Strategic Planning Process for Catholic Schools
Has Involved Extensive Collaboration
To Preserve and Advance Catholic Education  

The Strategic Planning Process that will culminate in a reorganization of the Catholic school system in the Diocese of Scranton has already involved more than a year’s worth of work and collaboration between national consultants, Diocesan officials, pastors, principals, faculty, parents and others representing each institution.

Since his arrival, Bishop Joseph F. Martino has heard from both individual pastors and consultative bodies of his clergy of the need for systemic change in the way Catholic schools are organized and financed.

It is for these reasons that Bishop Martino initiated the Strategic Planning Process when he commissioned a comprehensive analysis of the schools and the development of a plan that will preserve and advance Catholic education to ensure its availability for future generations.

In a pastoral letter that was mailed this week to all parents with students in Catholic schools (and published in the Oct. 19 edition of The Catholic Light), the Bishop emphasized that Catholic schools are vital to the Church’s mission of teaching Christ’s gospel.

“It is now my obligation before God to promote Catholic grade and high school education in the Diocese of Scranton,” he said. “To do this I need your understanding and cooperation; your understanding of the complex problem our schools are now experiencing and your cooperation because to overcome these problems I will need to make decisions which will require some of our people to adjust their thinking about Catholic education and accept necessary changes involving the schools they have known and supported.

“What I wish to make very clear is this: my decision when it is made will have but one purpose, namely, to preserve and advance the Catholic school system in the Diocese of Scranton. And I will be doing this very mindful that if I do not act decisively and do not act now, Catholic education in grade and high schools will be a thing of the past in our Diocese.”

Bishop Martino recognized that the Diocese is facing serious challenges with respect to Catholic schools, including demographic changes that, in some areas, have reduced the potential pool of students; steadily declining enrollments; aging facilities; and financial pressures on parents and the parishes that support the schools.

Given the complexity of these issues, and the Bishop’s belief that an objective, independent analysis was required, the Diocese enlisted a national firm, Meitler Consultants, Inc., based in Wisconsin, to coordinate the Strategic Planning Process.

Meitler Consultants was chosen because the firm specializes in strategic planning for Catholic schools. In 30 years of providing consulting services, Meitler has worked with 225 high schools and 620 elementary and middle schools in 84 Catholic dioceses across the United States.

In the Diocese of Scranton, the Strategic Planning Process is under the direction of the firm’s co-directors, Sister Mary Anne Heenan, C.S.J., and Alan Meitler.

The process began in September 2005 when Bishop Martino formally announced the endeavor at a meeting with principals and pastor s responsible for Catholic schools. Since that time, the consultants have visited each school in the Diocese and a series of meetings have been held at which key stakeholders have been engaged to participate in the effort.

The groups include a Steering Committee (Diocesan officials), Catholic Schools Office personnel, Local Consultative Groups (representatives of each school and its parish leadership), a Task Force (advisory group with members possessing expertise, experience and familiarity with schools), Finance Committee, pastors and principals, and other particular ad hoc groups as needed.

According to Joseph G. Casciano, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education and Superintendent of Schools, each group has a particular responsibility to aid the consultants in gathering information and provide input that will be considered in the development of the Strategic Plan for the Diocese.

In addition to the enrollment and financial challenges, Mr. Casciano said the plan will also address issues such as Catholic identity, academic excellence, extracurricular programs, and governance of the school system.

Although the process has revealed formidable challenges, he noted, it also has confirmed the value of Catholic education and the tradition of Catholic schools in the Diocese.

“Going through this process has reminded us that our schools are doing heroic work to prepare future generations to live as strong Catholics in our world,” Mr. Casciano said.  “That has made us even more determined to make the necessary changes so that we are able to continue this mission of educating the young to reach their fullest potential.”

He also cited the many individuals who have contributed to the success of Catholic schools over the years.

“The dedication of our faculties is one of our hallmarks,” he said. “Recently we honored 165 teachers and administrators who have served for 25 years or more in the Diocese of Scranton. Truly, this speaks of the commitment of religious and laity who have dedicated themselves to teaching our children in Catholic schools.”

Mr. Casciano added that throughout the Strategic Planning Process there has been a sustained effort to keep everyone informed about its intent and progress.

Articles have appeared on a regular basis in The Catholic Light, and several programs have aired on CTV: Catholic Television. A special edition of CTV’s new program, “Our Faith, Our Diocese,” features Bishop Martino discussing the rationale for the reorganization of Catholic schools.

Several printed update sheets and a DVD of a program featuring Meitler co-director Sister Mary Ann were provided to each school for dissemination to their populations.

