The School Board at St. Mary’s is a vital link between the parish and the school. As parents and parishioners, the board members have a unique view into the daily workings of the school and give the Parish Council and our pastor the insight they need to help our school and students thrive.
Cory Ellering has served on the School Board for several years. As his four children attended St. Mary’s School, he naturally got involved, although the School Board wasn’t initially part of his plans.
“It’s a small school and you get to know everybody, the teachers, and the principal,” Cory says. “It just morphs into people getting to know you and then nominating you. I accepted the nomination and was voted in.”
There are six members and Cory serves as the Vice Chairperson. When a member’s term concludes, parishioners can nominate anyone by putting their name in the collection basket. If they accept, then parishioners can vote for them.
Although the School Board’s role is advisory to the pastor who makes the final decisions, their input is valued and respected. The members play a role in the hiring process, help establish school policies, establish the budget, and monitor the school’s finances. In addition, members share the school’s needs with other parish committees.
Cory and the other members are available to answer questions from parishioners who might not be as involved. The well-being of the school is directly tied to the parish, so this support and understanding is critical.
As a Catholic school, St. Mary’s lays a strong foundation for our students before they move on to the next phase of their schooling.
“We want the kids to come out with solid faith and the school does a great job,” Cory says. “The teachers are great at bringing faith into it. The students are kind and well-grounded when they move on to public school and you see them on the honor roll. Those kids are so focused on doing well in school. You see them as students of the month. You can tell it transfers over into their next stage of life.”
St. Mary’s may be small, but its strength is the dedication of the teachers and staff. As a parent and School Board member, Cory has witnessed the hard work that goes into the school.
“If you aren’t involved, you might not see the amount of effort and love that the principal and staff have put in behind the scenes,” Cory says. “The effort that the teachers and Autumn Nelson, our Principal, put forth is amazing. We don’t have a big administrative support staff, so they all wear many hats and they do a great job.”
Monthly School Board meetings are open to teachers and have a public portion to the meetings.
To learn more about the School Board, contact St. Mary’s School through the website at www.smsmelrosemn.org.