LM Sept.2017

inform consult involve

Dr. Patrick Rice Director of Field Services Illinois Association of School Boards

Dr. David Bartz Professor Emeritus Department of Educational Leadership Eastern Illinois University

HowSuperintendentsandSchool BoardsCanTransform School CulturebyConnectingwith theCommunity

Effective school boards know and understand the importance of keeping the public in public schools by engaging in two-way conversations with the community. As elected trustees of the community, boards should establish systems of two-way conversations to ensure local community representation in school governance. These systems enable the board to actively engage stakeholders in dialogue and other discourses about the district’s mission and other common interests regarding the schools in order to improve overall district performance and school climate and, more importantly, to advance student achievement. Periodically exchanging information and ideas between various stakeholders and the school board is a primary work of school boards and is often referred to as community engagement and/or public or civic engagement. Community engagement is a step beyond public relations, in which the focus is establishing or maintaining a favorable public image. Boards with the best of intentions confuse public relations with that of community engagement (CE). As a result,

districts communicate with community stakeholders in a one-way fashion which primarily entails sharing positive district news. Public relations efforts are important and should be a part of a community engagement plan, but systems must be in place to allow for two-way communication exchanges. Without these exchanges, stakeholders will be limited in their contributions and feel as though they have no real ownership in the direction of their schools. Boards should be strategic and thoughtful in developing a community engagement plan. Attempting to engage the public in a haphazard or ad hoc manner will be unsuccessful. The plan should begin with framing the question or having a clear understanding as to why the board is engaging the community. And, how will this process inform and/or support district ends (mission, vision, goals)? In other words, how does the board intend to use the results of the CE process to inform their work?

Boards with the best of intentions confuse public relations with that of community engagement (CE). As a result, districts communicate with community stakeholders in a one-way fashion...

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