Fill Every Desk

     One of the benefits to adopting a full-cost tuition/need-based aid model for your school is that you can set your tuition as a marketing tool.  For instance, in a subsidy-based model, every student receives some type of financial aid (from the subsidy) whether they need it or not.  If a school charges $1995 per student, and the cost to educate each student is $4000, then the additional $2005 is coming from somewhere - usually the parish(es) to which the school is attached.  In this structure, it's important that every student pay their tuition (perhaps with minimal aid) because each new student costs the parishes $2005 as soon as they enroll.  No wonder many of our pastors see the finances of a Catholic school burdensome!

     In a full-cost tuition model, there is the opportunity for each parent to pay tuition according to their means.  Further, if a school adds an extra amount to the "full cost of education" figure, it can then encourage parents to practice stewardship, and allow for a smoother transition from elementary to high school.  If the full cost is $4000, then tuition could be set at $5000 per child, creating a $1000 surplus from which a pool of financial aid can be created.  In a school with 300 students, that's $300,000 in available financial aid.  In this way, those with many financial blessings can help those who have not been so abuntdantly blessed.  Of course, the work doesn't end there.  A solid finanical aid system is actually the third step of a full-cost tuition/need-based aid model.

     The first two tenets are "Fill Every Desk" and "Seek Outside Sources for Funding."  The thought behind "Fill Every Desk" is that if an optimum number of students per classroom is determined (let's say 20), then it costs the school nothing to add an extra student to that room.  If the optimum number is 20, yet the room can hold 25 seats, any additional children can be helped via "unfunded scholarships" if they are admitted after the school year has begun.

     One of the schools in the Diocese of Greensburg (PA) has developed great marketing tool for the summer in order to help them "Fill Every Desk."  Dr. Joseph Dreliszak, principal of St. John the Baptist School in Scottdale, has put an "empty desk" in the hallway near the front door.  A sign on it reads, "Welcome to our new students who are filling our desks!" followed by the children's names and what grade they will be entering.  It's a great motivator for parents coming to the school, knowing that their child will be welcomed, and, as the list gets longer, they realize that they'll have to make a decision to enroll the child sooner rather than later!

© Michael V. Ziemski, SchoolAdvancement, 2007

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