BoardCommunity Relationships

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Board/Community Relationships

• How to Involve the Community in Decision-Making

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About Us
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Board of School Trustees

• Five member elected board
• Mr. Lon Childress, President
• Mrs. Sue Vauter, Vice President
• Mr. Doug Ward, Secretary
• Mr. Eric Goetz, Member
• Mr. Kent Eloe, Member

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Demographics

• Lowell, Indiana
• Southern Third of Lake County
• Serve 19,000 Residents
• Five Schools
• 3,660 Students
• Growing Corporation
• Operate Under a Systems Approach

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Tri-Creek School Corporation

• ISTEP
• 78.9 percent pass English/language arts
• 85.1 percent pass mathematics

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Mission

• Our mission is to develop skillful citizens able
  to think critically, solve problems, and work
  independently and cooperatively.

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Vision

• To be recognized as innovators of effective
  learning for students through our programs,
  practices, and technology

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Core Values/Beliefs

• We believe
• Leadership The strength of the organization is
  reflected in the strength of its leaders.
• Safe Orderly Environment People flourish in a
  physically and emotionally safe environment.
• Integrity Our stakeholders trust us because our
  words and deeds match up.

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Core Values/Beliefs (cont.)

• Collaboration Schools, family, and community
  are partners and share the responsibility for
  student learning.
• Accountability Using Data We take
  responsibility for both our actions and outcomes
  and provide data as proof.

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Goals

• Goal 1 Ensure High Student Achievement Through
  Effective Instructional Practices
• Goal 2 Ensure a Safe and Orderly Learning
  Environment

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Goals (Cont.)

• Goal 3 Strengthen Productive Partnerships for
  Education
• Goal 4 Ensure Effective and Efficient
  Operations and Practices in Business Services,
  Facilities and Grounds, and Information Services

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Goals (Cont.)

• Goal 5 Embrace Systems Thinking and an Aligned
  and Continuous Improvement Process

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Collaborative Relationships(Key Work of School
Boards)

• Take time to reflect on and improve our own
  internal/external relationships
• View communications with staff and the community
  as a two-way process
• Provide opportunities for input into key actions
  of the board

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• Involving the Community in Decision-making

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Four Scenarios

• Redistricting Elementary Attendance Boundaries
• Improving Communications The Corporation Audit
• The Community Forum A Catalyst for Visioning
  for Strategic Planning
• Community Collaboration Funding Athletic
  Facilities Improvement

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• Redistricting
• Elementary
• Attendance
• Boundaries

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The Problem

• Community growth causing overcrowding at two of
  the three elementary buildings
• Attendance boundaries no longer in alignment
• Potential existed for many frustrated, unhappy
  parents

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The Process

• Superintendent, cabinet, and principals
  formulated the redistricting strategy
• Presented plan for board approval
• Assistant superintendent and principals held
  forums at each building to gather parental
  concerns

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The Process (cont.)

• Cabinet consolidated questions and concerns and
  developed responses
• Superintendent shared Q A with a smaller focus
  group selected by principals from the building
  focus group attendees

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The Process (cont.)

• Q As published in elementary newsletters and
  the district quarterly newsletter
• Transportation software provider and
  transportation department developed three
  redistricting scenarios

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The Process (cont.)

• Published maps of three plans with boundary lines
  in local paper and posted on web
• Accepted public input on three plans at board
  meeting considered input and followed through
• Board accepted superintendent recommendation at
  next meeting

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Major Concerns

• Keep communities/subdivisions together
• Keep siblings in one school
• Maintain gifted/talented magnet school

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The Results

• Minimal Conflict!

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Five-Minute Discussion

• Choose a partner or two for discussion
• Discuss reaction to process
• Discuss application to your local issues
• Q A

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• Improving Communications The Corporation Audit

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The Problem

• External complaints of poor communication between
  the school system and the parents
• Resentment over transportation fee, charge for
  use of facilities, and condition of high school
  athletic facilities
• Small group of vocal people!

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The Process

• Contacted National School Public Relations
  Association for resources
• Engaged the services of Richard Egli, APR, to
  conduct audit

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The Process (Cont.)

• Internal Audit
• Central Office personnel
• Principals
• Teachers
• Support Staff
• Union Leadership (TCTO)

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The Process (Cont.)

• External Audit
• Individuals with No School-age Children
• Business Leaders
• Senior Citizens
• Tradesmen
• TCSC Food Service
• Lowell High School Seniors

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The Process (Cont.)

• Board and cabinet formulated list of participants
• Invited participants by letter with follow-up
  telephone call to non-responders
• Invited 72 50 interviewed
• Used common interview questions

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Positive Results

• Interviewees viewed technology most favorably
• Staff appreciated and read internal newsletter
  Good Monday Morning!
• Described school system as progressive,
  forward-thinking, warm, caring, concerned

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Areas of Improvement

• Eliminate busing fee and facility charges
• Eliminate elementary standards-based report card
• Make website more user friendly
• Offer more vocational education

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Communications Plan

• Established seven goals
• Some specific suggestions included
• Unified messages
• Branding with common format for newsletters
• Tri-Creek name on building newsletters
• Education legislation on web
• Gather e-mails

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Five-Minute Discussion

• Choose a partner or two for discussion
• Discuss reaction to process
• Discuss application to your local issues
• Q A

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• The Community
• Forum
• A Catalyst for
• Visioning and Strategic Planning

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The Problem

• Complaints of lack of involvement with the school
  board
• Lack of input from all factions of the community
  to guide strategic plan
• Complaints about lack of resources for favored
  programs

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The Process

• Contacted Michael Adamson, director of board
  development, at ISBA to be facilitator
• Advertised in local paper for volunteers
• Set up 2½ hour morning and evening sessions of
  approximately 20 persons each

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The Process (Cont.)

• Brainstormed perceived needs
• Conducted affinity process
• Presented grouped results to board
• Board prioritized seven objectives

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The Process (Cont.)

• Aligned objectives to appropriate goals
• Assigned responsibility for objective and action
  plan implementation to a cabinet member or
  superintendent

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The Results

• Develop a 25-year construction and capital
  projects plan
• Review grading practices including
  standards-based report card
• Implement Ivy Tech Community College Initiative
  (vocational education, rigor, relevance)

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The Results (Cont.)

• Develop an Implementation Plan for virtual
  learning
• Reduce Duration of Bus Routes
• Implement Character Education
• Implement a Community Service Graduation
  Requirement

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Five-Minute Discussion

• Choose a partner or two for discussion
• Discuss reaction to process
• Discuss application to your local issues
• Q A

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• Community Collaboration
• Funding Athletic Facilities Improvement
• Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals
  it."
• --Horace  

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The Problem

• Aging and inadequate outdoor athletic facilities,
  including bleachers, press box, concession stand,
  and restrooms in football complex
• Low assessed value growing student populations
  increased recurring costs in capital projects
  funds
• Community criticism to board and from local and
  regional newspapers

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The Process

• Engaged athletic booster club president
• Open, honest discourse about school finances
• Explained corporation lack of capacity to meet
  the athletic community expectations

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The Process (Cont.)

• Establish an alliance
• Appeal to the community
• Work collaborative with director of operations

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The Results

• Bleacher expansion and repair (planned with
  corporation bond issue)
• New press box 87,000 donated by the community
  in less than a month
• Work anticipated to be completed by August 2008

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Five-Minute Discussion

• Choose a partner or two for discussion
• Reaction to process
• Application to your local issues
• Q A

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Availability of Materials

• Presentation
• Strategic Plan (Draft)
• Communications Plan
• Input from Community Forum
• www.tricreek.k12.in.us
• ISBA Presentation