ICYMI
ICYMI
ICYMI
Transforming school culture by connecting with the community By Victoria McDonald Presenters: David Bartz, Professor Emeritus, Eastern Illinois University; Gary Dolinko, Board President and Kate Donegan, Superintendent, Skokie SD 73.5; Elizabeth Reynolds, Superintendent, Calumet Public SD 132. Moderator: Patrick Rice, Director/Equality Director, Field Services, IASB
Victoria McDonald is principal for Robinson High School, Robinson CUSD 2 and a participant in the Educational Administration Intern program at the 2018 Joint Annual Conference.
W
ithin this “Transforming
not community engagement, or vice
past, present, and potentially the
school culture by connecting
versa. Being effective at both com-
future of the district and community.
with the community” panel session
munication strategies is essential
The topic of owners and custom-
of the 2018 Joint Annual Confer-
for the long-term success of a school
ers was brought forth for a separate
ence, the not-so-subtle differences
district. Rice continued this line of
discussion when superintendents and
between the terms “public relations”
thought by stating that both commu-
board members were asked about
and “community engagement” were
nication tools enable the district to
ways to handle those complaints or
explained. The panel discussed in
shape the preferred impression for
situations brought by community
detail how these terms are not syn-
all vested parties.
members or staff. How can the chain
onymous, nor should they be used as such.
of command be encouraged and sup-
munity engagement: “Communi-
ported without angering those raising
Presenter Elizabeth Reynolds
ty engagement, also called public
the issues?
illustrated public relations as not
engagement or civic engagement, is
To describe community engage-
ongoing communication, but more
the process by which school boards
ment, Reynolds used a few adjectives
“spitting out” information. Modera-
actively involve diverse citizens in dia-
to further delineate the difference
tor Patrick Rice of IASB continued
logue, deliberation, and collaborative
between public relations and com-
this thought and stated that a district
thinking around common interests
munity engagement, noting that
could be good at public relations but
for their public schools.”
community engagement is planned,
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) is a feature in Journal, sharing panel reports from the 2018 Joint Annual Conference. Reporters are participants in the Educational Administration Intern program.
ICYMI
26
Here’s how IASB defines com-
At the core of quality community
sustained, and deliberate. Once those
engagement is building quality rela-
ideals are ingrained in the planning
tionships with “owners,” as opposed
process, but before any meetings
to “customers.” The administration
commence with the diverse com-
is the complaint committee; big-pic-
mittee members, all of the panel-
ture items are the work of the board.
ists stressed that the first step is to
When the board approaches those
clearly define the purpose of the
large, high-profile topics that demand
committee, and expectations of how
community input, it must recognize
the committee will proceed towards
who is not at the table, and seek out
that purpose. This first step is of the
diverse and eclectic perspectives to
utmost importance because estab-
provide a broad understanding of the
lishing those guidelines will help each
THE ILLINOIS SCHOOL BOARD JOURNAL / MAY-JUNE 2019