NSPRA's Communication Audit Report - Harford County Public ...

• Superintendent is willing to do what’s necessary to meet with various groups (i.e., retiree
group and health plan concerns) but bureaucracy often makes it difficult.
Information desired
■ Need to know rationale behind actions.
■ Would like Inside Track sent to retiree group.
■ They could be emissaries for the district if they had more information.
Effectiveness of publications
■ Harford Schools newspaper (50 years old). Excellent, well done.
■ Newspaper has important information, but it doesn’t go to everyone.
■ Annual Report comes out in The Aegis (but many people don’t subscribe).
Web site
■ Individual comments included:
• Some school web sites could be much better.
• Easy to use, update is well done. Much improved.
• Use, but not regularly.
Information timeliness
■ Information is available if one seeks it out.
■ Harford Schools newspaper news is old and stale by the time it arrives.
■ Have to use Internet to really stay current with news.
■ The Aegis prints articles right after Board meetings.
Opportunities for involvement/engagement
■ Depends on the school and the PTAs – some are very active some are not.
■ Some teachers in some schools don’t want the active involvement of parents.
■ There are lots of advisory groups with representatives from around the County (i.e., special ed,
gifted). Members are actively recruited (not just handpicked). District does a great job with that.
■ Obstacles to involvement:
• Time and work obligations.
• Some people don’t think things will change.
• Lots of volunteer opportunities in HCPS and people can only take on so many things.
Input into decisions
■ Individual comments included:
• Some parents are upset that they can’t get all their child’s needs meet the same way at
every school (i.e., bright student would have had to change schools to access program
parents wanted for him). Some parents condemn the district for not providing all services
everywhere.
• “I know the Board listens and hears, but we don’t always get the action necessary.”
• Block scheduling is perceived to be the decision of someone at the district that was
rammed down everyone’s throat. Haven’t surveyed students. Have never been provided
with information to indicate if it’s working or not. Didn’t get teacher input as to what
they thought about it before implementation.
NSPRA Communication Audit 69 Harford County Public Schools