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Meitler Consultants to lead diocesan long-range planning process

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

Progress continues with the long-range planning process of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City.

According to Dan Ryan, superintendent of Catholic schools, in June the steering committee for long-range planning interviewed two companies that provide consultant services. The steering committee, which formed in the spring, is made up of administrators, board of education members, pastors and chancery staff.

“It soon became clear that Meitler Consultants had a great deal of experience in helping dioceses do this type of planning and it became apparent that they were superior in their data analysis,” he said. “They have a track record and references that show they have the greatest ability to give us new insights into our situation.”

He said they selected this company, which is based in Hales Corner, Wis., because they can offer guidance in financial analysis of the schools as a whole as well as individually, insight into enrollment trends and tips for fundraising efforts at diocesan and local school levels. This company also has the capacity to offer insight into the schools academic programs and help gather and evaluate the opinions of the Catholic school families.

“We will work together on doing a diocesan-wide Internet survey for parents to complete,” Ryan said. The diocese will provide the survey and Meitler will analyze the data.

And while Meitler has been selected to lead efforts with the diocesan plan, the superintendent of schools said they are still evaluating how to proceed with the local school plans.

“We had previously established that there needed to be a diocesan plan and a local plan for each school,” he said. “We have not made a final decision as to what the process will look like at the local level or who will lead that effort.”

In the meantime, two representatives of Meitler have already started their work as they recently were in Sioux City to interview diocesan leaders about the schools and the diocese has provided the company with school financial records and other pertinent information such as parish vital stats. The two Meitler consultants will also be in the diocese the week of Sept. 26 to visit every Catholic school.

“They will take all of the data, put it together and identify five or six trends or challenges,” Dan said. “Later on, at the local school level, they will be able to compare if they have the exact same issues. Different schools have different circumstances.”

One of the benefits of the Meitler plan of action, he noted, is that while they will receive an overall diocesan report, each school will receive a summary report of the consultant’s findings. That was one of the factors that really sold the steering committee on this company.

These findings, in turn, will help schools at the local level as they create their individual school plan.

“They will have their own opinions and knowledge but they will also have somebody who has looked at enrollment trends at their own school or perhaps they will have had discussions about different tuition models or the need for additional financial aid,” Ryan said.

The Meitler consultants will also be available for phone calls and follow up to help the diocese and local schools see how they came up with their findings.

Through this process, the consultants will identify goals, objectives or recommendations from which the diocese will develop its long-range plan.

Ryan pointed out that one universal concern appears to be how they will continue to fund Catholic schools in the future, coupled with fundraising efforts.

“We may not all agree on the causes or solutions right now but we know it is an issue,” he said. “There are concerns about enrollment trends. However, we have some schools that are increasing and others that are decreasing. Everyone is always concerned about enrollment.”

Other key elements that the superintendent of schools anticipates will be addressed in this plan are Catholic identity and academic performance.

Ryan estimated that this data collection will take a few months and should have recommendations back from Meitler by late winter or early spring. From there the plan will be developed and implementation will most likely begin at the start of the 2011-2012 school year.