General Administration AP 150: Communications

Background

The Division is committed to an effective two way flow of information between itself and all groups affected by and interested in its educational programs. Support for public education will come from an improved understanding of the policies, procedures, programs and practices of the Division and its schools.

The Superintendent will establish a communications program which:

• Recognizes that all staff can play an important role in school community relations;
• Provides for the creation of an annual communications plan, including a budget;
• Identifies the official representatives who are authorized to speak on behalf of the Board, Division, departments and schools; and
• Requires regular assessment of staff, parent, student and community attitudes towards public schools.

Procedures

1. Preparation of the annual communications plan will involve staff, parent and community representatives.
2. Development of the annual communications plan will begin with a review of implementation of the current year's plan, analysis of the results of annual parent, staff, student and community surveys, identification of the Division's strengths and weaknesses, and consideration of the Division's mission statement and the Board's priorities for the subsequent year.
3. The annual communications plan will establish goals, identify target audiences, include proposed actions, assign responsibility for implementation, schedule implementation and provide for evaluation of the effectiveness of the plan.
4. The annual communications plan for the next school year will be completed prior to the conclusion of the current school year.
5. Implementation of the annual communications plan will be monitored throughout the year and adjusted as appropriate. An evaluation of the annual communications plan will be prepared and submitted to the Superintendent by June 30.
6. As part of the planning process an annual communications budget will be established and submitted to the Superintendent for review.
7. The Principal is responsible for the maintenance of effective two way communications between school and community.
8. The effectiveness of home/school communications will be monitored by the Superintendent.
9. When programs are implemented, changed or deleted, the communications implications are to be reviewed and where appropriate, a specific communications plan developed.
10. Staff will be prepared for their communications role in the event of a crisis.
11. Surveys of staff, student, parent and community attitudes toward public schools will be conducted each spring, with a report to be submitted to the Superintendent by June 30.