St. Joseph School Horizon 2010 A New Path to School Financial Security

1. St. Joseph SchoolHorizon 2010A New Path to School Financial Security

2. Welcome and Opening Prayer Prayer Lord, God, we know that by baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit, you reign in our lives, and you call us to holiness and truth. Renew us that we might be all that you want us to be, so that we live in accord with your desires. We strive to be attentive to your promptings. Help us to do what is right. Grant us the gift of knowledge, to be informed; The gift of wisdom, to use our experience; The gift of understanding, to learn from one another; The gift of courage, to enact what we decide; And the gift of faith, to trust You. We ask this in the power of your Spirit, and in the name of Jesus, our Lord, Amen

3. Our School Mission and Philosophy St. Joseph School’s financial strategy must insure the fulfillment of the school’s mission statement and philosophy. The mission statement is: Guided by the Spirit, SJS Community nurtures spiritual growth, provides challenging intellectual opportunities and encourages each child to become the person God calls him/her to be.

4. A New Path Thus, the issue at hand is how to achieve financial health, without compromising high educational quality while maintaining a strong Catholic atmosphere. To resolve this issue, a new path will be taken for setting tuition and managing the finances of the school.

5. Strategy Key components of this strategy include: • Operating the School • School Leadership – President and Principal • Aggressive Recruitment and Retention driven by School Board • Focused Marketing and PR Effort • Goal is to maintain 2 classrooms per grade, contingent upon enrollment by grade • Financing the School • Parish subsidy three-year commitment • New approach to Kindergarten tuition • New cost-based approach to setting tuition for grades 1 – 8 • Coordinated management of fundraising efforts • Outsourcing of tuition collection, stewardship collection and tuition assistance administration • Creation of the St. Joseph School Second Century Foundation • In order to build long-term financial strength, a new foundation will be created to benefit the school. • Affordability of the School • Support of families through significant multi-child tuition discounts • Creation of Horizons Tuition Assistance Program • Parish Stewardship • Renewed focus on school family tax-deductible stewardship obligations to the parish. • Two-thirds of school family parish stewardship will be contributed to Second Century Foundation. • Next Steps • Maintain financial stability going forward • Get back to looking at other facets of the school that we can improve upon (e.g. academics, facilities, technology and student activities).

6. Operating the School

7. School Leadership – President and Principal • Sister Dorothy will become President of St. Joseph School, providing overall leadership and guidance to the school staff and focus on pastoral care of our school children. • A search is being immediately initiated for a new Principal of St. Joseph School. The Principal will be responsible for school operations.

8. Aggressive Recruitment and Retention / Focused Marketing and Public Relations • The School Board, through its standing Recruitment and Retention Committee, will aggressively market our school in order to maximize enrollment. • The school will continue funding the part-time Publicity position which was created in the current school year. • An annual marketing expense budget of $10,000 will be funded. It is anticipated that a substantial portion of this budget will be used for paid advertising medium, such as newspaper and internet advertising. Marketing and public relations should be focused towards our existing school families, school alumni, parish members and the community as a whole. The primary mission of the publicity position is to create visibility of the school’s successes which will result in increased retention and recruitment of students.

9. Financing The School

10. Parish Subsidy Three-Year Commitment • The parish has committed to a three year subsidy of $525,000 per year, increased for inflation. This subsidy represents a continued major commitment of parish financial resources to insure the continuing success and financial stability of our school. • Note: The Pastoral Council motion that authorized the three year commitment also contains the following language: “If after two years, this plan is not working – the School needs additional funds or the Parish is not receiving sufficient contributions from School families – then a change must be effected.”

11. New Approach to Kindergarten Tuition • Kindergarten tuition should be very affordable in order to achieve two goals. First, kindergarten will be more affordable for younger parents, as well as provide lower tuition for families with children in other grades in the school. Second, lower kindergarten tuition should attract more students to our school. Therefore, kindergarten tuition will be set at $1,000 per student (compared to $1,910 for the current year). No tuition assistance or multi-child discounts will be available for Kindergarten tuition.

12. Cost Based Approach to Setting Tuition for Grades 1 - 8 • Tuition for grades 1 -8 will be set to cover direct school operating costs (to the extent not paid for with parish subsidy, foundation subsidy or kindergarten tuition). • Note: Salaries and benefits, which are set by the diocese, represent 83% of the school’s budget. • Note: The new 2007 / 2008 tuition rates are based upon a one-time foundation subsidy of $163,000. School parents need to understand that, unless enrollment, fundraising or stewardship exceed expectations next year, either tuition will be increased substantially or the cost structure will need to reviewed. • Note: FACTS will be engaged to facilitate tuition collection. Payment of tuition will only be accepted via direct debit or credit card charge. Details are to be forthcoming.

13. Coordinated Management of Fundraising • Fundraising efforts will be coordinated by the School Board. A new committee will facilitate determination of which fundraisers will be held during a school year. Parent Forum, A&B and the School Board will be represented with standing members on this committee.

