In 2017, the Diocese of Green Bay, in partnership with Meitler, completed its diocesan strategic growth plan, “Disciples on the Way.” This comprehensive plan, based on the National Standards and Benchmarks of Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools, provides the pathway used to enhance and grow the reach of the Catholic schools throughout the diocese. In addition to the overall diocesan plan, several local-focused planning initiatives were conducted that had an impact on their future.
Looking back over the five years of implementation, Todd Blahnik, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, highlights several key initiatives that are the result of their planning efforts:
- Overall enrollment in the diocese has increased every year since 2017,
- The Catholic Schools Office was able to expand its staffing by adding personnel in school finance and advancement who have been integral in bringing the diocesan plan success,
- More intentional focus on and with the principals in effective planning within their geographic regions,
- Two new Chesterton Academies were planned and successfully opened,
- One of the PK-8 schools is now planning to expand into a PK-12 program as interest and enrollment grows,
- The creation of a new PK-12 school from an existing elementary and high school,
- Expansion of a high school campus,
- New elementary school facility bringing some elementary schools together into one site,
- Creating a “family of schools” within the diocese focused on centralized business services to enhance efficiencies,
- Developing a Catholic formation pilot program for teachers and administrators with the GRACE system and St. Norbert College.
We applaud the Diocese of Green Bay and the Office of Catholic Schools for their commitment to developing and following the pathway their strategic growth plan laid out ensuring the future of Catholic school education and creating missionary disciples for the future of the Church.
