We are so blessed by dedicated and talented leaders such as Mrs. Kay Franz! Join us in thanking her for her commitment to Catholic Education at Father Allouez Catholic School!
Let’s learn a little bit about Principal Franz:
Q: Principal Franz, why do you choose to work for GRACE?
A: I believe in GRACE as a model for maintaining and sustaining Catholic schools. Having worked in parish schools for many years, I have witnessed the struggle of a single parish trying to support a school. The financial stability of a system allows a principal to concentrate on elevating the quality of education rather than being preoccupied with the financial and managerial aspects of running a school.
Q: What are some fun facts about you?
A: I have worked in the Diocese of Green since 1980 and have calculated that I have served approximately 2200 students and about 1000 families over 43 years! So when I hear someone greet me with “Hi Mrs. Franz” I know we have been together somewhere in my educational journey!
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
Today we’d like to highlight an outstanding volunteer in the GRACE community: Tiffany Schroeder!
At St John the Baptist School we are blessed with many families who answer the call to volunteer and support our fundraising efforts each year. Tiffany Schroeder, in addition to having a job and family of her own, volunteers on our SAC committee, and this past year was the point person for the annual auction. Her relentless, inexhaustible energy for fundraising is not to be believed. Her attention to detail is admirable. Our auction this year raised enough to complete a huge project that was a major goal of not only the SAC group, but also of our entire parent community. Tiffany makes it all look easy. Everything she does is with a smile on her face, and a cheerful spirit. We are grateful for her commitment to SJB and thank her for her continuous efforts on behalf of our students and families.
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
Besides education and faith, one of the very top priorities of GRACE leadership is to continually elevate educator compensation. Through the support of our Board of Trustees and our sound fiscal practices, GRACE has been able to make significant gains in employee compensation over the past six years. This is part of GRACE’s Strategic Plan to enhance compensation for our valued employees in a fiscally responsible and equitable manner. We are proud of the specific actions, which include:
GRACE employee wages have increased every year with raises historically between 3% and 5% annually.
We have developed, and are implementing, a multi-year, sustainable plan to continue to retain and attract top talent, including via competitive compensation which includes, in part, competitive compensation.
GRACE offers a robust benefits package to teachers and staff, including medical and dental benefits. Candidates seek to join our GRACE employee ranks to take advantage of not only our mission, but our benefit package as well.
We offer childcare for employees at below market rates through our GRACE Little Saints Child Care program.
GRACE employees receive attractive tuition discounts so their children can attend GRACE Schools. Tuition discounts are also available for our employees who have children attending Notre Dame Academy as well as St. Norbert College through our CatholicLink relationships.
Recognizing talent with our GRACE Teacher Excellence Awards through both Top Teacher Talent Awards and a Master’s Path Program which involves a fully paid Master’s Program for teachers through St. Norbert College.
From time to time, through generous support of donors and sound financial governance, GRACE has been blessed to provide special bonuses to our employees. Such bonuses reward performance achievements enabled through dedicated, valued teachers, staff and administrators – the most recent bonus distributed in January 2024.
These actions are important and vital steps in our ongoing strategic efforts to elevate compensation overall for our valued GRACE employees.
Competitive compensation is crucial for retaining and attracting excellent teachers and staff in all areas of our schools. This in turn, helps to build and support skilled and dedicated professional teams within our schools and our system.
Compensation is only one piece of the puzzle. Our educators feel valued when GRACE parents and students take time to express their genuine thanks for the excellent Catholic education teachers provide. This gratitude, coupled with attractive compensation and benefits makes GRACE an employer of choice and, in turn, contributes to the stability and continuity of our GRACE school communities.
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
Today we’d like to highlight an outstanding student in the GRACE community, this time from Holy Cross Catholic School!
Mikey is a 5th-grade student at Holy Cross Catholic School. One of his most endearing qualities is his kindness. He goes out of his way to befriend not only his classmates but students in other grades as well. Mikey is also a hard worker and takes great pride in a “job well done”. We are so proud of you, Mikey!
Holy Cross Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8). The school has open enrollment and is located on the Northeast side of Green Bay near the Town of Scott and is near the Red Smith neighborhood and Wequiock Falls.
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
GRACE is committed to partnering with families to ensure that Catholic education remains accessible and affordable, irrespective of income levels. Our dedication to this mission is evident in the various avenues available to manage and reduce tuition costs.
GRACE proudly offers financial aid to support families in need for children enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12th grade, with over 300 students annually benefiting from GRACE Financial Aid. Generous private donors, who share our belief in the value of Catholic education, make it possible to reduce tuition through scholarships and financial aid for families. The average GRACE Financial Aid award is around $1,500 per student. Families can access the GRACE Financial Aid application through our online TADS enrollment management portal.