14. Creation of the St. Joseph School Second Century Foundation

15. Creation of St. Joseph School Second Century Foundation The St. Joseph School Second Century Foundation will be created. The resources of this foundation will focused on the following needs of our school and school families: • Funding of Horizons Tuition Assistance Program • Funding of multi-student per family tuition discounts • Discretionary offset of Direct Operating Expenses resulting in lower tuition • Future academic, facilities, and technology enhancements

16. Funding of the St. Joseph School Second Century Foundation The Foundation would be initially funded from the following sources: • Two-thirds of School family stewardship • Proceeds from 2006 / 2007 fundraisers, including the Raffle, Hoe Down, Manna and the Annual Appeal. • Miscellaneous gifts received throughout the year. • Contribution of current balance in the Principal’s Fund. The foundation will continue to be funded in the future with fundraising proceeds and direct contributions Note: Funds within the foundation may be restricted for specific uses based upon the wishes of the contributor. Note: In addition, a formal fundraising program for alumni and “friends of the school” will be developed as an additional funding source for the Foundation. Note: Appropriate governance and transparent reporting will be set up for the new foundation.

17. Affordability of The School

18. Support of Families Through Significant Multi-child Tuition Discounts • The school will continue to offer and fund discounted tuition to families with multiple children in the school. The discount will now be a defined percentage based upon a family’s number of non-kindergarten children in the school. Kindergarten tuition will not be subject to discount.

19. Support of Families Through Significant Multi-child Tuition Discounts

20. Creation of Horizons Tuition Assistance Program • The Horizons Tuition Assistance Program will be created. • To maintain inclusiveness in our school, which has been deemed an important aspect of achieving our school’s mission, families who show need will be provided tuition assistance through a formal new program. • The Horizons Tuition Assistance Program is a two-tiered program. • Tier 1 will provide higher assistance levels and will be targeted at approximately 20% of the school’s families with the greatest need for assistance. • Tier 2 will provide a lower level of assistance and will be targeted at the next 15% of school families. • Confidential Administration • The Horizons Tuition Assistance Program will be administered by FACTS. All personal financial information will be submitted directly to FACTS, and will be strictly confidential. No person associated with the parish or school will ever see this information. • Note:As in the past, if a family has special circumstances that require additional assistance beyond the standard program, that family may discuss their needs with the Pastor and President. Additional assistance may be made available to such families solely based upon the Pastor’s discretion.

21. Creation of Horizons Tuition Assistance Program

22. Parish Stewardship

23. Renewed Focus On School Family Stewardship • To continue to support the Catholic Church’s important mission of Catholic education, the parish has made a commitment to contribute 2/3rds of school family tax deductible stewardship collections into the St. Joseph School Second Century Foundation. • School families are expected to fulfill their financial stewardship obligation to our parish. Each family must calculate and make a written stewardship commitment to the parish, based upon the following goals. • Note: Should you choose not to fulfill your stewardship commitment, you will be charged the non-subsidized tuition rate of $6,000 per child. • Note: Your expected commitment is inclusive of your current giving. • Note: FACTS will be engaged to facilitate stewardship collection. Payment of stewardship will only be accepted via direct debit or credit card charge.

24. Putting It All Together

25. Strategy Review Key components of this strategy include: • Operating the School • School Leadership – President and Principal • Aggressive Recruitment and Retention driven by School Board • Focused Marketing and PR Effort • Goal is to maintain 2 classrooms per grade, contingent upon enrollment by grade • Financing the School • Parish subsidy three-year commitment • New approach to Kindergarten tuition • New cost-based approach to setting tuition for grades 1 – 8 • Coordinated management of fundraising efforts • Outsourcing of tuition collection, stewardship collection and tuition assistance administration • Creation of the St. Joseph School Second Century Foundation • In order to build long-term financial strength, a new foundation will be created to benefit the school. • Affordability of the School • Support of families through significant multi-child tuition discounts • Creation of Horizons Tuition Assistance Program • Parish Stewardship • Renewed focus on school family tax-deductible stewardship obligations to the parish. • Two-thirds of school family parish stewardship will be contributed to Second Century Foundation. • Next Steps • Maintain financial stability going forward • Get back to looking at other facets of the school that we can improve upon (e.g. academics, facilities, technology and student activities).

26. Tuition for Grades 1 - 8

27. Concluding Thoughts • Fall Town Hall meetings – You spoke, we listened. • Building Financial Strength • The parish continues to support the important mission of Catholic education through the three year commitment on the subsidy and the stewardship contributions to the Foundation • Minimized tuition increases, emphasized tax deductible stewardship • New spirit of cooperation within the parish – special thanks to the Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Committee • Need Volunteers • Pre-school Committee • School Board standing committees • Continued success of our school graduates • Keep working with your kids – you are a key part of the education process. • Recognize that nothing is perfect, but stay focused on being positive. You can be part of the problem or part of the solution. • BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL!

28. Questions

29. Closing Gospel Reading Gospel according to JohnJesus said:“My sheep hear my voice;I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.No one can take them out of my hand.My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.The Father and I are one.”