II. Vision for 2010
As a result of successful implementation of the Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools, we envision in 2010 the following:
Archdiocesan Priority
- Catholic schools will be clearly identified as one of the priority ministries of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
- Strategic planning for Catholic schools will have become a way of life, and strategic plans will be regularly updated.
Quality
- A distinctively Catholic and Christ-centered mission, values and program will be evident in all schools.
- All schools will provide quality Catholic faith development programs and academic excellence, based on agreed upon outcomes.
- All buildings used by the schools will have appropriate space for programs and be safe, attractive and well-maintained.
- Catholic schools will continue to be inclusive of a wide range of ethnic and socio-economic groups.
Leadership
- Leadership development programs will be appropriately funded to ensure that all administrators are qualified.
- All schools will be adequately staffed to provide holistic education: faith formation, academic excellence, social, moral, physical and effective development.
Governance
- Site-based management will continue to be a primary management principle.
- The Archdiocesan School Council will be an effective governance group.
- Lay people will be much more involved in the governance and leadership of Catholic schools. All schools will have an effective School Council.
- The parish-based model of governance will be maintained and nurtured, but when the viability of a school is threatened, new governance models will be considered.
Growth and Restructuring
- New elementary and secondary schools will have been started in communities that lack Catholic school options.
- The enrollment capacity of existing schools will have been expanded in communities where there is high demand for Catholic education and where land is available for expansion.
- Schools that cannot be maintained due to lack of enrollment or funding will be restructured.
Finances
- Facility needs in inner city schools will be funded.
- Salaries for teachers and administrators will be high enough to attract and retain qualified staff.
- Operating budgets in all existing Catholic schools will be adequately funded.
- Each school will have sufficient enrollment to be financially viable.
- The endowment of the Catholic Education Foundation will have increased.
- Tuition assistance funding from the Catholic Education Foundation and local sources will increase to match the growing need.
- Most schools will have effective development programs and an endowment.
Objectives and Strategies
1. The Vision for 2010 will serve as the target for the Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools.
Strategies:1.1 All components of the Strategic Plan will be evaluated against the Vision for 2010 to determine how well they help achieve the targets that have been established.
2. A Pastoral Letter on Catholic Schools will clarify the priority of Catholic schools within the overall teaching ministry of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Strategies:2.1 The Pastoral Letter, in concert with the Strategic Plan, will be guiding documents for Catholic school ministry.
2.2 Issues identified in the Archdiocesan Synod, the Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools and other archdiocesan needs will be prioritized.
