Board of Pastors Update
St. Louis Catholic High School
At our meeting this week, the Pastors voiced enthusiastic support for a revision of the Saint Louis Catholic School Board Constitution, and for the Board of Pastors, a restoration of the vision contained in the school’s Articles of Incorporation.
As Mr. Virgadamo shared with us, the most effective school boards in Catholic education today are those whose members are charged with overseeing areas of specified jurisdiction. Rather than simply serving as a representative board of stakeholders, the school board ought to be tasked with advancing the school’s mission and engaging in ongoing strategic planning. For this to happen at SLC, a change in the School Board Constitution is needed. Among the pastors who submitted responses, there is general support for an SLC School Board containing a smaller and more manageable membership of 7-9, representative of our geographical deaneries, but selected based on specific qualifications and areas of expertise.
As nearly all of the previous School Board members have completed their terms, and as the school is gearing up for strategic planning next spring, now is the time to make needed revisions.
Concerning the Board of Pastors, no change in the school’s Articles of Incorporation are needed. The Articles envision one business meeting per year each spring, and lists specific areas in which the pastors retain exclusive control, namely: Catholic identity, acquisition and relinquishing of property, borrowing money, overseeing major contracts, and employing legal counsel. In future school years, therefore, the Board of Pastors will meet officially for an annual meeting at the end of the year, with a smaller advisory council meeting with the Rector regularly through the year. All pastors will receive quarterly updates by email so they can stay informed of school news.
What Happens Next?
- An advisory committee of pastors will be assembled to help draft a revised Constitution, the whole Board will review at our next meeting, Feb. 26, 2019 (See Below). At that meeting, you will have the opportunity to make comments and input toward a final draft.
- A vote on the final draft of the revised Constitution will take place via email within a week of this meeting. A working board should be in place by March 2019.
- Nominations for Board members are requested of you in the meantime. Please read the instructions on the attached nomination form, complete your nomination and return it to the Rector’s office by Dec. 12, 2018.
Mark Your Calendars
A working meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 11:30-1:30 at Harlequin.
Official invitations will be forthcoming.
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2019, 11:30 AM
Harlequin Steaks & Seafood, West College Street, Lake Charles, LA, USA
St. Louis Catholic High School
Email: nathan.long@lcdiocese.org
Website: www.slchs.org
Location: 1620 Bank Street, Lake Charles, LA, USA
Phone: 337.309.9353
Facebook: facebook.com/stlouiscatholic
Twitter: @slchs_saints