Tuition costs for 2024-25 are $5,565 for grades K-5, $5,685 for grades 6-8, and $8,385 for Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School grades 9-12. Active, registered parishioners completing the parish verification form with our GRACE 23 supporting parishes qualify for a $2,000 tuition reduction (Active Parishioner Incentive) per child enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
To cater to individual family needs, GRACE provides an array of tuition reduction opportunities in addition to the aforementioned Active Parishioner Incentive. These include a New Family Referral Incentive, Sibling Incentive, SCRIP Program, Parish and School Scholarships, Payment Plan Options, GRACE Employee Tuition Discount, and a CatholicLink Tuition Discount (for employees who qualify.) Detailed information on these options can be found at gracesystem.org/admissions/tuitions-and-fees/.
In addition, the State of Wisconsin permits residents to leverage private tuition costs. The Wisconsin Parental Choice Program offers vouchers for full tuition at a GRACE school based on family income and eligibility. Families are encouraged to apply between February and April 2024. Find more details at gracesystem.org/admissions/wisconsin-parental-choice/. In addition, families can take advantage of Wisconsin Tax Deductions for private school tuition. Families are encouraged to check with their tax advisors regarding options that may apply to their situations.
GRACE is not just committed to academic excellence and the formation of children, but also to ensuring that quality education is within reach for all families. Our goal is clear: no child should be denied a Catholic education due to financial constraints. We remain steadfast in our commitment to making Catholic education available, accessible, and affordable to every interested family. We know Catholic education is a transformative gift for each child and family.
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
By Nick Anderson GRACE Board of Trustees Chairperson
I am fortunate to have attended Notre Dame of De Pere for grade school where I received an excellent Catholic education. I was a student there years before Notre Dame and the other Green Bay area Diocese schools came together in what we now know as the GRACE System. Fast forward (many, many years) to 2023 and my wife and I are now blessed to have three students enrolled in a GRACE school and be part of a vibrant school/parish community.
I am a firm believer in the value of Catholic education. I am particularly passionate about keeping that education affordable for all families, especially for our middle-income families who reflect the majority of our community.
That’s where GRACE excels. Today, tuition at GRACE elementary schools is about $3,500 per year for active parishioners. While that amount certainly represents a significant sacrifice – and investment – that parents make for their children, GRACE tuition is reasonable as compared to other Catholic schools. For example, parishioner tuition at a Catholic grade school in the Milwaukee area is $4,990, and in the Fox Valley tuition ranges from $4,300 to $5,300 per year.
How does GRACE do this to maintain affordable tuition? In two ways: (1) By limiting costs, and (2) by drawing funding from a broad range of funding sources.
First, let’s consider the cost side. Today the full actual cost of educating a student in a GRACE school is about $8,000 per year. Here are the components of this cost:
64% – Educator pay and benefits
11% – Facilities (buildings and grounds, rent, etc.)
8% – Medical Insurance Benefits
6% – Books and technology
4% – Administrative pay and benefits
3% – Food service
4% – Other operational
This cost would be significantly higher without GRACE. That’s because GRACE provides key economies of scale (think: purchasing textbooks and technology in bulk; limiting administrative costs). Without GRACE each individual school would need to pay for its own benefits, manage facilities, and provide books and technology – all without the robust platform that GRACE provides. Before GRACE was formed, our parishes were investing upwards of 75% of their annual parishioner giving to support their parish schools.
Let’s turn to the funding side. As noted above, tuition of $3,500 falls well short of the $8,000 actual cost to educate a student. Generous support by our community allows GRACE to coordinate funding sources that bridge the gap. Here are GRACE’s key funding sources:
36% – Tuition
28% – Wisconsin Parental Choice
19% – Parish subsidies (remember, there are 23 parishes supporting nine schools).
6% – Food Service (e.g. Annual Appeal, grants)
6% – Site-level Third Source Funding (e.g. $ from so many great Site Advisory Committee (“SAC”) events/auctions)
5% – Centralized GRACE fundraising
Some good news: while GRACE’s overall enrollment has been increasing throughout its existence, GRACE’s reliance on parishes and third source funding (SAC) has, in that same timeframe, decreased. To maintain this positive momentum, centralized GRACE development will be a particular area of focus in the coming year. GRACE recently formed a Development Committee to explore the best ways to fund Catholic education, better collaborate with our outstanding SAC leadership, and support GRACE’s objective to continue to systematically reduce reliance on the amounts that individual parishes invest.
