CONTACT: Claudia
Stewart, Communications Coordinator
Phone: 503-554-5014
E-Mail: stewartc@newberg.k12.or.us
Web site: http://www.newberg.k12.or.us
BACKGROUND: The Newberg
School District Board of Directors believes that an effective
communication program is a necessary component of a school system’s
organization and operation. The Board supports the superintendent
and principals in creating a program that invites the public to
assist in establishing and achieving the district’s mission,
goals and educational priorities.
Communication Subcommittee: The
Newberg School Board communication subcommittee was appointed in
August, 2000 to further efforts to improve communication.
Subcommittee members include Doug Corder, Mitsi Vondrachek and Jim
White. The committee is assisted by district communication
specialist Claudia Stewart.
Research: Findings
from staff surveys, Community Assessment Surveys conducted in 2000
and 2001, and the 360-Degree Review conducted in January 2001
provided key information for developing objectives and strategies
in this plan. All School Board members participated in setting the
communication goals as part of an annual assessment conducted in
August 2000.
COMMUNICATION ACTION PLAN
Goal 1. Keep district
stakeholders informed
Objective A: Develop stakeholder
awareness and understanding, and advocate for district needs
Strategies
- Prepare and use
talking points, fact sheets or pocket facts on various topics
- Attend parent group meetings
at each school on an ongoing basis
- Generate discussion about
local education status, needs or issues
- Identify key community
influencers and host visits to local schools
- Host monthly Community
Roundtable Discussions for patrons prior to regularly
scheduled board meetings
- Attend and encourage
attendance at statewide Back to School Week
Timeline: Ongoing
with special emphasis September through June
Responsibility: Implementing
specific strategies may involve each school board member, the
superintendent, board secretary, administrators, communication
specialist and other staff members.
Evaluation: Informal
feedback, annual community assessment survey, tracking school
visits, attendance at Community Roundtables, subcommittee
quarterly review, annual School Board assessment
Objective B: Develop awareness,
build understanding and advocate for local option levy and/or bond
measure
Strategies
- Prepare and use
talking points, fact sheets or pocket facts about the local
option and/or bond measure
- Share information at school
parent group meetings at each school
- Generate discussion about
needs, proposed solutions
- Identify influencers and
host tours to local schools
- Host monthly Community
Roundtable prior to regularly scheduled board meetings
Timeline: Local
Option: February - May 2001; future bond election not determined
Responsibility: Implementing
specific strategies may involve each school board member, the
superintendent, principals, communication specialist and other
staff members
Evaluation: Election
results
Goal 2: Build positive
relationships with stakeholders
Objective A: Increase Board
Member's accessibility
Strategies
- Coordinate
board members attendance at school events
- Encourage invitations from
school administers, classroom teachers, local government
officials and community organizations
- Participation on district
committees
- Publish "how to
contact School Board Members" information in school,
district and community publications
- Attend parent group
meetings at each school regularly
- Attend statewide Back to
School Week in May
Timeline: Ongoing
with special emphasis September - June; coordinate school event
attendance monthly when updating agenda items
Responsibility: Implementing
specific strategies may involve each school board member, the
superintendent, principals, board secretary, communication
specialist and other staff members
Evaluation: Solicit
feedback informally, annual community assessment survey,
quarterly communication subcommittee discussion and review,
staff surveys, track participation, subcommittee quarterly
review, annual School Board assessment
Objective B: Increase Board
Member's visibility
Strategies
- Visit school
classrooms and attend school events
- Introduce School Board
members attending at school events when appropriate
- Attend parent group meetings
at each school on an ongoing basis
- Attend statewide Back to
School Week
- Provide more visible ID
badges
- Wear clothing with school
district logo that identifies board members
Timeline: Ongoing
with special emphasis September - June
Responsibility: Implementing
specific strategies may involve each school board member, the
superintendent, principals, board secretary, communication
specialist and other staff members
Evaluation: Track
school visits, annual community assessment survey, quarterly
communication subcommittee discussion and review, staff surveys,
subcommittee quarterly review, annual School Board assessment
Objective C: Create and promote
opportunities to listen to district stakeholders
Strategies
- Participate in
staff focus groups
- Student reports and
presentations at board meetings
- Host monthly Community
Roundtables prior to regularly scheduled board meeting
- Attend parent group meetings
at each school
- Attend key communicator
meetings
- Attend service group,
chamber and other civic events or meetings
Timeline: Ongoing
with special emphasis September - June
Responsibility: Implementing
specific strategies may involve each school board member, the
superintendent, principals, board secretary, communication
specialist and other staff members
Evaluation: Annual
community assessment survey, informal feedback, quarterly
communication subcommittee discussion and review, staff surveys,
election results, subcommittee quarterly review, annual School
Board assessment
Objective D: Increase outreach to
nonparent community members
Strategies
- Increase
nonparent participation in statewide Back to School Week
- Expand opportunities to
communicate with senior citizens, faith community, and
stakeholder groups we are not currently reaching
Timeline: Ongoing
with special emphasis on Back to School Week in May
Responsibility: Implementing
specific strategies may involve each school board member, the
superintendent, principals, board secretary, communication
specialist and other staff members
Evaluation: Back
to School Week attendance, informal feedback, annual community
assessment survey, quarterly communication subcommittee discussion
and review, election results and School Board annual assessment.
Goal 3. Be accountable to parents
and district taxpayers
Objective A: Communicate progress
toward district and board goals
Strategies
- Include
update on district goals in district annual report
- Subcommittee progress
reports during board comments in meeting agenda
Timeline: Quarterly
subcommittee reports; Annual Report in February
Responsibility: School
board members, the superintendent, communication specialist
Evaluation: Annual
Report evaluation survey, informal feedback, annual community
assessment survey, subcommittee quarterly review, annual School
Board assessment
Objective B: Evaluate stakeholder
satisfaction
Strategies
- Conduct 360
degree review; evaluate and incorporate into update of this
plan
- Conduct annual community
survey
Timeline: Annually
Responsibility: School
board members, superintendent, board secretary, communication
specialist
Evaluation: Response
to 360 Degree Review, community assessment survey results,
subcommittee quarterly review, annual School Board assessment
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