August 12, 2009

Dr. Laura Meibers

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Catholic Schools Office

266 Bainbridge Street

Dayton, OH  45402

                  Re:           St. Nicholas Academy/Our Lady of the Sacred Heart schools

Dear Dr. Meibers:

Pursuant to the guidance provided by the Catholic Schools Office, please accept this Executive Summary regarding the future of Catholic education between St. Nicholas Academy (SNA) and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) schools.  We are pleased to provide this Executive Summary as indicated as Task 1 as part of the Linking Tradition, Transition and Transformation: Planning for Catholic Education process.

Discussions have begun within the St. Francis de Sales Deanery (St. Nicholas Academy) and the St. Andrew Deanery (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) to determine the future of Catholic education in the area.  Both the OLSH Parish Council and the SNA Board of Trustees (SNA Board, a Board of Limited Jurisdiction) have authorized further discussions regarding the future of the schools.  The OLSH community participated in a parish-wide meeting in February 2009 where a number of options were presented for consideration.  The LT3 committee of OLSH (its Strategic Planning Committee) recommended to the Pastor to proceed with formal consolidation discussions with SNA.  The SNA Board has communicated with its stakeholders regarding the opening of the discussions with OLSH.

The Leaders Study Team, (i.e., the St. Nicholas Academy, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School Transitional Steering Committee) comprised of an equal number of representatives of SNA and OLSH as well as David Reker with the Archdiocese, initially met in late May to begin discussions. The Leaders Study Team’s approach is as follows:  

• Assemble Leaders Study Team
• Study Archdiocese of Cincinnati formula; i.e., LT3
• Frame the Issues
• Identify the stakeholders
• Determine the Group Process:
• Roles
• Analysis of Data
• Communication
• Implementation Plan

The Leaders Study Team has identified the following triggering issues:

• OLSH and SNA have declining enrollment and insufficient financial strength to continue long-term operations of the schools.
• OLSH and SNA are considering the future of Catholic education in the area, and are considering whether a consolidation between the schools is appropriate after consideration of the impact on the community.
• If a consolidation or similar method of combination is desired, what infrastructure is required to support the mission of the school?

The Leaders Study Team has met several times and considered the triggering issues and the needs of the stakeholders.  Further, the Leaders Study Team commissioned a facilities study for OLSH and relied upon the facilities study prepared for SNA in 2007.  To achieve a consistent product, OLSH contracted with the same firm used by SNA in its facilities study.  In addition, the Leaders Study Team has reviewed the current governance model employed by SNA as well as other governance models used today.

On July 8, 2009, the Leaders Study Team voted to recommend acceptance of the Facility Study report, indicating that the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart campus was the preferred location.  In addition, the Leaders Study Team voted to recommend acceptance of the SNA Code of Regulations as the governance structure of the OLSH-SNA school.  The school would maintain the St. Nicholas Academy name while the site would move to the OLSH campus.  In keeping with the governance structure of the SNA Code of Regulations, OLSH parish would become a new covenant partner, joining St. John the Evangelist and Holy Trinity Parishes.  The effect of these decisions is a request of the OLSH Parish Council and the SNA Board to accept the recommendation of the Leaders Study Team and move forward with a joining of the schools for the 2010-2011 school year.

On August 6, 2009, the OLSH Parish Council voted to accept the recommendation of the Leaders Study Team.  On August 11, 2009, the SNA Board voted to accept the recommendation as well. 

With this approval, the Leaders Study Team begins the process of further analysis of data, implications of decisions and the creation of an Implementation Plan.

I hope that this information is helpful and has met the expectations as outlined in the LT3 process.  For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of the Leaders Study Team:

Dan Hackett (contact for Executive Summary)

                  513-515-6175 mobile

                  dhackett@cinci.rr.com

Thank you for your time and interest.  We look forward to your review and comments.

Yours in Christ

Daniel R. Hackett