Extensive information, including the detailed situation analysis reports prepared by Meitler on the various regions of the Diocese, are available on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseofscranton.org.

In addition, the Diocese is launching a wider public information campaign that will include special inserts for parish bulletins and advertisements in several newspapers.

The next phase of the process will occur Nov. 14 when the Meitler consultants present their preliminary recommendations for Lackawanna and Wayne counties to the Local Consultative Groups, pastor s and principals of the schools in those counties. The following day, the recommendations for Luzerne County will be presented. The local groups will then have until Dec. 4 to review the recommendations and offer feedback.

The consultants will review this feedback and prepare their final recommendations for Bishop Martino’s consideration. By the end of January 2007, the Bishop will promulgate the strategic plan for Lackawanna , Wayne and Luzerne counties.

Subsequently, preliminary recommendations for Lycoming, Bradford, Monroe and Pike counties will be made on Jan. 17 and 18, 2007, followed by feedback from the local groups and then final recommendations coming in March 2007.

(Note: The schools in Lycoming County had previously completed a self-study and have implemented a reorganization through the establishment of St. John Neumann Regional Academy .)

“The Diocesan Strategic Plan will set the course for Catholic education in the Diocese of Scranton for the 21st century,” Mr. Casciano said. “We are filled with hope that this plan will enable us to provide Catholic education for generations to come. We are committed to preserving and strengthening our Catholic schools for today and the future.”  

Challenges and Opportunities  

Challenge: 3,980 unfilled seats in Catholic schools

Challenge: from 2000-01 to present, elementary (K-8) enrollment declines 34% and high school (9-12) enrollment declines 18%

Challenge: tuition does not cover per-pupil costs; no longer feasible for many parents and parishes to fund schools

Opportunity : Reinforce value of Catholic education by enhancing Catholic identity, academic excellence, extracurricular programs and facilities

Opportunity : Reorganize governance, financing and structure of schools to ensure affordable access to Catholic education for present and future generations

Strategic Planning Process  

September 8, 2005: Bishop Martino convenes pastors and principals to announce Strategic Planning Process.

October 26-28, 2005: Annual gathering of principals; they begin to review process and prepare for data collection.

January 30-31, 2006: Meitler Consultants meet with Diocesan officials; prepare for school visits.

February 14, 2006: Meeting with all principals to review expectations of Strategic Planning Process.

March 9, 2006: Bishop Martino meets with pastor s and principals to introduce Meitler Consultants, review objectives, and hear questions, concerns, suggestions.

March-May, 2006: Consultants visit each school in Diocese to gain first-hand knowledge of school, parish and community.

April 6, 2006: Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty presides at meeting of pastors, principals and Local Consultative Groups for each school to review process and discuss objectives.

July 5-6, 2006: Consultants meet with Task Force, Steering Committee and Finance Committee to review data reports. They also meet with focus group in Pike County (presently no Catholic school there).

August 22-24, 2006: Consultants present Situation Analysis reports to pastors, principals and Local Consultative Groups for schools in Lackawanna, Wayne and Luzerne counties. They also meet with Task Force, Steering and Finance committees.

October 3-5, 2006: Consultants meet with Task Force and Steering Committee to discuss key findings; meet with pastor s and principals in Lackawanna, Wayne and Luzerne counties to review process and timeline; meet with pastors, principals and Local Consultative Groups for Monroe, Pike, Bradford and Lycoming counties.

November 14-15, 2006: Consultants present their preliminary recommendations for Lackawanna , Wayne and Luzerne counties to the Local Consultative Groups, pastors and principals for review and feedback.

January 17-18, 2007: Consultants present their preliminary recommendations for Bradford, Monroe, Pike and Lycoming counties to the Local Consultative Groups, pastors and principals for review and feedback.

End of January 2007: Bishop Martino promulgates the strategic plan for Lackawanna, Wayne and Luzerne counties.

End of March 2007: Bishop Martino promulgates the strategic plan for Bradford, Monroe, Pike and Lycoming counties. (Note: The schools in Lycoming County had previously completed a self-study and have implemented a reorganization through the establishment of St. John Neumann Regional Academy.)

Bishop Martino Discusses Schools on CTV

A special edition of “Our Faith, Our Diocese,” the Diocese of Scranton’s monthly news program, will feature Bishop Martino discussing the need for reorganization of Catholic schools. This program will air on CTV on the following dates:  

Thursday, October 19, 9:00 p.m.

Friday, October 20, 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, October 22, 5:00 p.m.

Monday, October 23, 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 31, 11:00 a.m.

Friday, November 3, 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 9, 10:30 a.m.

Friday, November 10, 9:00 p.m.