School Board
Bosco Catholic School Board of Education meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month in DBCHS Conference Room at 6:30pm.
2024 - 2025 Board Members
Fr. Noah Diehm (IC/St. Joseph, Pastoral Coordinator) dbq092@dbqarch.org
Sue Koppmann (St. Francis, Chairperson) scottsue@dunkerton.net
Karen Thoma (Immaculate Conception, Vice Chairperson) karenthoma@ymail.com
Jodi Bauwens (St. Joseph, Secretary) jodi_bauwens@hotmail.com
Fr. John Gossman (St. Athanasius/St. Francis, Pastor) dbq109@dbqarch.org
Fr. Anthony Boahen Nketiah (St. Mary Mt. Carmel, Pastor) DBQ199@dbqarch.org
Melanie Belew (St. Athanasius) lovetoscrap4boys@gmailc.om
Brian Chemin (St. Athanasius) cheminbriana@gmail.com
Kindra Christensen (Immaculate Conception) kindrac@invisionarch.com
Kelsey Easley (St. Mary Mt. Carmel) reiterkelsey@gmail.com
Candi Yoder (St. Joseph) c6yoder@live.com
Board of Education Meeting Minutes
School Board Agendas
July 10, 2024 (Special Meeting)
January 2017 - meeting canceled
School Board Member Job Description
Job Description – School Board Members Bosco Catholic School System (BCSS)
Expectations of the Board as a Whole
The Mission of the Bosco Catholic School System is: “With support from their families, we respect and encourage each student to reach their potential Spiritually by developing a strong relationship with Jesus and knowledge of His Church, Academically by igniting learning, leadership and life skills, Physically by learning about and living healthy habits and Socially by becoming active members of the community who serve others as stewards of the Gospel so they are the Light of Christ in the world.”
As the highest leadership body of the BCSS and to satisfy its fiduciary duties, the Board is responsible for:
- Approving the mission and purposes of the BCSS and a commitment to their success
- Approving the strategic and organizational planning
- Developing plans and means to finance ongoing educational programs including setting tuition, negotiating subsidy, and developing the annual budget
- Approving and monitoring BCSS programs and services in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (Board Operations 8620.21) and the State of Iowa.
- Enhancing BCSS public image
- Assessing its own performance as the governing body of BCSS – assure goals and plans are being met
- Following all BCSS bylaws, policies, and board resolutions
- Maintaining confidentiality about all internal matters on the BCSS
Expectations of Individual Board Members
Each individual Board Member is expected to:
- Know the BCSS mission, vision, policies, programs and needs
- Serve as active advocates and ambassadors for BCSS and fully engage in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for BCSS to advance its Mission
- Faithfully read and understand the BCSS financial statements
- Leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to fully achieve the BCSS mission, vision, policies, programs and needs
- Help identify personal connections that can benefit BCSS fundraising and reputational standing and can influence public policy
- Prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in all Board Meetings Participate fully in one or more committees per “Board Committees Document”
Terms – Members serve for 3 years and may be elected for a second term. Lay members of Immaculate Conception (4), St. Joseph (3) and St. Francis (1) are elected by parishioners to serve on the Bosco Catholic School System School Board. Lay members from St. Athanasius (2) are elected to the school board there, and then are appointed to the interparish board by action of their parish board. Lay members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1) and Sacred Heart (1) are appointed by their Parish Faith Formation Commission or Pastoral Council.
Qualifications - Strong demonstrated fiduciary responsibility for the ongoing operation, growth, and development of the Bosco Catholic School System.
Education – A college degree in any business-related field is desired. Public relations / fund
raising experience would be a plus. Experience in education would be plus.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities - Demonstrated ability to lead people and / or organizations and the
ability to guide and develop people to best assure successful completion of targeted goals and
objectives. Demonstrated ability to work with pastors and other church leaders. Demonstrated strong ethics and
accountability.
Board Committees
Religion/Mission
PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) Endowment
Facilities and Transportation Booster Club
Foundation Finance
SIAC (School Improvement Advisory Committee)
Other standing committees may be added from time to time with approval of a majority of the
membership present and voting.
The membership and charge of each committee shall be as follows:
Religion/Mission
Membership: At least the following on BCSS administrator, one board member, one Pk-4 teacher, one 5-8 teacher, and one 9-12 teacher.
Charge: The purpose of the committee is to use our faith and commitment to inspire and nurture the parents, faculty, and students of the BCSS so they will develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, promote virtue, and become missionary disciples.
1. Oversight - Plan, lead, and nurture the Catholic dimension of the BCSS so that our faith is evident in character, words, and deeds
2. Fellowship - Motivate, build, and help individuals in the BCSS so that we will reflect a vibrant, holy, and faithful Christian community.
3. Formation - Define, teach and foster Gospel value and Catholic virtues in the BCSS in order that parents, faculty, and students will live the Catholic faith joyfully.
4. Evaluation - Review, critique, and recommend changes to the environment, programming, and community in order that parents, faculty, and students will be living examples of Catholic faith.
PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)
Membership: The Bosco Catholic School System administrative representative, board members, staff from multiple grade levels, parents, and/or community members.
Charge: PTO will be focusing their efforts on communication between school and home. Part of our mission will be discovering what the Bosco Catholic School System needs for support and volunteers.
Endowment
Membership: Pastoral Coordinator, Development Director, Business Manager, HS Principal, PK- 8 Principal, 2 representatives from each St. A’s, St. Joseph, and I.C. Parish, 1 representative from St. Francis.
