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

• The benefits sign-up process is easy to use and is used.
Communication challenges/Improvements
■ Staff members who are not technologically literate are left out of the communication loop.
■ Many cafeteria employees don’t have time to access e-mail or information online or have
computer expertise – there’s a generation gap.
■ Computer techs can help staff to learn the basics. “There used to be more of that sort of staff
development, free to employees.”
Parent/Community involvement
■ There are lots of committees, such as supervisory committees for safety and security,
curriculum and instruction, to get the parents’ perspective.
■ If parents what to be involved, they can get involved.
■ “We have family liaisons who do a whole lot in getting families involved.”
■ The Family Liaison program (only in Title I schools) really focuses on getting parents
involved. “The program represents money well-spent. It should be county-wide.”
■ Some schools have much more active PTA programs than others.
Greatest challenges facing the district
■ Square footage in overcrowded schools.
■ Media and technology. “Not all parents have access at home.”
■ Staff keeping up with the technology savvy students.
■ Media coverage. “We need more positive coverage.”
■ Capital improvements.
■ State budget issues. “If the state can’t provide the resources, then the County needs to step up.”
■ State tests and federal mandates. “The testing requirements are not necessarily fair to all
students.”
GROUP: CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS/OFFICE
PERSONNEL
Strengths of the district
■ ALERTNOW is great for employees and parents.
■ Edline.
■ Web redesign.
■ SharePoint is also helpful internally.
Improvements needed
■ Sometimes they are getting outside calls about what’s going on and they aren’t in the loop.
Have to scurry around trying find a person in the know.
■ Take away single days off and take a week in the spring.
NSPRA Communication Audit 72 Harford County Public Schools