SICKLERVILLE – Kevin Quinn says he takes great pride from serving on the school board of Wildwood Catholic Academy, “knowing that through collaboration with the other members, we are doing what we can to help ensure a traditional Catholic education is available for the families and students that want it in our area.
“Catholic education and Catholic schools are more important than ever, as we prepare students for the real world they face,” said Quinn, who was among 35 school board representatives from the five diocesan high schools.
The men and women, comprising experts in fields such as legal, finance, development and pastoral, came together April 7 at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish for an opportunity to “step back from work and discuss foundational practices for a successful board,” said Dr. Bill Watson, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools.
“Catholic high school boards are models of commitment to the mission of the schools for their communities,” Watson said. “Each member of a board has incredible passion for the school, its students and its Catholic mission, while at the same time providing steady guidance to ensure sustainability.”
School board members are volunteers typically connected to the school or its community in some way. They lend their personal and professional expertise to ensure a school’s mission is sustained and fulfilled. Members make decisions regarding finances, academics, Catholic identity and mission, facilities, and race and cultural diversity, to name a few. The bishop of a diocese has oversight of each board.
Familiar with the tasks of a school board is Frank Persico, who as the April 7 keynote speaker, discussed “Building and Sustaining a Working Model of Board Governance.” Over his 44 years in Catholic education, Persico has served in a variety of administrative positions, including at The University of America in Washington, and is currently a consultant and member of two boards of directors/trustees.
“Being a member of a board is a sacred trust,” Persico said, calling the Catholic schools that the members support “important for the future of the country and the future of the world” in that they help build future leaders.
He invited those in attendance to focus on creating a strategic plan for their school boards through five key points: build a necessary and logical committee structure; create committee charters to shape the direction; appoint members with the proper gifts and talents; empower committee chairs to share the vision, and sync committees for optimum success.
Other topics of discussion included effectively integrating new members into a school board; the importance of updated governing handbooks, and the regular evaluation of members.
“It is so important for a board to take time to take care of itself,” Watson said. “Board members are so generous with their commitment to supporting the president and principal of their school that some of these foundational practices can be taken for granted. Bringing representatives of the boards of all the diocesan high schools together helps to ensure that each board shares a similar foundation and best practices so board members can fulfill their duties.”
As a board member of Paul VI High School, Haddonfield, Sister Michele DiGregorio, FMIJ, believes “in keeping faithful to the mission of [Paul VI], and getting to know the school and how it functions,” which includes attending school events and interacting with the community.
She called the evening “an effective way to reflect, look at things in an honest way and make a plan to execute,” adding that during a breakout session after Persico’s talk, her school board discussed bylaw revisions and member evaluation.
Quinn, too, aims to utilize key guidance that Persico offered, saying his expertise provided “a nudge on some things we should look to improve on. I left with a fire lit to get some areas organized and hope to improve the overall function of the school board.”
During their roundtable, Quinn and his fellow Wildwood Catholic Academy board discussed the need to be more mission-driven, develop a better process for selecting new members, and refocusing board committees in areas such as structure and accountability.
Marianela Nuñez, director of enrollment and outreach for the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools and a board member of Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, said she appreciated the opportunity to come together with board members from across the Diocese. “It was a good experience being surrounded by so many who care about their school, seeing their level of commitment, love and passion.”
As for serving on a school board, Nuñez said it’s important to “make sure everything the students are learning is applicable in real life … because that’s what we hear more and more of from parents and students wanting out of their high school experience.”
She added that she finds her service both exciting and motivating.
“People might not understand what being on the board means and how deeply engaged somebody on the board is in the school life. But when I see a student in their uniform, I think, ‘Wow I know a lot about what is affecting you, and I am happy to be doing work that affects you positively.’”
Managing Editor Jennifer Mauro contributed to this report.
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