Values for a Lifetime

The first round of Visioning Sessions for Catholic schools is now complete, and I am pleased to offer some general feedback on what we heard during these events. To recap, we held a series of seven Visioning Sessions in May and June. These sessions were part of our wider efforts to define a new vision for Catholic school education in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The purpose of these sessions was to hear directly from the people of the Archdiocese; as we build this vision, it is vital that our plan reflect the needs and insights of all who care about our schools.

Each session began with an opening prayer followed by a brief presentation by me on the purpose of our vision. Sr. Kathleen Carr, our team leader from ACE Consulting, then offered an outline of the evening (in the case of the last session at St. Christopher’s, Brandy Ellison, another consultant, offered this outline). The majority of each session’s time was comprised by small group discussions around tables. Each table was posed a series of questions revolving around our schools. Recorders were present to capture all comments so that they could be later transcribed and analyzed. Each session concluded with some large group sharing of pertinent comments followed by a final prayer.

The first two sessions in early May targeted school pastors, principals, and high school presidents. Over 300 individuals attend these sessions, which were held in Cincinnati and Dayton. I am pleased to report that the participation from pastors and school administrators was almost absolute from among the 113 schools and over 115 parishes that officially sponsor schools.

In mid-May, two additional sessions were held for parish and school leaders. Each school pastor was asked to identify two parish and school leaders. Leaders were also identified from high schools. These sessions featured a rich mix of various individuals, including deacons, business managers, DRE’s, assistant principals, teachers, parents, and other individuals. All-in-all, we spoke with over 350 of these leaders between the two sessions.

Finally, in early June, three sessions were held that were open to the general public. Once again, a wide variety of different stakeholders attended these sessions. In total, about 360 people attended these sessions.

We have begun the painstaking process of transcribing and analyzing the notes from each of these sessions. In addition, all attendees were asked to complete online surveys to share additional comments or suggestions. Along with the mountain of quantitative data we are currently collecting, these notes will be used later to shape our ultimate vision for schools.

Overall, I found this to be a highly informative and valuable process. Although we are still analyzing the data collected at these sessions, I can make some initial general conclusions based upon what I heard:

• I was repeatedly struck by the passion possessed by our stakeholders for their schools. Attendees of the sessions truly seemed to care about the future of our schools. They recognized the need for viable, excellent Catholic schools that effectively spread the faith to the next generation.
• Catholic identity was a feature throughout each Visioning Session. Attendees want to ensure that Catholic schools remain authentically Catholic, and strongly teach the Catholic faith to all students. I know that this will continue to be an area of intense study as we develop our vision.
• Affordability was another topic of considerable focus during the Visioning Sessions. A number of attendees talked about the escalating costs of tuition, and the difficulties of paying tuition for lower and middle-income families. However, attendees also acknowledged that schools must pay their expenses, and teachers need higher salaries.
• A number of small groups conveyed some anxiety about the concept of a “unified” vision. There was worry that this vision might cause schools to lose their local sense of identity or unique history. One attendee commented on the difference between “unity” and “uniformity”; although a common vision for the future is attractive, we must ensure that we do not “McDonalidize” our schools and allow them to retain their local strengths and cultures.
• I received a number of comments from individuals that they were pleased that the sessions were taking place. One attendee mentioned that he has been waiting for the opportunity to talk more about the schools, and was glad to engage in a conversation with others who care about Catholic education.

I left each visioning session re-invigorated by the passion and commitment of the attendees to our schools. As we seek to define the future of our schools, I know that we will need the input and support of the many people of the Archdiocese. Although another series of Visioning Sessions will take place in the fall, my experiences in our initial sessions fills me with great hope. The challenges are many and the scope of our work is vast, yet I know that God is blessing our efforts. Christ is the ultimate teacher, and I am continually hopeful that we will position our schools to best fulfill his call to educating the people of God.