Charge: Oversee and manage Endowment funds to ensure they are in accord with civil law, canon law, and archdiocesan policies and guidelines. The committee will meet twice per year.
Booster Club
Membership: All parents and legal guardians are ex-officio members of the Booster Club. The Booster Club will appoint a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer annually. The Activities Director is an ex-officio member. One board member will serve as liaison to the Booster Club.
Charge: The Booster Club is a fundraising and activity organizing body for the BCSS, subject to the policies and regulations that proceed from the Archdiocesan Board of Education, the Archdiocesan Office of Education, and the BCSS Board. The club shall provide financial assistance to the athletic and extracurricular activity programs for the BCSS. The mission of the club shall be to promote high standards of sportsmanship and promote equal opportunity to all students to participate in athletic and extracurricular activities in a Christian environment.
Facilities and Transportation
Membership: The Bosco Catholic School System administrative representative, board members, staff from multiple grade levels, parents, and/or community members.
Charge: The functions of this committee are to assist in developing and monitoring a maintenance and improvement plan for the building, grounds, and transportation. Including maintaining and prioritizing list of deferred maintenance needs and overseeing all board-approved facility and transportation projects to ensure they are completed on-time, within budget, and according to all school, state, and archdiocesan policies.
Foundation
Membership: The Foundation Committee is comprised of nine voting members. The Executive Committee of the school board appoints six members of the committee based on demonstrated ability to meet skills and competencies listed on the Committee Member Job Description. Each committee member is
appointed for a single three-year term and can be reappointed for a second term (at the first meeting the original committee members shall draw to determine his/her first term length of either one, two, or three year(s). This will create staggered terms on the committee moving forward). Following the second term, that committee member cannot be reappointed for a period of twelve months.
In addition to the six-person committee, the Executive Committee of the School Board shall appoint two school board members to the committee for a single year term. These committee members can be reappointed throughout his/her term(s) on the school board. They are voting members of the committee. The Pastoral Coordinator (appointed by the Archbishop) of the school is also a voting member of the committee.
Charge: The mission of the Bosco Catholic School System Development Office and Foundation Committee is to raise funds to support the operations of the Bosco Catholic School System, lead marketing and recruiting efforts, alumni relations and coordinate system fundraising activities.
The Foundation Committee officers in consultation with the Foundation Director shall choose all standing subcommittees at least 60 days before the end of the fiscal year. Each subcommittee will establish regularly scheduled meetings at least semi-annually. Each subcommittee term shall be for three years with each member eligible for one term reappointment.
Subcommittees will include:
- Executive Subcommittee comprised of the officers listed above in Item #2 responsible for policies, procedures and personnel of the Foundation Committee.
- Endowment Subcommittee, responsible for investment activity.
- Marketing/Recruitment Subcommittee responsible for all public relations and recruitment activities of the system.
- Alumni Subcommittee responsible for alumni relations.
Finance
Membership: The Pastoral Coordinator, BCSS Administrative Team, Development Director, Business Manager, two board members, representatives appointed by I.C., St. Joseph, St. A’s, St. Francis, St. Mary, and Sacred Heart.
Charge: The primary function of this committee is to advise the board on the financial matters relating to the programs governed by the board (budgets, financial report formats, salary scales, employee benefits, etc.) Specific duties include:
(1) formulate and recommend financial policies/practices to the full board
(2) recommend changes in financial procedures
(3) monitor ongoing revenues and expenditures,
(4) prepare and recommend to the full board approval or disapproval of the annual budgets,
(5) allocate financial aid,
(6) participate in long-range planning with regard to the use of capital funds and the maintenance, renovation, and construction of school buildings and facilities,
(7) oversees all financial operations of the Board with a view to ensuring that they are in accord with civil law, canon law, and archdiocesan policies and guidelines, and
(8) make recommendation for the use of funds.
School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC)
Membership: The Bosco Catholic School System will appoint a SIAC to comply with the General Accreditation Standards of Iowa. This committee membership must be gender balanced. As much as possible, membership should be a cross-section of the community and reflect its diversity in terms
of socio-economic status, racial and ethnic groups, gender, disability, status, age, local businesses and agencies (clubs, organizations, the faith community, local government, etc.) Should consist of one administrative person, one board member, one each: Pk-1, 2-5, 6-8, and 9-12 teacher.
Charge: To meet requirements of Iowa Code 280.12(2), the board shall appoint and charge a school improvement advisory committee to make 280.12. The board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school shall do the following:
1. Appoint a school improvement advisory committee to make recommendations to the board or authorities. The advisory committee shall consist of members representing students, parents, teachers, administrators, and representatives from the local community , which may include representatives of business, industry, labor, community agencies, higher education, or other community constituents. To the extent possible, committee membership shall have balanced representation with regard to race, gender , national origin, and disability.
2. Utilize the recommendations from the school improvement advisory committee to determine the following:
a. Major educational needs.
b. Student learning goals.
c. Long-range and annual improvement goals that include, but are not limited to , the state indicators that address reading, mathematics, and science achievement.
d. Desired levels of student performance.
e. Progress toward meeting the goals set out in paragraphs “b” through “d”.
f. Harassment or bullying prevention goals, programs, training, and other initiatives.
3. Consider recommendations from the school improvement advisory committee to infuse character education into the educational program.