Strategic Planning Community Input Process

View the final 2020-2025 strategic plan

Background

Throughout the first six months of 2019, through numerous rounds of committee and stakeholder input, Holy Family has drafted a five-year strategic plan that will serve as our Platform for Excellence for years to come.

This process began two years ago with discussions among a group of key benefactors seeking to determine the next chapter for Holy Family Catholic Schools and the investments in programming and facilities that would support us getting there.

We knew that such an investment warranted strategic planning to not only set goals for our future but to design the blueprint that will guide us in achieving them.

Through professional consultation, Holy Family leaders stepped back from the day-to-day to address questions about our future through a lens focused on the portrait of a graduate we strive to send forth into the world.

The process culminates with you, our faithful community of parents, parishioners and supporters, as we seek your input and affirmation of the plan that will guide and propel us into the future.

Holy Family’s Platform for Excellence has been categorized into five areas of priority represented by the acronym CRAFT. At each meeting, we will outline the initiatives specific to one strategic priority, as outlined below. These facilitated sessions will be structured to invite questions and feedback on each priority area.

Want to share your input?

If you are interested in a topic but were unable to attend our community input meetings, we invite you to share your ideas in the form below. Questions posed for community input at each meeting have been posted below.

Click on the banners to view questions:

C – Catholicity

The following questions were posed for group discussion on the May 28, 2019, community input session.

CULTURE

What are two things you would like us to keep in mind as we determine how to meet our students’ behavioral needs?
What are the perceived barriers to a fully inclusive school environment?

CATHOLICITY

How can we encourage families to attend Mass on a weekly basis and to more fully engage in their parish and church communities?
What makes you feel connected to Holy Family and what opportunities for improved connections exist?

Click here to view a summary of feedback from session participants.

If you would like to share your response to these questions, please select "Catholicity" in the form below.

R – Recruitment and Retention of students

The following questions were posed for group discussion on the July 2, 2019, community input session.

RECRUITMENT

The current prospective student pool is primarily generated from parishes, early childhood and summer camps. Which new audiences should we be reaching out, and how do we engage them?
What could the Holy Family community do to support new families and create a sense of belonging? (Imagine if you were new!)
What recruitment and marketing initiatives do we need to start AND what do we need to stop?

RETENTION

How do we ensure current families continue to feel invested in the system?
What makes you choose Holy Family Catholic Schools?
What can we do to improve customer service within our community?

Click here to view a summary of feedback from session participants.

If you would like to share your response to these questions, please select "Recruitment and Retention of students" in the form below.

A – Academics and Activities

The following questions were posed for group discussion on the July 23, 2019, community input session.

ACADEMICS

1. Which aspects of personalized learning do you value most?

Elementary:

__Curriculum pacing

__Tailoring instruction to interest

__Hands-on project-based learning

__Faith-building experiences to enhance individual sense of purpose

__Empowering student self-direction

Secondary:

__Curriculum pacing

__Tailoring instruction to interest

__Hands-on project-based learning

__Faith-building experiences to enhance individual sense of purpose

__Empowering student self-direction

__Distance learning opportunities

__Summer learning opportunities

__Internships

__Co-created classes

2. When considering STEM (sciences, technology, engineering and math), which area do you feel we need to give a greater focus? Please offer examples of opportunities you would like to see implemented or improved.

3. Which academic initiatives are you interested in that you would like to bring to our attention? (K-12)

ACTIVITIES

1. What do you value with regard to youth athletic programming?

2. What are your hopes for the Holy Family instrumental program?

3. Which activities initiatives are you interested in that you would like to bring our attention to? (K-12)

Click here to view a summary of feedback from session participants.

If you would like to share your response to these questions, please select "Academics & Activities" in the form below.

F – Finances and Facilities – September 3

On September 3, 2019, Chief Administrator Phil Bormann shared a comprehensive picture of Holy Family's financial and facility needs during the Finances & Facilities strategic plan community input session. The presentation detailed factors that have led the Holy Family Board of Education to consider three proposals that could change the way we serve our elementary students at fewer campuses in the future.

In consideration of the following three elementary plan proposals, Holy Family is conducting an in-depth community engagement process to develop a planful course of action that will ensure the vibrant future of Holy Family Catholic Schools in Dubuque for generations to come. We invite the community to join us in evaluating these important considerations.

Elementary Facility Plan Proposals

Proposal 1: Transitioning Holy Ghost K-5 students to Resurrection, St. Columbkille or St. Anthony
Proposal 2: Transitioning St. Anthony K-5 English program students to Resurrection, St. Columbkille or Holy Ghost
Proposal 3: Transitioning both Holy Ghost and St. Anthony at once to Resurrection and St. Columbkille

Learn more about the proposals and provide your input on the Elementary Facility Plan page.

Click here to view a summary of feedback from the September 3 session participants.

T – Talent

The following questions were posed for group discussion on the September 24, 2019 community input session.

FOSTERING TOP PERFORMANCE

What do you see in other organizations relative to professional development and employee evaluation best-practices that could benefit Holy Family?

RECRUITMENT OF FACULTY AND STAFF

What are some creative ideas for employee recruitment?
What do you think are Holy Family’s competitive advantages and how do we market them?

RETENTION OF FACULTY AND STAFF

What could Holy Family do to better retain faculty and staff?

Click here to view a summary of feedback from session participants.

If you would like to share your response to these questions, please select "Talent" in the form below.

We thank our community for taking part in our strategic planning process, and we ask that you pray for our continued progress. Thank you!

Our community input form has closed. View the final Strategic Plan.