Welcome!
No matter your place or role in our Ilinois Valley community, we are grateful for your interest and support of Catholic school education, now and in the future.
The Catholic Schools Consortium is formed to unite our school families, parish communities, and local leaders, to thoughtfully and proactively respond to the modern needs of our schools. We value your help and ideas.
Vision
A Catholic school system in the
Illinois Valley that provides
families in our communities with
an exceptional choice for their
children’s education and faith
formation
Mission
To explore options that will
energize and enhance the
Catholic school system in the
Illinois Valley
Background
With the assistance of a
consultant, we have developed
an overall approach to support
our vision and mission, and we
are in the exploration and data gathering phase to get input
from a variety of stakeholders.
“As we look to the future, we are working to equip the faithful to go make disciples within a mission-driven, sustainable structure of parishes and schools.” Bishop Louis Tylka
Next Steps
Our goal is to ensure that we know what is important to all stakeholders in Catholic school education. This includes our current and prospective families, teachers and staff, parishioners of our local churches, and community leaders.
Opinions and ideas will be gathered through a series of surveys, interviews, and focus groups. After data gathering and analysis are complete, a steering committee with representatives from the schools and parishes will further review all input to guide the development of future plans.
Survey Findings
Over 700 surveys were completed and returned to the Consortium. We appreciate everyone who participated in the exploration and data-gathering phase as we examine input from a variety of stakeholders. Specific surveys were created for our school families, teachers, CCD parents, parishioners, and the business community. Our education commissions also gathered in three focus group sessions. The analysis of the results are found in the report below.
Our Steering Committee
The primary role of the steering committee is to provide valuable guidance, insight, and
strategic direction that supports the vision and mission of the Catholic Schools Consortium and drives a successful outcome. The group will consider information and findings, envision and evaluate possible solutions, and propose a model and path forward for Catholic education. The primary outcome is to provide a well-researched report and thoughtful recommendation to the three local pastors, who will then recommend to Bishop Tylka a proposed plan for the future of Catholic Education in our area. We are grateful for these representatives from our parishes, schools, and the wider community.
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Steering Committee Members:
Gina Baker
Mike Bima
Eric Carls
John Duncan
Tara Ebner
Mark Grzybowski
Adela Guzman
Brian Layhew
Lynn Quick
Dr. Michael Rooney
Gina Steele
Randeep Saini
Tim Smith
Questions and Answers
What is the timeline for this process?
Who is involved and leading this process?
​In January 2024, the priests and principals began meeting with the Diocese and our consultant to evaluate our current situation. Work began this summer to gather information, plan surveys and focus groups, and initiate a study of our current facilities. Notice was given to our priests and teachers in early August with a public announcement made on August 24th/25th. Stakeholders were surveyed at the beginning of the school year and focus groups were conducted with Education Commission members from Peru Catholic, Trinity Academy, and Holy Family in September. The steering committee made up of members from the Illinois Valley community and parishes has meeting regularly since September 17. The committee has analyzed a large amount of data and information, including a building/facilities study and the stakeholder survey report. Both of those reports are available on this website – click here. The goal is for the steering committee to present their report/recommendation so the Consortium has time to review and endorse it before the holiday break in December.
This cooperative study and future proposals will be from our community. Our pastors and principals independently initiated the process because they believe it is time to look intentionally at our programs. We are working with a consultant and the Office of Catholic Schools, but the committees to study our surveys and other data will be made up of representatives of our schools, parishes, and the wider Illinois Valley community. There are no preconceived outcomes.
Why is this situation being addressed at this time?
Each of our schools will have difficulty remaining financially viable as they are currently situated. Like our public school counterparts, we have decreased enrollment and increased expenses. We need a new operating model for stability, but we also want to increase and improve our facilities, curriculum, student services, athletic programs, and other offerings. This is the right time to reevaluate our programs.
Will this affect our teachers and staff?
We can’t offer any specific answers at this point. We are in the information-gathering stage of this process. It is foreseeable that staff members might be asked to take on a different position or teach at a different grade level. We want and anticipate needing all our current staff members. Our teachers will be an essential part of this process, and they were the first to be included.
Will some school buildings or locations close or change?
We can’t offer anything specific at this point; our committees will evaluate the data and input from our school families. A professional evaluation of each building’s condition, needs, and potential for future usage was conducted. The full report is available on this website – click on the link below.
How long will this process take?
Data gathering was completed early this autumn. Committee work to analyze the data and proposed future plans has been in progress since mid-September and is nearing completion. Once the committee’s recommendation has been reviewed, the next step is for the Consortium to prepare its endorsement before the end of the calendar year. Depending on the steering committee’s recommendations, the planning process for a new school model will begin in January. This process will include a number of subcommittees to address further details in preparation for implementation to be ready for the 2025/2026 school year.
CSC Member Organizations
Peru Catholic School and Parishes: Fr. Gary Blake, Pastor and Rich Koehler, Principal
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Trinity Catholic Academy and LaSalle Parishes: Fr. Tom Otto, Pastor and Deb Myers, Principal
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Holy Family School and Parish, Oglesby: Fr. Paul Carlson, Pastor and Nathan Boudreau, Principal
Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Spring Valley: Fr. Scott Potthoff, Pastor
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Catholic Diocese of Peoria, Office of Catholic Schools: Dr. Jerry Sanderson, Superintendent