Strong in Catholic Identity

Strategic Planning

Why Strategic Planning for our schools?

Each school, both elementary and high school, is required to bring local stakeholders together to create a strategic plan that addresses the challenges they face.

A strategic planning effort was spearheaded on a diocesan level in 2005, and resulted in the development of the strategic plan document titled "Committed to Excellence." The Diocese continues to take steps to ensure that this tradition of Catholic identity and academic excellence continue. The Department of Catholic Schools is dedicated to empowering our leaders to approach Catholic education with a new perspective and desire for excellence.

It is our wish that our parishes and schools use "Committed to Excellence" as an agent and guide for change. Through the process of strategic planning it became increasingly evident that we need to move in a new direction. It will take the collaborative efforts of the entire diocese and all those interested in the future of our schools to ensure that we are successful in responding to the Bishop's mandate.

The Process of Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is essential to the ability of a school to survive and flourish. The process inclines self-study and visioning to project a preferred future. With the input of a diverse group of stakeholders, a plan is developed to realize the future.

The planning process involves choices about the future of the school – choices about:

• The mission or goals the school will pursue
• The program, services, or products the school will offer to accomplish this mission
• How the school will attract and utilize the resources the school needs – people, money, expertise...