20 Years of Successful
Catholic School Consolidation
Kenith Britt, President
Rev. William Felix, Pastor
Rusty Volk, Director of Development
Catholic School Consolidation
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The myths of school consolidation
History of Chippewa Area Catholic Schools
Leadership/Governance
Relationships and collaboration
System planning
Development and public relations
Recommendations
Questions/Comments
Myths of school consolidation
Myth 1: Consolidating Catholic schools will save
money.
Myth 2: Laypeople will be able to run the system
and Father will no longer have control.
Myth 3: Major donors are more willing to give to
a system.
Myth 4: A system will eliminate competition
between Catholic schools.
Chippewa Area Catholic Schools
• 1880’s-1980’s
– 3 K-8 parish schools
– 1 central high school (parish high school through
1964)
• Investigation for consolidation began in 1985-86
(Educational Task Force)
– Financial problems
– Inconsistencies
– Enrollment declines
Chippewa Area Catholic Schools
• CACS Established Fall 1987
– St. Charles Borromeo (primary)
– Holy Ghost (intermediate)
– Notre Dame (middle)
– McDonell Central Catholic (high)
Leadership/Governance
• Diocese (diagram)
– Bishop (Canon 806)
– Diocesan Policy for Catholic Schools
– Superintendent/Director of Catholic Schools
• Pastoral Authority
– Dean
– Pastors of supporting parishes
• President (central administrative staff)
• Principals
• Education Commission/School Advisory Board
Relationships and Collaboration
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Parish and parish schools
Parish and unified school systems
Parish/Pastoral relationships
Finance structure of the Church
– Diocesan funding sources
• Diocesan annual appeal
• Diocesan capital campaign
• Cathedraticum (Annual Parish Assessment)
Relationships and Collaboration
• Finance structure of the Church (cont.)
– Catholic school system funding
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Parish subsidy
Parish building maintenance
Tuition and fees
Third-source income (development, foundations,
fundraising, etc.)
– Parish budget
• Collections
• Other sources
System Planning
• 12-18 month process (or more)
• Acknowledge the challenges (real)
– Demographic trends (i.e., population, industry, etc.)
• Resources: baptisms, government, education, chamber
– Enrollment history/projections
• Catholic and public schools
– Surveys
• Internal and external
– Student/financial data
• Resources: test scores, budgets, salary scales
System Planning
• Stakeholder participation (Educational Task Force)
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Pastors/parishes
Faculty and staff
Parents
Community/Benefactors
Diocese
• Formulating the plan
• Communicating the vision
– Town hall meetings
– Parish meetings
– Development
Development and Public Relations
• Development defined
– Relationship building
– People to people
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Director of Development
School System development
Development plan
Public relations program
– Marketing
– Communication
Recommendations
• Leadership/Governance
– Defined/Accountable
– Competent and sophisticated
• Relationships and Collaboration
– Pastors/Parishes
– Faculty/Staff
– Families
– Community/Benefactors
– Diocese
Recommendations
• System Planning
– Strategic
– Financial
– Transparent
• Development and Public Relations
– Education
– Communication
– Relationship building
Wrap up!
Questions/Comments
Contact Information
Chippewa Area Catholic Schools
1316 Bel Air Blvd.
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
715-723-0538
www.cacs.k12.wi.us
Thank you!