CHAPTER 5 ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM

BOARD OF EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES Public Opinion Is An Intangible, But Powerful, Force In America Public Opinion Is An Intangible, But Powerful, Force In America While Boards Constantly Try To Please All Segments Of The Population, It Is Impossible To Do So While Boards Constantly Try To Please All Segments Of The Population, It Is Impossible To Do So Many Boards Are Volunteer, However, In Louisiana They Are Paid – Either Way They Are Ultimately Responsible For What Happens In The Schools Many Boards Are Volunteer, However, In Louisiana They Are Paid – Either Way They Are Ultimately Responsible For What Happens In The Schools The Board Must Be Active In Legislative Matters The Board Must Be Active In Legislative Matters Board Meetings Should Be Conducted By Parliamentary Rules And The Input Of Citizens Must Be Encouraged Board Meetings Should Be Conducted By Parliamentary Rules And The Input Of Citizens Must Be Encouraged

The Board Is Responsible For Setting Policy, But Should Not Be Involved In The Implementation The Board Is Responsible For Setting Policy, But Should Not Be Involved In The Implementation The Board Can Set A Positive Tone Within The School System And Also Within The Community The Board Can Set A Positive Tone Within The School System And Also Within The Community The Board Should Be Sensitive To Parental Complaints, But Should Not Interfere In The Running Of The Schools -- This Is Not Within Their Responsibilities The Board Should Be Sensitive To Parental Complaints, But Should Not Interfere In The Running Of The Schools -- This Is Not Within Their Responsibilities The Board Sets Parameters For The Superintendent, Oversees His Activities, Supports The Superintendent, But Should Not Involve Itself In Administrative Activities!!!!!! The Board Sets Parameters For The Superintendent, Oversees His Activities, Supports The Superintendent, But Should Not Involve Itself In Administrative Activities!!!!!!

THE SUPERINTENDENT’S ROLE ► Oversee The Operations Of The Schools And Thus Programs Such As School Community Relations (The Level Of Involvement Is Determined By System Size And Organization – The Smaller The System, The More Direct Involvement The Superintendent Will Have) ► Guide The Development Of A School And Community Relations Policy, And Oversee Its Administration – The Superintendent Should Have Great Influence In The Selection Of The Director Of School Community Relations ► In Smaller Districts, The Superintendent Will Perform Many Of The Duties Related To School Community Relations ► Note The List Of Functions In The Textbook, Page 55

THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM’S ROLE ► All Members Of The Administrative Team (Central Office And School Based Administrators) Have A Role In School Community Relations. These Include:  Providing The Superintendent With Information And Ideas To Keep The School Community Relations Program On Track  Bringing Their Expertise And Experience To The Table In Developing The Program

DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS ► THE TITLE WILL VARY – THIS RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE PART OF AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT’S JOB – IT CAN BE GIVEN TO AN ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT – IT CAN BE A FULL-FLEDGED CABINET LEVEL POSITION (EQUIVALENT TO THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT) ► IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A SYSTEM OF MORE THAN 5000 STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE A PERSON IN CHARGE OF SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS ► THE RESPONSIBILITIES USUALLY INCLUDE:  RESEARCH  ADVISEMENT  PLANNING  COORDINATION  COMMUNICATION  EVALUATION

► REVIEW THE TWO SETS OF WRITTEN RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE TEXTBOOK, PAGES ► QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS ARE CENTRAL REQUIREMENTS – NOTE THE SUGGESTED REQUIREMENTS OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION, PAGES ► IF A SYSTEM IS LARGE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT WITH A STAFF OF PROFESSIONALS, THAT STAFF SHOULD BE HIRED TO BRING A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND SKILLS TO THE DEPARTMENT

PLANS OF ORGANIZATION ► Centralized Plan – Authority And Responsibility Is Centered At The District Level – In Small School Systems The Superintendent Accepts Most Of These Responsibilities – In Larger Ones They Are Delegated ► Decentralized Plan – In Small Schools Systems The Duties And Responsibilities Will Fall Primarily On The School Principal – In A Large System, With Administrative Subdistricts It Will Fall On The District Administrator Or A Subordinate With This As A Major Job Focus

► Coordinated Plan – The Responsibility Is Kept At The Central Office Level, However, The Building Level Administrators Are Deeply Involved In A Coordinated Effort ► Budgetary Provisions  The Budget Can Be A Percentage Of The Total Budget  The Budget Can Be An Estimate Of What Will Be Needed To Run The Program  It Can Be Determined By Zero-based Budgeting (Also Called Project-appropriate Budgeting or Program-based Budgeting)

GENERAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES Every Staff Member Has Responsibility For The Way The School Or School System Is Viewed By The Public. Some Areas Are: Every Staff Member Has Responsibility For The Way The School Or School System Is Viewed By The Public. Some Areas Are: ► Do A Good Job (This Should Be So Obvious As To Not Need Stating) ► Know The School And School System ► Know The Community

It Is The Responsibility Of The Person Charged With Promoting School Community Relations To Help The Entire Staff Be Effective In School Community Relations.  Some Ways This Can Be Done Are: ► Orientation Programs ► In-service Courses ► Workshops ► Clinics ► Special Meetings ► Preschool Conferences ► Study Groups

► Faculty Meetings ► Indirect Training – This Can Include:  Handbooks  Internal Publication  Films And Videos  Case Studies  Bulletin Boards  Exhibits  External Publications  Checklists And Rating Scales  Subscriptions To Publications