Dear St. Francis families,
I hope that you enjoyed a joyous Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. As we begin our Advent journey may we always remember that Jesus is the reason for this blessed season. May we prepare well for His rebirth in our hearts.
Family life can be hectic any time of year so I am grateful to the parents who were able to carve out time in their busy schedules to attend our recent parent meeting. The purpose of the November 17 parent meeting was to provide an overview of St. Francis’ financial position. Here’s a recap of the main points from my presentation:
- St. Francis’ financial position is sound. Because of excellent planning and fiscal management St. Francis has a strong financial base and the school is blessed to have no property or facility debt.
- St. Francis is self-funded. The school receives no financial support from the Diocese or from the parishes.
- The schools operational budget affords an exceptional educational experience for our students, providing:
◦ Strong academic, spiritual, and extra-curricular programs.
◦ Experienced, dedicated and talented teachers.
◦ Small class sizes (average class size = 20).
◦ Significant opportunities for parent participation.
◦ Supportive and nurturing faith based community.
◦ Exceptional facilities.
- The Statement of Financial Position reflects a deficit due to not hitting enrollment target.
- The Statement of Operations through October 31 shows monthly operating expenses and revenues running according to plan.
- St. Francis tuition is just above the Diocesan average (+1%) and compares very favorably to local private school tuition rates.
- After years of exceptional growth, the school has experienced a five-year period of declining enrollment.
- The tri-parish communities account for 93.5% of this year’s enrollment.
- The St. Francis student population is 98.3% Catholic.
- 80% of St. Francis students live in Yorba Linda and Anaheim. Corona zip codes represent the next largest group of SFA families.
- 13% of St. Francis families are currently receiving financial assistance. This number has grown significantly over the last five years.
- The tri-parish communities contribute the large majority of funds used for tuition assistance.
- As we prepare to assure St. Francis continued success, I hope you agree that together we can:
◦ Expand enrollment. Parent recommendations are powerful
◦ Elevate fund raising revenues. Support fund raising activities
◦ Encourage parent participation. Support school activities
◦ Raise our profile at the tri-parishes. Show your SFA pride at weekly mass and at parish activities.
◦ Build our brand. St. Francis provides an exceptional academic and extra-curricular faith based education.
◦ Take pride in our school community. Our students display amazing talent and personality. SFA graduates excel at the finest Catholic high schools in Orange County.
◦ Empower our school community. Take action.
As I reflect on my 1st trimester with the SFA community, I hope that I’ve had the opportunity to positively connect with each of you. I encourage and challenge all members of the SFA community (parents, faculty, and staff) to focus on growing enrollment and enriching the SFA experience. This is not accomplished by a small group of parents or staff, or by a committee. This must be a school-wide initiative. If I may be so bold, I ask that we allow our minds to believe what our hearts already know about the possibilities for St. Francis of Assisi School.
Christmas blessings to you and your family.
You must be logged in to post a comment.