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Archdiocese of Boston

St Ann, Gloucester

Catholic Schools Review

Presentation to Parents & Teachers

January 28, 2008

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Agenda

• What is the 2010 Initiative?

• Why St. Ann?

• Cape Ann/Gloucester Overview

• St. Ann School

• Vision for St. Ann

• What Will Change? What Will Stay the Same?

• What is next?

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What is the 2010 Initiative?

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What is the 2010 Initiative?

• Archdiocesan-wide effort focused on improving, strengthening & revitalizing Catholic Schools

• Drawing upon collective experience: – Commitment to Catholic education – Cardinal O’Malley– Strategic Planning Committee – led by Jack Connors– Principals– Pastors– Local stakeholders– Professional education experts– Consultants– Community leaders

• Create long-term system that will evolve, grow & develop to meet needs of students & community

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Why St. Ann?

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Why St. Ann?

• Only Catholic elementary school on Cape Ann

• Yet decreasing enrollment number projected for future

• We cannot finance growing needs of the school– Limited parish resources– Growing deferred maintenance

• Quality schools require planning & resources to meet today’s needs:

– Strong academic programs w/ technology– Competitively paid and trained teachers– Improved facilities– Pre-K/ full-day programs– Extended Day programs

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Why St. Ann?

• Actively Plan for the future of our school

• Capitalize on the new volunteer leadership that is emerging in the Archdiocese

• Assure all families and students in Cape Ann a stronger Catholic elementary school for the future

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Discussion Topics

•Cape Ann/Gloucester overview

•St. Ann School – Overview•Vision •What is next?•Questions

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Gloucester Today-2007

Population: 30,273*

• Elementary aged children-largest population in the 10-14 age range–Ages 3 -5 – 1,082–Ages 5-9 – 1,477–Ages 10-14 – 1,935

• From 2007-2012, population of school aged children expected to decline by 6%, the most vulnerable are among the 3-5 year olds with a 4% decline

• Ethnic Diversity-predominantly white–94.7% born in US, 5.3% born outside US

• Public elementary schools are experiencing fiscal and facility problems which have forced a redistricting

Source: ESRI

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Population projections 2000-2010, Gloucester

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500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Under5 years

5-9years

10-14years

15-19years

2000

2007

2012

Population of 0-19 year olds is projected to decline approximately 2% from 2000- 2012, the largest Decrease is in the 5-9 year old group

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Discussion Topics

•St Ann School - Overview

•Vision•What is next?•Questions

• Cape Ann/Gloucester overview

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St. Ann School Today

•Founded in 1885 staffed by Sisters of Mercy

•130 students currently, one class per grade

•Pre-K to 8

•94% of Students are Catholic

•More than 12,000 alumni

•Average class size is 16 students

• Scores above national median in Terra Nova scores across the board

•Offers Spanish grades K-8

•Metropolitan Opera Guild Music Program

•2007-08 Scholarship Aid:• Catholic School Fund $26,000• St. Vincent de Paul $2,000

•Students primarily from Gloucester and Rockport

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St. Ann Enrollment Projections

Actual Projection

•Since 1999, enrollment has decreased 43%.•Enrollment trend from 2007-2012 projected to decline 30% by 2012 if nothing is changed.•To become a viable school, we need to increase and stabilize enrollment to

• 225 students in the next three years Pre-K to 8.

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

St. Ann 221 199 215 181 175 154 154 150 126 117 109 102 95 89

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St. Ann Tuition Trends

 •2000 tuition was $1,625

•2007 tuition is $4,208

•Tuition has increased 61% since 2000, from $1,625 to $4,208–To become a viable school, we have to decrease and stabilize tuition

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Vision for St. Ann

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New Vision - Stronger School

Stronger Management

New Academic Standards

Merrimack CollegePartnership

Construction& Physical

Plant

Development

STRONGER ST. ANN SCHOOL

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New Vision - New Management Model

TODAY

Parish-Run School

PastorsPrincipal

Advisory Boards

Providing a strong Catholic education

TOMORROW

Parish Board of TrusteesRuns School

Pastors/Board of TrusteesExperienced professionals:

- Education- Marketing

- Fundraising

Strengthening Catholic education

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New Vision- Merrimack College Partnership

1. Management

• Assisting in participation in Board

2. Curriculum

• Assisting in formation of curriculum strategy & academic benchmarks

3. Staff Development

• Assist in staff development and training programs

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New Vision- New Academic Standards

• Curriculum Goals

1. Broaden opportunities for instruction• Introduce enhanced curriculum developed by Merrimack -Fall’08• Offer expanded Pre-K to full day • Updated Math Program K-8• Enriched faith formation

• 2. Provide professional development opportunities for our faculty

• 3. NEASC Accreditation 2009 –Sr. Judy O’Brien spearheads

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New Vision- Construction and Development

• Facility assessment to renovate school completed by Suffolk Construction, October 2007

• Development– New organization, Campaign for Catholic School– New Board of Trustees to help with on-going fundraising

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Work to Date

• Consulting Committee formed in September 2007

• Merrimack College assessed and aligned curriculum, implementation in Sept 2008, planning for teacher training in Feb.

• Suffolk Construction completed facility assessment October 2007

• Enrollment goals set for next 3 years– Currently enrollment is approximately 130 students. – Our goal is 175 in Sept 2008 and 225 in the next 3 years– Enrollment projections are Pre-K 15/class, K-4 20/class, 5-8 25/class

• Marketing effort to boost enrollment-– Launched this week:

• new website, brochures, events planned at the school

• Development Campaign planned for facility and endowment

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What is next?

What you can expect in September 2008

What you can expect in September 2009

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What to expect in September 2008

•Stronger Academic Curriculum–Enhanced continuity of curriculum–Teacher training–New Math Series in K-8–Enhanced Faith Formation–New and expanded Pre-K

• New tuition rate set for 2 years–From 2008-2010

• Salary Increases for Faculty phased in over next 3 years.

• New Parish Board of Trustees established

• Marketing to recruit new students to reach enrollment goal -175 students

–New website –Brochure–On-going events at school

• Development goal- $5-6 Million•18 month plan, Campaign for Catholic Schools and Board of Trustees

• Continued financial assistance for tuition, needs based according to FACTS requirements

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What to expect in September 2009

•On-going curriculum development–New Language Arts program in grades

6-8–New Science Text series–On-going teacher training

• Tuition rate held to 2008 level

• Finalize NEASC school reaccreditation

•Marketing Efforts on-going to to reach enrollment goal of 225 students

•Facility Renovation– June- September 2009

• Development On-going–Campaign for Catholic Schools Capital

and Endowment –Board of Trustees Development efforts

•Financial Assistance for tuition

Questions & Answers