News & Views Newsletter
A Welcome Back to School Letter from the President of FACTS
Dear FACTS Partner,
If you know me at all, you know that I like a good cup of coffee, and if there’s a Starbucks around, I’ll be in line for my favorite. In fact, one of the things we do here at FACTS is welcome our new clients and give them a cup of Starbucks, on us. It’s interesting what you can learn from a company like Starbucks. Not long ago, a newsletter from leadership expert John Maxwell quoted Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks.
“People want to be part of something larger than themselves. They want to be part of something they’re really proud of, that they’ll fight for, sacrifice for, that they trust.” —Howard Schultz
Stop and think about how those words resonate with you. Couldn’t you also say it applies to your teachers? And what about the parents of your students? I know it’s certainly the way we are here at FACTS. We feel like we’re a part of your staff and a part of your school. That’s why I can confidently tell you that each and every one of us is proud to serve your school, and we’ll do whatever we can to help make your life easier.
I truly hope that this school year is a great experience for you, and that FACTS is a part of what makes it so successful.
Thank you and best wishes,
Tim Tewes
CEO Nelnet Business Solutions, Inc.
President, FACTS Management Company
Interview with Jim Mulé, Principal of the Year
Jim Mulé, 2011 NCEA Principal of the Year, shares his experience with FACTS as principal of the second largest Catholic school in the dioceses of Buffalo, N.Y., Jim Mulé knows the importance of connecting with students and families. FACTS has served St. Amelia School for approximately five years, allowing their administration and faculty to remain focused on the school’s curriculum. “We’re now out of the tuition collection business, which is great,” Mulé said.
The seventeenth-year principal has developed a good rapport with Brian Votava and Mike Ziemski. The pair has solved last minute issues and they constantly “make sure the parents are taken care of.” During Mulé’s tenure, technology development has completely changed the order of business, including tuition management.
St. Amelia School administrators and families took the time to research a handful of tuition management companies, and when the need for change became inevitable, it was FACTS’ customer service and their easy-to-use program that sold the school on a new way of managing tuition. “It’s so nice to get a real person’s voice on the phone,” Mulé said. “I’m not talking to a machine or someone outside of the U.S.” Administrators also found the transition to the FACTS system user-friendly, and they feel that it is even better with the introduction of FACTS’ updated dashboard. “FACTS employees are always positive to work with,” said Mulé. “It’s been a great working relationship!”
Did You Know?
Jim Mulé, principal of St. Amelia School in Tonawanda, N.Y., was honored with the Distinguished Principal Award on April 26, 2011, in New Orleans, by the National Catholic Educational Association. He was one of 12 elementary principals throughout the nation who were presented with the NCEA Dr. Robert J. Kealey Distinguished Principal of the Year Award. Mulé believes “leaders develop other leaders,” and he charges his teachers to be spiritual leaders to each of the approximately 570 students at St. Amelia School.
FACTS Supply Call is Just Around the Corner
Soon, it’ll be that time of year for a FACTS Account Manager to contact you and obtain your supply order and set things up for the new school year. We’d like to ask that you review and list the items you will need for your families in the 2012-2013 school year at your earliest convenience so the phone call can go as smoothly as possible.
We welcome any suggestions you might have for making our program work better for your school. And we are also interested in talking about any changes or updates in the way you will be using the FACTS program.
We understand that your time is valuable. However, we ask that you allow sufficient time for this phone call from your Account Manager. We want to make sure we’re able to cover everything and answer any questions you might have. You also can schedule this call in advance if it helps fit it into your busy schedule. We do our very best to be certain you receive your items in a timely fashion, but please feel free to contact your Account Manager if there are upcoming registrations that we need to be aware of as we move forward.
We look forward to speaking with you soon!
Blue Ribbon Schools Recognized for 2011
Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, announced the names of 304 schools identified by the U.S. Department of Education as the National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2011.
Schools were selected because of their standardized test scores in either reading or math. This distinction placed them among the top-performing schools in the nation or state, because they served disadvantaged students and improved performance to high levels.
Forty-nine private schools were among the awardees this year. Each state's commissioner of education nominates public schools for the award, and CAPE nominates private schools. All winning schools will be honored at an awards ceremony on November 14-15 in Washington, D.C.
“America's long-term economic prosperity and civic engagement depends on our children receiving a world-class education,” Duncan said. “National Blue Ribbon Schools are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and throughout their careers. Their success is an example for others to follow.”
View the list of award-winning private schools.
FACTS is proud to serve several of the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools. Those FACTS schools receiving the honor for 2011 can be found HERE.
FACTS Continues To Lead the Tuition Management and Payment Processing Industry
In October 2011, FACTS Management will apply an upgrade (READ ABOUT THE NEW ENHANCEMENTS) to its Tuition Management & Payment Processing system which provides payment processing and tuition management for schools across the country. This release will include a number of changes to the system which have been identified through requests from our customers and suggestions from our staff.
Check out the NEW Financial Management Dashboard Report from FACTS
The Financial Management Dashboard Report from FACTS shows key financial metrics by providing a quick view of how institutions and families are using payment plans upon log-in of the new FACTS Tuition Management & Payment Processing System. The report has five sections—all of which are updated in real-time—Total Cash Remitted, Projected Cash Flow, Delinquencies, Payment Plan Status, and Incidental Billing. Take a closer look at the Dashboard HERE.
Download FACTS' New Catholic and Christian School Case Studies
Read for yourself what some of the nation’s top faith-based schools are saying about us, and find out how FACTS has worked with these schools to make processes easier.
Faith, Academics, and Affordable Tuition: Effective Financial Management Helps Make it Possible – Catholic school students attain a foundation of faith, leadership, basic skills, and enrichment. These benefits make a parochial education the unquestionable choice for many parents. FACTS Management Company partners with Catholic schools to identify and implement effective financial management tools to support this mission. FACTS makes tuition more affordable and streamlines operations, saving schools and parents time and effort better spent helping students prepare for their future. Download a copy of the FACTS Catholic case study. Download.
Exceptional Education Principles for Life – Christian schools across America prepare students for life outside of the classroom by providing exceptional academic opportunities based on solid Christian values. Both the academics and the values learned serve students well as they grow into principled citizens of the world—capable and spiritually strong. Behind the scenes, schools demonstrate the very skills and values they teach. FACTS is thankful for the opportunity to help Christian schools manage the important business of preparing the next generation of leaders. Download a copy of the FACTS Christian case study. Download.
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