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

• Parents have their own interests, and once their issue is resolved they don’t continue to
stay informed and engaged. “People have relied more and more on schools to raise
children, but we need parental involvement.”
• Everyone is so busy, unless it’s a hot button issue, the interest isn’t there.
• Parents are more involved at the school and local levels, but not the policy level.
Greatest communication challenge for the district
■ Negative coverage in the local newspaper.
■ Ongoing communication with elected officials.
■ Engaging parents and business leaders.
■ Individual comments included:
• The system puts out information, but people don’t always look at it.
• Editorials have been very negative, and that type of coverage does nothing to further
constructive debate. Each president of the Board has taken the opportunity to meet with
the local newspaper, but the editorial boards are writing opinion based on what young
education reporters are reporting about the issues; most of which is inaccurate. The
meetings with the editorial board do not help.
• The Harford Business Roundtable has facilitated meetings that have been very positive.
NSPRA Communication Audit 98 Harford County Public Schools