Tom Hickey lead the opening prayer. The Minutes were approved unanimously. Julie Lepri then suggested that the Board review Board procedure and the Board's role in governing the school. She distributed copies of the Constitution of the St. Clement School Board and the Leadership Manual for School Boards prepared by the Office of Catholic Schools-Archdiocese of Chicago. She emphasized that the Board sets policy, it does not implement policy.
Policy is implemented by the principal.
Hickey suggested that the school community sometimes resembles a small town. He suggested that the Board help the community celebrate those things that are going well. After having reviewed the Richmark Study with Mark May and Peg Anderson, he suggested we develop short and long term strategies to correct mispreceptions about the school. Hickey referenced Julie Lepri's letter to school parents regarding the tuition increase and suggested that we emphasize the real cost of educating students at St. Clements. For example, the budget does not reflect that we use volunteers in the reading and sports programs.