I will admit when I first heard about the GRACE System, I made some faulty assumptions. I jumped to the conclusion that GRACE was an unnecessary bureaucracy – I thought each school could simply run itself. But I was wrong. I have since asked a lot of questions, learned more, witnessed GRACE in action in many facets, and come to realize the wisdom and vision of the parents, priests and Bishop who formed the GRACE system over 12 years ago. The math shows that, absent the power of the GRACE System, any lone individual school would need to charge more tuition and/or engage in far more fundraising in order to manage the administrative and operational costs needed to maintain a high-quality school experience. As a parent I am grateful for the support of our great SAC leaders, volunteers, parishes and donors, all of which help keep Catholic education affordable and attainable to our Green Bay community. And that is the true value of GRACE.
Nick Anderson GRACE Board of Trustees Chairperson
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
Today we’d like to highlight an outstanding teacher at SJB: Ms. Jill Buckett!
Ms. Jill Buckett has been a part of the St. John the Baptist school family for many years. She has worn many hats but currently serves as our supportive consultant, working with students for a variety of reasons and meeting every child where he or she is. Ms. Buckett’s quiet, calm demeanor and faithful example confidently guide her students and earn her respect among her peers. She is a true gift to our community and we are delighted to celebrate her.
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
GRACE Schools will earn 10% of Cathedral Book & Gift in-store and online sales on select Fridays and Saturdays in March. Proceeds will benefit all GRACE Schools SAC third-source fundraising! Shop online now.
Dates: March 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23
Store Location: Cathedral Book & Gift 131 S. Madison Street Green Bay, WI 54301
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
As we settle into the winter months, we look ahead to the next school year and planning. Details like next year’s academic calendar and just as important, when spring break will be, need to be determined well in advance of the actual dates. One such detail that takes significant planning is next year’s budget. There are so many factors that go into the GRACE budget, some we can control, others we can only estimate. The two items we spend a considerable amount of time on each year are tuition rates and employee compensation.
I can assure you there is so much more that goes into determining tuition rates than just an arbitrary percentage increase. The GRACE Finance Committee analyzes tuition and regularly discusses various options to ensure affordable tuition for our families. These past several years have been challenging in so many ways for our families as everyday necessities like food and gas have increased at a higher rate than cost of living increases. We are very sensitive to the fact that increases in tuition can become a barrier for middle class families as they experience financial struggles in the current economy. Over the last several years, we have implemented annual increases in tuition of 4% and last year we made an inflationary increase of 6%. For the 2024-2025 school year we are committing to increasing tuition only 2.5% and it is our hope that we can target the same 2.5% increase for the 2025-2026 school year. It is our commitment that the cost of Catholic education is not a barrier to families who desire Catholic education for their children. We have many resources to help make Catholic education affordable so please take a look at the “Navigating Tuition Affordability” section of this newsletter. We would also like to hear from you any ideas you may have to ensure the cost of tuition is not a barrier for your family.
Regarding compensation, GRACE has completed a compensation study which has enabled us to better understand where we have some gaps, but also where we are doing well. We have implemented the first phase of our compensation plan and will continue to strategically elevate compensation with resources available as we are committed to this initiative as outlined in our GRACE Strategic Plan. In addition to providing fair wages, we have a solid benefits package with affordable health insurance, a competitive retirement contribution, employee tuition discounts, YMCA reduced membership fees, and discounted childcare for employees with children in our GRACE Little Saints program, to name a few. Added to the monetary benefits are the benefits of working in faith filled, safe schools with engaged family and church communities.
GRACE is blessed to be in a fiscally healthy state more than 10 years after being formed. We have accomplished this through the responsible use of funds as well as thoughtful stewardship of revenue opportunities. Since GRACE was formed we have been able to shift our revenue structure from being heavily reliant on parish support to diversifying into the Choice program and increasing development revenue through the annual appeal, grants and stewardship of generous donors committed to Catholic education. This has enabled us to open our doors to more students, decrease our reliance on parish support and site fundraising while also increasing the amount of funds available for compensation, technology, facility upgrades and rent. We have also been able to invest in staff development and educational resources to ensure we are providing high quality education for all of our students. Over the years we have centralized resources, increased buying power and implemented strategic planning and execution. We will continue to evaluate our long term goals and look for ways to provide fiscal stability for the long term health of our system, providing Catholic education for generations to come.
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
Drop your nets! The 2024 Annual Men’s Conference is taking place on Saturday, March 2, this year. It will be at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information and to register, please visit estovir.com/conference.
The Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System consists of nine schools. We focus on the development of each student grounded in our foundation of Catholic faith for grades PK3-10.
Our mission continues to evolve in these unique times as we embrace new technologies, deliver innovative teaching and learning strategies, and hire exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the vocation of education. Our current GRACE Strategic Plan outlines action steps in the areas of faith, academics, vitality and experience that have assisted us to enjoy enrollment growth over the past five years.
Please know you are always welcome to visit our schools to learn more about our offerings and the culture that makes each of our GRACE schools unique. The rewards of a Catholic education are endless. The gift of a Catholic education prepares your child and will remain with them throughout their life. Learn more about us here.
