New board to assist high school

The Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Worcester has retained the services of Partners in Mission to assist in developing a board of limited jurisdiction to assist in the governance of the St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School. Partners in Mission also began working recently with St. Paul’s senior administration on strategic planning as the school plans for the future, according to a press release from the diocese.
“Catholic education is integral to the mission of the Catholic Church and the involvement of a board with mostly lay members will help to not only give valuable input but also needed ambassadors for the school as it connects to more area families,” Bishop McManus said.
“Catholic secondary schools are competing with many public-school systems which have new facilities and extensive extracurricular programs. These can become distractions to the real issues when parents are choosing the best school for their children,” said David Perda, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. “We have a value proposition for parents who need personal attention for their sons and daughters and a formational environment based on Catholic teaching that can help a teenager excel today and in the future.”
Superintendent Perda continued, “A key goal in working with Partners in Mission on both strategic planning and the formation of a board is the opportunity to fine-tune our marketing to present that message to families more effectively. We also will benefit from the business acumen of board members so that we can be focused on what is needed to continue to deliver excellent educational and extracurricular programming.”
Bishop McManus has asked Mary Lou Retelle, president of Anna Maria College, Paxton, to chair the process as well as the board once it is established.
“As a strong proponent of the mission of Catholic education, I am excited to serve as chair of the St. Paul board,” Ms. Retelle said.  “I anticipate that a board comprised of individuals who understand the values and benefits of Catholic schooling will be well-positioned to assist the school as it embarks on its strategic planning work and positions itself for future growth.”
Partners in Mission is a full-service consulting and professional education firm focused exclusively on developing excellence in Catholic school advancement and leadership, according to the release. The professional staff partner with clients to advance their missions by providing comprehensive and effective solutions to address the challenges they face every day.
Partners in Mission offers key strategic services including advancement program assessments, volunteer leadership, enrollment management, strategic planning and leadership training. They have a track record of proven strategies and best practices to advance the mission of growth and excellence, as demonstrated in more than 500 Catholic schools, dioceses, religious congregations and parishes.