Whose job is It? This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody should have done.
As CAO and coach of different sports, I think about this story. For a team to succeed, everyone must do their part. Everyone has a role. Everyone needs to accept their role. Then, everyone needs to do their job. Being a good teammate is as important as being the star player.
Regarding Sacred Heart School, we cannot become like “Everybody” in the story mentioned above. I have shared countless times how our school is funded. The cost to educate a student at Sacred Heart is approximately $9,000. Tuition is $2,800 for K-8 students and $3,200 for high school students. A student’s tuition alone does not cover the full expenses of a child’s education at Sacred Heart; in a sense, each student starts with a $6,000 scholarship! Our primary expense is staff salaries and benefits, and our teachers earn less than their public-school counterparts. Our elementary teachers are on the same salary schedule as our high school teachers. We are a Pre-K through 12th grade school, all on the same campus. Sacred Heart’s income sources include tuition, assessments from our five Catholic parishes, the Sacred Heart Foundation, and fundraising. While fundraising can be unpredictable, it plays a crucial role in allowing us to maintain the lowest tuition in the diocese and sustain our school’s operations. Our fundraising efforts encompass many activities, such as the Annual Fund, the Booster Auction/Fun Night, booster club memberships, concession stand profits, teacher wish list, Husker seatbacks, greenery sales and the like, and others. The 2024-25 Annual Fund letter was just mailed out explaining its importance.
Another way we keep our tuition affordable is through volunteerism. We do not pay our activity bus drivers, concession workers, gate workers, score-clock operators, JV and JH officials, line judges, booster club officers, fundraising chairpersons, etc. The list goes on and on. Each of these roles contributes to substantial savings for Sacred Heart, which helps lower our expenses and maintain affordable tuition.
The reality of our tuition is that many Sacred Heart families do not pay the full amount due to scholarships available through Sacred Heart School, the Diocese of Lincoln, the SH Staff Discount, the Work Ethic Grant for juniors and seniors, and the new Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska. Some families pay as little as $1,000 for their children to attend Sacred Heart School, making this a remarkable value compared to other private schools.
Attending Sacred Heart School is surprisingly possible and affordable. However, it requires substantial sacrifice and generosity from many individuals to keep our doors open. Therefore, it is vital that we do not adopt the mentality reflected in the story above. Each family must contribute to our community. If parents believe that merely paying their tuition and dropping their children off at the door each morning is sufficient, they do not fully understand how our school operates. We need more volunteers, support for fundraising initiatives, and active participation from all families. We encourage engagement from families with longstanding ties to our school as well as new families to offer their time and resources. It is imperative that we all work together rather than relying on that small group who do more than their share. Let’s all do our part. If you can’t volunteer, donate. If you can’t donate, volunteer. Thank you to the families who do both.
Sacred Heart School has a solid foundation, and we appreciate your ongoing prayers and support. Many of our long-time supporters, including those from previous generations, have contributed significantly over the years. Thank you to each of you. Our current generation has great role models they can emulate.
Sacred Heart School – a family educating heart, mind, body, and spirit for this life and the next.
