Dayton collaborative sets focus groups on deanery education plan

By Lenore Christopher

DAYTON DEANERY - As parishioners work on their own parish and school policies in light of changing demographics and demanding budgets, a group of parish and school leaders has been forging a plan to insure the future of Catholic education for the entire Dayton Deanery.

Now members of that deanery think-tank are sharing their refined plan, the Catholic Schools Collaborative: A Strategic Plan for Renewing Catholic Education in the Dayton Deanery, with school principals, teachers, pastors, parents and lay leaders at a series of focus and forum groups this month and in December.

CT/LENORE CHRISTOPHER

Dayton-area principals listen to details about an educational plan to renew Dayton Deanery Catholic schools. The plan is being presented by members of the Dayton Deanery Think Tank, which has been working for more than two years on a proposal.

The Dayton Deanery Catholic School Collaborative proposal is a proactive attempt to address the concerns of individual schools by establishing a collaborative network and a sharing of resources among all schools. At its core, the collaborative relies on each school's' commitment not only to itself but to the other schools in the deanery - a vision that leaders believe will bring renewed strength, vitality and excellence for all schools if resources are shared.

Initial focus groups for priests and principals and teachers were held in October and early November. There was also a focus group for the Dayton Deanery directors of religious education during their regular November meeting. Additional gatherings were held for specifically selected groups that included some parents, students leaders, council and commission members; and others with prospective funders and educational partners as well as with members of the Miami Valley Catholic Education Council.

Members of the school and parish community are urged to attend one of the following open forums:

Nov. 14. 3:30 p.m., Alter High School cafeteria, for teachers (pre-school-high school).

Nov. 16, 3:30 p.m., Chaminade-Julienne High School cafeteria, for teachers.

Nov. 28, 3:30 p. m., St. Peter Parish's Ries Center in Huber Heights, for teachers (because of school dismissal, early arrival is not recommended).

Dec. 2, 9 a.m., St. Charles School Walsh Hall, pastoral councils, education commissions, high school boards.

Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Ascension Parish in Kettering, Room 118, for parents.

Dec. 9, 9 a.m., Bishop Leibold School, east campus (St. Henry), cafeteria, parents.

Dec. 11, 7 p.m., St. Christopher Parish dining hall in Vandalia, for pastoral councils, education commissions, high school boards.

Dec. 14, 7 p.m., St. Rita Parish Lampe Hall (church basement) for parents.

For nearly two years, the think tank, comprised of parish, diocesan, school and community representatives, has gathered under the leadership of Father Dave Brinkmoeller, pastor of St. Helen Parish and Dayton dean, assisted by Anne Battes, deputy superintendent of the Catholic School Office.

"In January 2006, we had a consultation at St. Peter Church with parish and school representatives about the preliminary ideas relating to the school project," said Father Brinkmoeller. "That was the second of two such meetings."

At the first gathering in October 2005, he told participants: "We are looking for the best way to strengthen Catholic education for the future."

"We are facing change, but we have an opportunity to live it out in the fullness of our faith," added Battes, referring to the demographic shifts that require Catholics to seek new ways to restructure Catholic schools to maintain their viability.

A "foundation for planning" document, prepared by the think tank, contained an explanation of core beliefs, mission and vision for a deanery-wide approach to Catholic education, and it received support from those who attended the two meetings.

However, at that second meeting in January 2006, "It became clear that we achieved consensus on the fact that 'something needs to happen, and happen as soon as possible,'" Father Brinkmoeller said. But, "we did not have a consensus on just what that something ought to be."

The Dayton Deanery consists of 35 parishes, 21 elementary schools, three Catholic high schools, 624 Catholic teachers and approximately 9,686 students and their families. Some schools in the deanery, primarily those in the central urban area, were already facing declining enrollments and budgetary restrictions and were making tough decisions on their own.

For example, Our Lady of Mercy and Queen of Martyrs schools consolidated two years ago and then combined with Holy Family, Resurrection, Corpus Christi and Dayton Catholic this year to form Mary, Queen of Peace School.

Other schools, located in the middle and outer "tiers" of greater Dayton, are also expected to face similar difficult choices soon, which is why Father Brinkmoeller, looking for a way to address the needs of all deanery schools in a single plan, initiated the think tank in 2004.

"After the (second) meeting, it became clearer to the think tank that we needed to develop a more thorough consultation that would lead to a more complex and effective proposal," he said. "It is at this point that we sought additional funds, did a national search for a new consultant/facilitator and decided to hire Dave Ramey."

With Ramey's facilitation, the Think Tank "initiated a new round of consultations according to the three high school regions," he said. The consultations then led to the formation of teams, each of which developed proposals that addressed six identified possible areas of collaboration: curriculum integration, coordinated professional development, shared student services, faith formation of school personnel and student families, stewardship, development and marketing and administrative services and collaborative structures.

"These six initiatives have now (become) the basis of the over-all proposal, which is now being examined (at the scheduled forums)," he said.