The Tracy Family Foundation has provided funding for the planning process and hired the Institute of School and Parish Development (ISPD), a national development consulting firm, serving Catholic schools, parishes and dioceses. For the past few months, ISPD has worked with QND, Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Peter, and five other schools in the west central Springfield diocese to develop a long-range strategic plan for each school.

The schools will host more than 150 people from the area and beyond as part of their convocations. The community is invited to attend for all or part of the program.

“The Catholic Schools are entering into a very exciting time with the upcoming convocations for each school,” said Chris Reichert, principal of Blessed Sacrament elementary school. “People throughout the community have been invited to participate in laying out the future for each of the elementary schools and QND. Through this process, participants will be taking an active role in helping our schools continue the excellent tradition of providing Catholic education throughout Quincy and for many years to come. It is a very exciting time to be a part of Catholic education.”

The process began at each school with a development core team composed of parents, alumni and administration. Working with planning area committees that involve over 200 people, they have already identified the main challenges the schools face in eight or nine areas. These challenges will be presented to everyone at the convocations for their suggestions on how to solve them.

“Some of the people from outside the school who will be involved include, for example, an architect to serve on the Buildings and Grounds Committee, a priest to serve on the Catholic Identity and Mission Committee and a CPA to serve on the Administration and Finance Committee,” said Ray Heilmann, principal of QND. “We want to involve as many people as possible who have an interest in the success and future of Quincy Catholic Schools.”

The schools’ long-range planning efforts will examine areas such as spiritual life (Catholic identity and mission), academics, student life, administration and finance, faculty and staff, development and marketing, buildings and grounds, technology, and athletics. From these areas that delegates to the convocations will be invited to offer their specific recommendations and suggestions.

The convocations are scheduled as follows:

• St. Francis: Sunday, Dec. 6, 6-9:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6:15-9:15 p.m.

Anyone interested in attending, respond to Trisha Thoele at (217) 653-8733 or .

• QND: Friday, Dec. 11, registration at 8 a.m., program from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Anyone interested in attending, respond to Barb Lieber at (217) 223-2479 or .

• Blessed Sacrament: Thursday, Jan. 7, 5-9 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Anyone interested in attending, respond to Lori Quevillon at (217) 228-1477 or .

• St. Dominic: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 6-9:30 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 14, 6-9:15 p.m.

Anyone interested in attending, respond to Kristine Doane at (217) 224-0041 or .

• St. Peter: Friday, Jan. 29, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Anyone interested in attending, respond to Sara Bradfield at (217) 223-1120 or .

Following each convocation, the Institute of School and Parish Development will compile the results and prioritize the recommendations before presenting them to each school’s leadership. By March 2010, the implementation process will begin for each school.