Fundraising Committee -- Maureen Wangard, chairperson

The Fundraising Committee supports the professionals conducting the capital campaign for the new Catholic high school. We work with the professionals to plan the campaign strategy and organize the volunteers needed to carry out the tasks for the duration of the campaign. This committee handles the paperwork associated with campaign donations by keeping track of money raised and recognizing donors for their gifts and volunteers for their time. Special fundraising events will also be planned by this committee. We will work to establish the permanent development office of the new Catholic high school to ensure that it is financially sound from the day the school opens. The Fundraising Committee needs creative people who can think outside the box for fundraising strategies and ways to reach the public to generate excitement about financially supporting their new Catholic high school.

Site Selection Commitee -- Chris Wangard, chairperson

The site selection committee will locate a suitable site for the establishment of the school. It will identify available properties within or near the ideal area described in the feasibility study. Additionally, this committee will pursue, if possible, donation of suitable land. After identification of potential sites, the committee will evaluate the merits of each site, which might include location, accessibility, price, topography, size, and environmental features. This committee's work will conclude with a recommendation to the Board regarding site acquisition.

Design & Building Committee -- Mary Beth Wilson and Gregg Korte, chairpersons

The purpose of the Design & Building Committee is to solicit, evaluate, contract, and work with prospective architectural and engineering (A/E) firms to successfully build the structure and supporting athletic fields; all the while knowing that this building is much more than bricks and mortar. This building, with its chapel square in the center, will help to facilitate the faith formation, academic learning, and physical strength of our youth, now and for years to come. This committee will meet monthly to discuss past and future activities. We will be working with, taking advice from, and providing direction to professionals in the architectural, engineering, and construction fields. Members of this committee should have some working knowledge of project management, permitting, design, land development, facility layout, scheduling, budgeting, and/or construction.

Faith Formation Committee -- Fr. Tom Meyer, chairperson

The Faith Formation Committee will research and design a unique faith formation program for faculty, staff, parents, and students to make this a Catholic high school, not only in name, but in spirit and faith. It will ensure that Catholic identity is integral in every aspect of the high school, and not just an added component. Through Faith Formation, this committee will strive to build a program that will create life-long Catholic citizens, inspiring and challenging students by fostering spiritual growth, Catholic moral values, and the development of individual gifts and talents.

Public Relations & Marketing Committee -- Luke Harris, chairperson

The Public Relations & Marketing Committee builds excitement! It is the voice of the CS4Me Board to the public. It generates enthusiasm by communicating our progress and needs to the parishes, schools, papers, radio stations, and TV. This committee will plan events to raise awareness in local communities by having stands at church/school "fests," publicizing our accomplishments, keeping the public up to date on our progress, and organizing ground breaking ceremonies. The PR/Marketing Committee will also maintain the CS4Me website and be responsible for monthly/quarterly newsletters. It will also provide marketing tools - T-shirts, balloons, banners, signs - to build awareness and excitement for a new Catholic high school. Ultimately, this committee will be involved in determining the school mascot, logo, and colors and help use these visual identities to build student recruitment.

Mission Statement:

• Catholic School For Me seeks to promote enrollment at schools that provide an education based upon sound Roman Catholic traditions and tenets. Our vision is to found a Catholic secondary school for the southern Madison County area that would provide a superior education firmly rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. We strive to create life-long Catholic citizens, inspiring and challenging students by fostering spiritual growth, Catholic moral values, and the development of individual gifts and talents.

• To establish a Catholic High School in Southern Madison County, Illinois, to primarily serve Collinsville, Edwardsville, Maryville, Glen Carbon, Troy, Granite City, Highland, and surrounding areas.
  
• In the interim, to increase the number of area students who attend existing/surrounding Catholic high schools by promoting Alton Marquette, Mater Dei in Breese, Belleville Althoff, and schools in St. Louis.
  

10-Point Vision Statement for a Proposed New Catholic High School:

1. It will be a coeducational institution dedicated to fostering a strong Catholic identity through worship, service, and a clear presence in the parish community.
2. It will receive North Central Association accreditation by offering a vibrant curriculum of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, physical education, technological arts, health, performance arts, extracurricular activities, and religious studies.
3. It will have a curriculum designed to promote superior academic achievement that will include honors courses as well as courses designed to meet the needs of students of all varying academic abilities.
4. It will be staffed by fully certified administrators, faculty, and staff committed to the mission of forming life-long Catholic citizens.
5. It will offer an increasing array of extracurricular activities and athletics, including opportunities in a variety of sporting, academic, social, musical, dramatic, and cultural pursuits.
6. It will have the goal of a student population of 450-600, beginning with a freshman class and adding a class each subsequent year.
7. It will be situated in a site conveniently located to the six Catholic grades schools and eight parishes of southern Madison County. It will open with new facilities on a site that can be expanded to meet the student population goal of 450 students and beyond.
8. It will have tuition based income comparable to other local Catholic high schools.
9. It will not be administered by the Diocese of Springfield, but will seek the support of the Bishop, local pastors, and parishes.
10. It will be governed by a nonprofit corporation with a local board of parents, clergy, and parishioners. It will employ the president/principal model of administration.

Catholic School For Me Board:

• Doug Villhard -- President
  
• Maureen Wangard -- Vice-President, Fundraising Committee Chairperson
  
• Mary Beth Wilson -- Secretary, Design & Building Committee Co-Chairperson
  
• Robin McGranahan -- Treasurer
  
• Chris Wangard -- Site Selection Committee Chairperson
  
• John & Sherry Gibbons -- Board Members
  
• Gregg Korte -- Design & Building Committee Co-Chairperson
  
• Rev. Tom Meyers -- Advisor, Faith Formation Chairperson
  
• Mike Palmer -- Advisor
  
• Steve and Kristi Harkins -- Board Members
  
• Lisa Kraus
-- Board Member

• Diane Villhard
-- Board Member

• 5/16/2006 -- Catholic School For Me to Host Second Open Meeting at 7 PM on May 18, 2006 at Ss. Peter & Paul
  
• 3/28/2006 -- Catholic School For Me to Host Open Meeting at 7 PM on May 4, 2006 at St. Mary's in Edwardsville
  
• 10/3/2005 -- Catholic School For Me to Host Metro-East Catholic High School Fair
  
• 7/14/2005 -- Catholic School For Me Completes Survey

May God Bless our efforts and help us continue to give the gift
of a Catholic education to children in our growing area.

© CatholicSchool4Me.com
For more information
(including media requests)
please contact:
Doug Villhard
618-531-6167
doug@secondstreetmedia.com