City Schools of Decatur Dr. Phyllis A. Edwards, Superintendent City Schools of Decatur will be one of the top community school systems in the nation

Our work as a committee directly connects to CSD Strategic Plan Goal #5: Establish effective and engaging opportunities to develop and maintain mutual trust and respect between the school system and its community/stakeholders. Our work focused on these three questions: 1.What are the parameters that a superintendent would need to consider in gaining input? 2.What are the key driving issues/topics that the superintendent needs to use a process in order to garner input from the community? What would that look like? 3.What are our roles and responsibilities in engaging with each other?

District Website eBOARD with meeting agendas, documents, presentations and more CSD Facebook Page Eblast Press releases District-wide eNewsletter called CSD Connections (monthly) Robo calls Parent Portal in Infinite Campus Strategic plan kick-off and final presentation (10-11 and 11-12) CSD Annual Report (yearly) Communication with City to add articles to the Decatur Focus mailing Websites Newsletters (weekly) Eblasts (ongoing) Newsletters Important reminders Curriculum Nights/Open Houses (2x/year) Parent/teacher conferences (ongoing) s/phone calls/open door/office hours (ongoing) Tours for perspective parents (throughout the year) Information sessions ex. IB/EL sessions, coffee chats, topic-based nights (ongoing)

Board meeting “public comments” section (monthly) SCLT meetings with Dr. Edwards (5x/year) SLT breakfast/coffee with Dr. Edwards (1-2x year) Dr. Edwards/BOE committees Engagement Start/end times Transportation Enrollment Strategic plan work sessions with all stakeholders — parents, community members, teachers, administrators Virtual comment box, PTA/PTO board meeting “public comments” (monthly) SLT “public comments” (monthly) Open hours/open door policies (ongoing) Family Engagement Surveys

Dr. Edwards and central office staff come to SLT meetings, Advisory Council meetings, staff meetings One central office staff member serves on every SLT CSD Engagement Committee Connecting Families- yearly cohort of families receiving free computers, internet and classes Information sessions — IB/EL sessions, coffee chats, topic-based nights, moms and muffins- type activities Room parents Open hours/open door practices PTA Events (monthly) Volunteer opportunities (ongoing)

Stakeholders need and prefer to be reached in different ways; We need to embrace all of these methods of communication so that we reach people where they are. Engagement is different than communication: it is about building relationships.

Rezoning K-3 Schools to include Glennwood Elementary in : 1.Two information sessions Overview of why and how Time for questions 2.All maps posted at schools with pro/con lists Maps posted for several weeks 3.All maps posted at the Housing Authority with access to computers to give feedback online 4.All maps posted on the website with a link for feedback 5.Issue on the board agenda for two meetings and a work session Public comments section at meetings 6.Information in newsletters and eBlasts about the meetings 7.Information about rezoning was put on the Decatur Metro Blog throughout the process 8.Recommendation: Wrap-Up session

Each member was charged with asking at least 2 friends or family members in another school district this question: How does the superintendent/principal/school leader engage with the community?

Recommendation # Strategic Plan Redistricting K-3 What are the key issues that the superintendent needs to use a process in order to garner input from the community? What would that look like?

Step #1: Information Session

DHA Community Center Westchester or Clairemont Fifth Avenue Step #2: Elicit Feedback

Step #3: Reflection

Heather Borowski (CSD employee, CSD parent) Courtney Burnett (CSD employee) Annie Caiola (CSD parent) Cheryl Grant (CSD employee, CSD parent) Jeff Morrison (CSD parent) Nick Cavaliere (Community member) Erin Wheeler (Principal of Clairemont)