The School Board of St. Anne Catholic School was one of only eight governing or advisory boards from across the nation to be named as recipient of the Outstanding Board Award from the National Association of Boards, Commissions and Councils of Catholic Education (NABCCCE) when the group convened recently in Baltimore. NABCCCE is a commission of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), which held its 104th annual convention and exposition April 10 to 13.
The award was presented to representatives of the boards at the Outstanding Board Award Luncheon at the Baltimore Convention Center. There to receive the honor was Board President Gay Scott and Past President Craig Sherlock, along with Principal Nancy Collins and Pastor Reverend William Manger. Other delegates from the Diocese of Beaumont in attendance were Superintendent of Catholic Schools George Pressey, Marianne Mechura, Michael Collins, Kathy Attaway, Bill Scott, Pat Sherlock, Delores Fulton, and Geneva Dixon.
As announced at the award luncheon, the St. Anne School Board and other 2007 winners "represent qualities of effective boards that set the example for others." St. Anne was selected based upon the work of the current and past school boards toward accomplishment of strategic plans and goals. The finance committee of the board has moved the school to full-cost tuition and developed a tuition scale with financial assistance for all Catholic families. The board has taken leadership in the annual appeal and has exceeded its goal each of the last three years. The board also started an endowed foundation account, with interest assisting with teacher salary raises. The long-range strategic plan includes marketing so that the school works toward financial self-sufficiency. Enrollment at the school has climbed to more than 580 students.
Other schools named as 2007 award recipients were: Diocesan Catholic School Board, Salt Lake City, Utah; St. Joseph’s Catholic School Board, Macon, GA; St. John Vianney Catholic School Advisory Board, Orlando, FL; Nolan Catholic High School Board, Ft. Worth, TX; All Saints School Advisory Council, Dallas, TX; St. Cyril of Jerusalem School Board, Encino, CA; and Archbishop Curley High School Board, Baltimore, MD.