter in Chains. Faculty members will be given the opportunity to participate in one of four Educational Excellence Initiative Teams to complete this work. Teams will be formed in the following areas:

    • Curriculum Integration
    • Professional Development of Faculty and Staff
    • Student and Family Support Services
    • Faith Formation of School Personnel and Student Families

7.   Facilitate approximately two separate working sessions for each Educational    Excellence Initiative Team of faculty to develop a recommended set of    educational initiatives which could be enhanced by collaboration among their schools. These discussions will include a definition of the following:

    • Educational Initiatives Strategy
    • Scope of Proposed Shared Services
    • Recommended Service Delivery Model

8.   Fully document four sets of the proposed Educational Excellence Initiatives corresponding to the faculty teams of:

    • Curriculum Integration
    • Professional Development of Faculty and Staff
    • Student and Family Support Services
    • Faith Formation of School Personnel and Student Families

 

These initiatives will be included in the overall

Phase I – Educational Options Assessment.

 

9.   Facilitate approximately three concluding meetings of the Greater Hamilton   Catholic Education Collaborative Planning Team to review the planning    data developed through the:

    • IndividualSchool Educational Profiles
    • Educational Excellence Initiative Teams

The Collaborative Planning Team will develop a range of options for    educational collaboration among the three participating schools and evaluate them in detail.

 

 10.   The Collaborative Planning Team will be facilitated in the process of    evaluating each of the possible educational collaborative options on a range of factors provided by SLA. These factors include:

    • Educational Mission Alignment
    • Market Attractiveness for New Students and Families
    • Value to Current Parents and Students
    • Technical Feasibility
    • Core Competencies Available or Accessible
    • Financial Viability
    • Just Do It!

11.   Based on the findings of the Greater Hamilton Catholic Education    Collaborative Planning Team, fully document a Phase I – Educational    Options Assessment Report to be presented to the pastors, pastoral councils, and education commissions of each of the three participating parishes. This   report will include:

    • IndividualSchool Educational Profiles
    • Proposed Educational Excellence Initiatives
    • Evaluation of Collaborative Educational Options
    • Recommended Option for Phase II Plan

12.  Work with the Greater Hamilton Catholic School Collaborative Planning Team to facilitate a presentation and discussion in a combined meeting with pastors, pastoral councils, and education commissions of all three parishes participating in the Phase I process. Constituents will meet to review and discuss options for moving forward on a Greater Hamilton Catholic Education Collaborative.

 

13. Based upon the decision of each participating parish to proceed, other    educational partners may be invited to join the Collaborative as appropriate.

 Outcome:

  

An initial assessment of a range of options for educational collaboration among the three participating schools in greater Hamilton to determine their preferred option for enhancing educational excellence in the future. This assessment will include:

  • Development of IndividualSchool Educational Profiles Identification of Proposed Educational Excellence Initiatives Assessment of Educational Options for Collaboration in the Future

This assessment will provide a platform for potential future collaborations among the schools and parishes of St. Ann, St. Julie Billiart, and St. Peter in Chains, as well as other Catholic schools and educational partners in the greater Hamilton area interested in pursuing a shared vision for educational excellence.