We have reached December, and the winter break is fast-approaching on the school calendar. With the last few weeks of 2023 ahead of us, we soon will be starting 2024 and preparing for the 2024-2025 school year. As we transition into planning and preparation for the 2024-2025 school year, the school district is constantly reflecting on its strategic plan and seeking parental input and perceptions on how to improve our educational experience for students and families. The most frequently referenced item received from parents and family members involving their student’s education is typically communication. Communication and parental involvement are key components of our strategic plan to allow parents to have an active role in the education of their child and the collaborative nature that is required to educate students at a high level. As we approach 2024, the school district is requesting parents and families to consider methods of which the school district could improve its communications in utilizing the tools available (or not currently offered) including the website, social media, Instant Alert, Class Dojo, or other communications available to families and the community at large. Our goal is to make the school experience as user-friendly as possible and to value the busy nature of families by ensuring communication is concise and effective. To accomplish this goal, it is important to hear from the source as to what does and does not work well in keeping our parents involved in their student’s education.
The school district is pursuing a new website platform for the 2024-2025 school year that will include a new school district app and opportunities for other options to be pursued to assist parents and the community in staying connected with the school district. The school district has adopted an online platform for student enrollment and provides parent access to PowerSchool and Google Classroom for students, however, these platforms may not provide the communication parents are seeking with their students for various reasons. Parents also have opportunities to help in their student’s education with software platforms to assist students at home and to support learning that is taking place in our school buildings. The challenge appears to reside in accessing these various platforms and to make the experience easier for parents to navigate and use the resources available at the various levels. Despite the volume of opportunities available to parents and patrons to use, it is often reported many of the platforms are not utilized and discussions occur as to ways to promote or better educate parents on the options available and aid in their application. A format or platform to promote improved ease of use and overall utilization will be part of discussions as to our overall communication plan and opportunities for improvement, of which your input will be requested and welcomed.
Technology and communication are everchanging in our society and we recognize the importance of monitoring and assessing the forms of communication preferred by our young families as well as maintaining communication with our business and community patrons that may not have students in our school system. As we look ahead to possible changes and initiatives, it is important to receive input as to how this can best be accomplished based on current or past experiences in other school districts. This can include anything from making payments to the school district, such as food service or activities, to assisting parents/students when absent from school, to staying informed with the daily successes and operations of the school district; technology can assist if aligned to expectations and highly utilized platforms that are easy to navigate and use. Finding the balance with technology and traditional in-person events will be critical to providing effective communication to all our stakeholders.
Our goal is very clear, to be a partner in your student(s) education and to be transparent in all things related to providing the highest level of education to our students and service to the community. We also strive to ensure high levels of parental and community involvement at all grade levels through a variety of communications and public events to promote those goals. Please feel free to reach out to our district office or your building offices and administrators with any thoughts regarding ways to enhance our communications and to encourage higher levels of parental and community involvement in our school district. We are blessed to have a growing and diverse population of students and families in our school district; therefore, it is critical to provide the opportunities for engagement and collaboration as identified by those involved and to ensure efforts currently taking place are making a positive impact. We are also blessed with tremendous facilities of which we promote parent and community use in celebrating the education.
cation and general activities of our students. Thank you, in advance, for any constructive and thoughtful comments to assist with these efforts and ongoing overall support of the school district.
I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming holiday season as we look forward to working with our students, parents, and community on a successful 2024.