Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez (fifth from left) gathers with members of Mount Carmel School’s Board of Directors and Leadership to present the school’s first ever strategic master plan. From left to right: Board Treasurer Will Hunter, School President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, School Principal Frances Taimanao, Board Member Lynette Villagomez, Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez, Board Chair Vicente “Ben” Babauta, Board Member Merced “Marcie” Tomokane, Board Vice Chair Jacqueline Che, Board Member Mark Rabauliman, Faculty Representative Rosiky Camacho, and Parent Teacher Organization President Luis Camacho.

Mount Carmel School Board approves Strategic Master Plan, raises teacher salaries again

Posted on May 21, 2017 at May 21, 2017 by admin

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AT ITS meeting this past week, Mount Carmel School’s Board of Directors approved the school’s first ever strategic master plan, which included a planning priority to making teacher salaries competitive by increasing salaries for the second time in two years.

“This is just one more example of how our board and leadership are moving the school forward to provide the best Catholic education we can in our region,” said school president, Galvin Deleon Guerrero. He added, “We are committed to improving teaching and learning by raising salaries, updating our curriculum, and improving our facilities and student support services, which are all included in the strategic plan.”

Mount Carmel School’s Board of Directors deliberate on the school’s strategic master plan and proposed salary increase.

The strategic plan is the result of a two year process of engaging key stakeholders of the school, including students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators, board members, and even the school’s AlumKnights. The Strategic Planning Commit- tee, which was chaired by board vice chair and 2005 AlumKnight, Jacqueline Che, identified six planning priorities for the plan: school finances, teaching and learning, student support services, facilities and resources, Catholicity, and supplemental programs. Each planning priority features a set of strategic objectives supported by specific action plans to move those objectives and priorities forward.

One strategic objective is making teacher salaries competitive in the current job market, in order to recruit and retain highly effective teachers. The board actually began fulfilling that objective when it raised teacher salaries by 14% two years ago, which was the first time that the school’s teachers had gotten a raise in over a decade. For the upcoming 2017-2018 school year, the board voted to raise salaries by 5% as part of a long-term, sustainable plan to make salaries competitive.

School principal, Frances Taimanao, was very happy with the board’s decision. As she put it, “This is a great way to show appreciation to our teachers, especially those who have been with us for many years.” Taimanao added, “This salary increase honors their commitment and dedication to our school.”