COMMUNICATION ABOUT SCHOOL SERVICES AND SPECIAL EVENTS CHAPTER 10 COMMUNICATION ABOUT SCHOOL SERVICES AND SPECIAL EVENTS

PERSONAL CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL HAS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD THE SCHOOLS CONTACTS WITH THE BOARD The View The Public Gets Of The Board At Board Meetings Can Be Either A Positive Or Negative Influence On The Community View Of The School System – See The Do’s And Don’ts, Pages 158 If A Board Is Politically Appointed And/Or Controlled There Is Little It Can Do To Be Viewed By The Public As A Positive Influence On The Schools And Thus A Negative Attitude Is Formed Regarding The Schools A Board Must Keep The Public Informed Of Board Business – Every Board Should Develop A Plan For Informing The Community What The Board Stands For In Regards To Education Of The Children Of The Community

RECEIVING SCHOOL VISITORS It Is The Responsibility Of All Staff Members To See That All Visitors Get A Positive Impression Of The School Those Who Share This Responsibility Include: Clerical Workers Custodial Workers Cafeteria Workers Teachers Administrators

ALL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC ARE IMPORTANT TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS It Is An Administrative Responsibility To See That All Personnel Are Trained To Handle: Telephone Calls – These Can Be A Major Way Some People Contact Or Are Contacted By The School – Positive Contacts Over The Phone Can Enhance School Community Relations Correspondence – It Should Be Used As A Positive Influence On School Community Relations By Being Written Positively – Form Letters Should Be Avoided Unless They Can Be Given The Appearance Of Personal Correspondence (This Is Much Easier Than In The Past)

SERVICING COMPLAINTS Complaints To And About The School Must Be Handled Properly If Schools Are To Show Their Best Face To The Public Sometimes This Is As Simple As Listening And Letting A Person Get The Problem Off His Chest The Problem Should Be Investigated And Settled As Quickly As Possible

MEETING EVERYDAY CONTACTS ALL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HAVE DAILY CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC, AND HOW THEY PRESENT THE SCHOOL CAN EFFECT THE COMMUNITY VIEW OF THE SCHOOL OR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THUS THESE EVERYDAY CONTACTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THEREFORE IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE ADMINISTRATION TO KEEP TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS INFORMED ON SCHOOL POLICY AND ACTIONS SO THEY CAN GIVE THE PROPER INFORMAL INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION When Information Requests Come Into The School, How This Is Handled Can Greatly Effect The Citizen View Of The School Or School System. The Attitude Of Employees Will Be Helpful Or Harmful To The Citizen’s View Of The School. In The Individual Schools, It Is The Responsibility Of The Principal To See That All Employees Do An Effective Job Of Dealing With The Public.

“NO MATTER HOW MODERN ITS BUILDINGS OR HOW COMPLETE ITS INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM, A SCHOOL SYSTEM CANNOT BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ITS COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM AND ITS SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY”

SCHOOL PLANT APPEARANCE The Appearance Of The Schools And Other Building, Both Exterior And Interior, Are Major Influences On The Attitudes Of The Community Toward The School System There Is No Reason For An Adequately Financed School System To Have Unkept And Unsightly Buildings.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR OLDER CITIZENS Older Citizens Make Up A Significant Voting Block In The Nation, And Therefore In Most Communities Programs Which Bring Them Into The Schools Can Create A Positive Influence On This Part Of The Populace And Create Needed Support At Election Time Programs Which Can Do This Include: Informal Courses In The Schools Which Are Of Interest To Senior Citizens Gold Card Clubs – Senior Citizens Get A Gold Card Which Allows Free Admission To Athletic Contests And Other Activities Where There Is Usually An Admission Charge

OPEN HOUSE This Common Practice Can Be A Great Aid In School Community Relations If Properly Planned And Executed, Including Proper Publicity CLOSING A SCHOOL The Closing Of A School Facility Can Be A Traumatic Happening That Can Tear A Community Apart Proper Communication And Honesty By The Board And The Administration Can Keep The Disruption To A Minimum And Enhance Public Perception Of The Schools

COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES The Schools Belong To The Public People Who Have Been In And Used School Facilities Are The Most Likely To Support School Tax And Bond Issues, Even If They Do Not Have Children In The Schools A Properly Planned Program Can Lead To Community Use Of: The School Auditorium The Cafeteria Special Use Classrooms Gyms Athletic Fields It Must Be Noted That A Clear Policy With Well Planned Regulations And Procedures Are Required To Make Such A Program Effective While Protecting The School Facilities

ADULT EDUCATION There Are Many Needs And Desires Within Most Communities For Continuing Education The Schools Can Help Meet These And Improve School Community Relations – Some Of The Considerations In Developing Such A Program Include: Determination Of Needs Demographic Breakdowns Should Be Studied Surveys Of Interest Should Be Done Credit And Noncredit College Courses Can Be Explored Advertising The Offering