Living the Truth in Love, As Jesus Did - eSchoolView

Transforming Lives ~ Changing the World (continued from page 3)“Entrust yourworks to the Lord,and your planswill succeed.”~ Proverbs 16:3“Finalized in July, the 2010 - 2015 plan differs significantly from its 2005 predecessor”,continues Jarosz. The 2004 -2009 strategic plan focused on establishing thenecessary school infrastructure so NDCL could function on its own. The currectstrategic plan continues NDCL’s focus on its Catholic identity, academic excellenceand its position and presence in the greater community. The seven goals of the newstrategic plan are as follows:1. Renew and further develop NDCL’s culture ofacademic excellence, reflecting the educationalvision and principles of the Sisters of Notre Dame.The plan ensures external measures of student success and 21 stcentury learning experiences.2. To nurture in each student a sense of confidence,self esteem and self awareness grounded in NDCL’smission, vision and core values.As part of the process, the committee reviewed and strengthenedNSCL’s mission, vision and core values. According to Jarosz, the school’scommitment to its Catholic identity and its sustainability initiatives isfocused, direct and clear.3. To strengthen the professional skills and capabilitiesof faculty and staff.Boosting professional skills has a positive affect on academicexcellence. NDCL will continue to implement the latest technologyand sound educational innovations.4. Develop a broader innovative enrollmentmanagementplan.Demographic studies show that the traditional source of enrollment atNDCL – Catholic elementary schools – is shrinking. NDCL will seek newways to reach out into the community and connect with families whomay be interested enrolling a child at NDCL.5. To enhance NDCL’s image and profile.All communications regarding the school will contain a consistent messageand strengthen its position in the community.6. To strengthen NDCL’s Board of Directors,composition, structure, and functioning.“There’s a lot of heavy lifting that needs to be done for the school and a lotof challenges facing Catholic education,” Jarosz says. “We need to continueworking on strengthening the capabilities of the Board of Directors.”7. To enhance NDCL’s capacity to increase its philanthropicsupport and generate new revenue sources.“Giving back secures NDCL’s future,” concluded Jarosz.“Though there are seven goals, it is clear that NDCL needs to develop further sources of revenue besidestraditional fees and tuition. Due to the current economy, more families are qualifying for financial aid. It iscritical for NDCL to connect with its alumni and the community, and educate them on how important theirsupport is”, says Jarosz.“This is the Board’s guiding light for the next five years,” he says. “All of the Board’s work centers aroundwhat’s going on with the plan. It’s a very important document and we’re committed to carrying it throughand accomplishing our goals.”Putting the plan into actionNow that the strategic plan is finalized, the NDCL Board of Directors will assign each of the plan’s goals toa committee so action items, accountability and timelines can be developed.Dr. John Yankey, Ph.D., consultant with Beachwood-based Yankey & Associates, served as facilitator for thecommittee. Yankey, professor emeritus from Case Western Reserve University’s Mandel School of Applied SocialSciences and the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, was involved with NDCL’s 2004 strategic planning.“Data collection was one area that fell quickly into place”, he says.“Ordinarily, we would do a perceptual analysis survey to get perceptions of strengths and weaknesses of theorganization,” says Yankey. “We were very fortunate because NDCL was going thorough its reaccreditationprocess. Information was gathered in the fall of 2009 from the last six graduating classes of alumni, and fromfaculty, parents and present students.”In addition, the committee analyzed several key reference documents, mainly the report, Dollars and Sense:Catholic High Schools and Their Finances 2009 (Executive Summary), by Mary Frances Taymans, SND, Ed.D.and Christiane Connors. This helped the group better understand how NDCL compares with other Catholichigh schools in characteristics, demographics, enrollment, salary, leadership, administration, governance,and fund development. The committee reviewed the recently conducted assessment of NDCL’s funddevelopment program, created by Yankey’s business partner and wife, Sylvia, in 2009.After working closely with the members of NDCL’s strategic planning committee, Yankey was quiteimpressed with their level of commitment.“I do a number of strategic plans and, ordinarily, even if you already have a lotof the data that I mentioned, planning takes about six months,” he says. “Thiscommittee did this work in a three-month timeframe—they were quiteamazing. I can’t praise them too highly.”Yankey also commends the enthusiasm and intellect of the entire strategicplanning committee, led by co-chairs Linda (Saranita) McHugh NDA ’77,executive administrator for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and attorneyand consultant Marty Degnan.Now that the strategic plan is finalized, McHugh will chair a strategicplanning task force. This small group will work with the Board committees andestablish the process for developing the action steps, timeliness andresources needed.“I think we’re going to be working on leveraging a lot of resources in the staff,parent, alumni, and parent communities,” says McHugh. “It’s going to take a groupeffort to get some of these items done.”McHugh predicts that some goals will be met within a short time while otherswill require foundation building. Since the strategic plan is based on NDCL’smission, vision and core values, all committee members will keepthese in mind as they work toward achieving their goals.“I am excited to participate in this process as an alumna of NotreDame Academy,” says McHugh. “It’s good to see that NDCL is sosuccessful and has a distinct identity. I am looking forward tohelping it move into the future.”4 Notre Dame - Cathedral Latin Seasons Seasons Fall 2010 Fall 20105