Fulfilling the Promise - Strategic Planning and Renewal

The success of our system over the past forty years is the direct result of the vibrant and active partnership between all the various stakeholders in education: students, parents, parishes, professional educators and support staff, administrators, trustees and community members. The importance of this active partnership was recognized by the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops in its 1989 pastoral letter "This Moment of Promise". As the face of education in Ontario continues to change rapidly, our Strategic Planning and Renewal Process provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to renew our collective commitment to the Mission and Vision of Catholic education within our Board. In this way, we can bring planned, methodical solutions to the challenges we face, fully realize the potential of the opportunities currently before us, and ultimately fulfill the promise of Catholic education as the Bishops of Ontario have called upon us to do.

Vision Statement

What is the Strategic Planning and Renewal Process?

Strategic Planning is a means by which an organization constantly evaluates and renews itself to achieve a common goal. In order to achieve this goal, a Strategic Plan must deal with the longer term needs and specifically with growth and change. In education, the Strategic Planning process is developed and implemented to provide the vision, values and leadership needed to manage, guide and sustain that growth and change. It is a blueprint for expected outcomes and provides a framework to assist in reaching those desired outcomes.

The Priority Areas of Focus

Based upon the initial examination of existing data and in order to accurately align itself with such things as current Ministry of Education initiatives and expectations, the Ministry Operational Renewal Process, student Improvement Planning processes and the demonstration of our distinct Catholic identity, the follow four broad Areas of Priority will be the focus areas in which the Strategic Planning and Renewal Process develops and implements Goals, Strategies and Indicators of Success during the renewal period.

1. Strengthening the distinctively Catholic character of our schools and programs.
2. Enhancing school effectiveness and improving student achievement.
3. Building capacity with all educational partners.
4. Improving levels of service and support to schools.

The Role of all Community Partners

Research indicates that the development and implementation of a successful Strategic Plan depends largely on the initial widespread undertaking and communication of the process and the commitment to seeing it through by all stakeholders. The development phase of the Board's Strategic Planning and Renewal process will include widespread and frequent participation and consultation from stakeholder groups, including: students, parents, staff, Catholic School Councils, the Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC), the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), parishes, trustees, bargaining unit representatives and other community partners.