NSPRA's Communication Audit Report - Harford County Public ...
NSPRA's Communication Audit Report - Harford County Public ...
NSPRA's Communication Audit Report - Harford County Public ...
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■ Most parents trust the schools to do the best they can, but they need to communicate about it.<br />
■ School reform; uniforms.<br />
Effectiveness of publications<br />
■ Most contain information that’s old news. Participants said they don’t read the <strong>Harford</strong><br />
Schools newspaper to find out something new.<br />
School newsletters<br />
■ ALERTNOW is used well by the schools, and is more effective than the high school<br />
newsletter. Some participants get monthly PTA newsletters.<br />
■ Newsletters suffer from “30 day delay.” The story is already out (i.e., MRSA)<br />
■ eSchoolnewsletter – most didn’t know much about this.<br />
Web site<br />
■ District site is updated and more useful than school sites.<br />
■ School sites could be a critical resource.<br />
■ Individual comments included:<br />
• Should have communicated to high school PTA that they were moving to new Edline<br />
template for web site. There was no communication about the transition.<br />
• User-friendly, convenient to leave a comment.<br />
• Somewhat helpful. Often looking for more historical info, redistricting or past enrollment<br />
information.<br />
• Board agendas sometimes don’t go online until Friday (meetings are on Monday).<br />
Exhibits don’t always get on until day of meeting. Used to have hard copies available at<br />
Board meetings.<br />
• Hard as a parent group to wait until Friday for agenda posting. Doesn’t leave time to get<br />
PTA board approval to take a position on agenda items of concern to them.<br />
Opportunities for involvement/engagement<br />
■ Individual comments included:<br />
• Lots of opportunity at the PTA <strong>County</strong> Council level. Can’t fill all positions they ask for.<br />
• There are opportunities to give input in certain well-directed areas only.<br />
• One participant noted their principal recently formed a citizens’ advisory committee.<br />
Others indicated they would like their schools to have a similar committee.<br />
• Parents are not always on school improvement teams and meeting times are not always<br />
conducive to parents.<br />
Input into decisions<br />
■ Individual comments included:<br />
• “It’s topic specific whether the Board wants to listen. Some issues are a done deal and on<br />
others they will accept input.”<br />
• One participant felt concerns have always been listened to.<br />
• Board members have made an effort recently to go to meetings; this is a new endeavor.<br />
• There are some issues the Board has already made up their mind about, but they have to<br />
go through the motions (i.e., comprehensive school reform).<br />
NSPRA <strong>Communication</strong> <strong>Audit</strong> 59 <strong>Harford</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Public</strong> Schools