Last week, I wrote about the next eight months and what school might look like this fall. There’s no question we must prepare a hybrid model that we can switch from home-based to school-based on a moment’s notice. This shift will take preparation and intensive professional development (done remotely, of course!) over this summer. We must also acknowledge that our people are exhausted and our remote learning needs to be improved. We are struggling with access, motivation, and techniques. All of these things can be improved if we take some time to regroup and plan together.

I would be surprised if any schools were reopened this school year. Memorial Day is six weeks from today. I think we should give it our all until Memorial Day and then transition to teacher professional development and robust learn at home options for students. We need to preserve some of our contract days with teachers to give them training now AND we need to give students resources and pathways to continue learning over the summer.

How do we make this happen? I submit to you these considerations for planning your next six weeks. I have created a document for the Montana Catholic principals (found here) that will give them a roadmap for their own planning for the next six weeks. This breaks down tasks for school leaders by week so they can prioritize their time and efforts. Use it and adapt it for your own circumstances. The six considerations for your planning:

1. Financial/Advancement: Don’t assume that everyone knows your financial status. This is exactly the right time to be transparent. Are you scheduled to fall short in tuition, extended care, fundraising or parish support? Explain this. Did you lay off or furlough employees? Explain why. Do you have most of the same expenses? Did you receive a PPP loan? What does this mean? Your stakeholders deserve to know where you stand. Then it’s time to make an appeal for more support. If you’ve been transparent, then that appeal should be more successful.

2. Graduation/Rituals: People are watching how you treat your seniors (or 8th grade class). Younger students are watching. Potential families are watching. How you work to establish a new ritual to honor them is important. Since most of us don’t have access to a drive-in theatre where we can stay in our cars to watch the big screen, we need to adapt. Why can’t we invite every student (and his/her parents) to film them crossing the stage in their robes with their parents. Maybe they can each say a short one-minute speech. Spread those filmings out by 15 minutes. Film the opening prayer, the graduation speeches, include a photo montage, and the students might receive a great new ritual focused on the students. Don’t wait until the week before, it’s time to get started now. And once you come up with a better idea (and there will be better ideas!), share with me and I’ll curate these best practices.

3. Recruiting & Marketing. Can you define what your hybrid model will look like? Can you explain what is working well? Before you begin (or renew) your marketing, you should make sure you have a clear message of why your hybrid model is valuable. And then you should be contacting potential students (they are at home, after all) to recruit them.

4. Cash Flow & Budget. When are you going to have an accurate estimate of how much tuition you will receive this year? You should continue to update your cash flow projection for this year. If you received a PPP loan, be careful to track those expenses clearly. Next year’s budget needs to be revised to reflect any changes in enrollment.

5. Human Resources. Policies regarding expected observations need to be suspended and employees need to officially notified. Policies regarding deadlines such as non-renewal notifications and contract offers need to be extended or suspended and employees need to be officially notified. Contract offers might not be available until mid-June due to the uncertainty.

6. Summer Programs. You need to identify how your teachers need to improve and where you can find the best (remote) training. Then you need to develop a program and plan for that training. Likewise, we need to give our students backpacks of resources to continue learning over the summer. We need to give students books to read (or lists of books), online practice programs, and a roadmap for important skills and concepts to learn over the summer.

Notice that I didn’t offer a communication plan. Clear, consistent, honest communication to all stakeholders should be baked into any operational plan. You need to communicate your priorities to bring direction and focus to these uncertain times.

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Dr. Tim Uhl

This edition of Catholic School Matters is sponsored by the Institute for School and Parish Development (ISPD), a national development consulting firm founded in 1989; ISPD works exclusively with Catholic schools, parishes, and dioceses. Through their consulting and teaching, the company helps strengthen Catholic institutions in the areas of strategic planning, revenue generation, enrollment management, people engagement, total stewardship, and educational courses and workshops. Contact information: Frank Donaldson, president; E-mail: catholicdev@ispdconsulting.com; Phone: 504.491.2122; website: www.ispdconsulting.com.

1. "Faith for Catholic Schools" offers these resources

1. Strategic Planning document courtesy of the McGrath Institute

Finding and generating great content to serve Catholic schools

Email: superintendent@montanacc.org
Website: www.montanacatholicschools.org
Location: PO Box 1708 Helena MT 59601
Phone: (406) 442-5761
Facebook: facebook.com/montanacatholicschools
Twitter: @mtcathschools

Last week, I tackled Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages. With shelter-in-place with the family in full effect, I'll say no more.

The Last 5 Books:

1. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box, 3rd edition (2018) by the Arbinger Institute.
   
2. Leading With Soul: An Uncommon Journey of Spirit (2011) by Lee G. Bolman & Terrence E. Deal

3. Stories that Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business (2019) by Kindra Hall

4. Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic (2012) by David Quammen.

5. The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts (1992) by Gary Chapman

Click this link for a full list of my professional reading

Apr 5, 2020 "What the Future Holds"

Mar 29, 2020 "Managing Our New Reality"

Mar 22, 2020 "School Without School"

Mar 15, 2020 "Let's Talk About Truth"

Mar 8, 2020 "Orchestrating Conflict"

Mar 1, 2020 "Building a Stronger School Community"

Feb 16, 2020 "Catholic but not Christian"

Feb 9, 2020 R.I.P. Archbishop Brunett

Feb 2, 2020 "The Nashville Exchange"

Jan 26, 2020 "Learning from our Elders"

Jan 12, 2020 "Shaping School Culture"

Jan 5, 2020 "Timelessness"

Nov 24, 2019 "Best of the Fall"

Nov 17, 2019 "Synodality"

Nov 3, 2019 "Finance Best Practices"

Oct 27, 2019 "Blaine Amendments"

Oct 20, 2019 "Community & Belongingness"

Oct 13, 2019 Sr. Angie's Lawlapalooza

Oct 6, 2019 "River of Fire"

Sep 29, 2019 "Male and Female He Created Them"

Sep 22, 2019 "Surveying Catholic Culture"

Sep 15, 2019 "New Catholic Schools"

Sep 8, 2019 "The Mustard Seed Project"

Orchestrating Conflict: Case Studies in Catholic Leadership is now available on Amazon or on the Barnes & Noble site in print or e-book formats. The book explores issues in Catholic school leadership and the tensions between building community and following Church policies and introduces deliberate practice as a method for leadership formation. This is my first book and has been an ongoing project for the past couple of years.

1. Trying to figure out what to do about grading? The Diocese of SD has these tips
2. FACTS has offered these COVID resources
3. Blackbaud has offered these resources
4. Renaissance has these free resources
5. Magnus Health offers these resources
6. Guide to Virtual Field Trips courtesy of Larry Ferlazzo
7.