Your+Communications+Plans

Communication Plan **Introduction:** The Katonah-Lewisboro school district is committed to effective communication using traditional as well as electronic vehicles, which reflect our values of creating a technologically relevant, interactive forum for communication among constituencies and utilizing sustainable, environmentally friendly methods. **The Mission of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District:** A student-inspired, community-based center of educational excellence, is to ensure that each student has a passion for learning and defines and achieves individual success in a dynamic, competitive global society through a system distinguished by: Highly motivated active learners who continuously assess their progress and feel joy in their accomplishments; Faculty and staff dedicated to the success of all students; ? Rigorous curricula and innovative approaches to instruction that honor the uniqueness in each student; Collaboration among school, home, and community to create a stimulating learning environment. **Target Audiences:** Internal All Katonah-Lewisboro Employees External Parents, Students, Businesses, Community Members, Media **Implementation Plan:** <span class="Normal�125�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">//Goal 1: Develop an effective relationship with the local media in order to communicate events and achievements of students throughout the community.// <span class="Normal�126�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 1: Identify and develop a relationship with a specific point person within local media organizations. <span class="Normal�127�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="UnnamedStyle01�128�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Develop a strong working relationship with school reporter at the Lewisboro Ledger in order to develop successful pitches for deeper coverage. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�129�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish a routine communications protocol with education reporter at News 12 Westchester. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�130�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish a communication protocol with Westchester Magazine journalist. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�131�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish a communication protocol with local radio reporter. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�132�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Invite reporters from each organization to meet and discuss current school news. <span class="Normal�133�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 2: Establish ongoing and regular communication with local media. <span class="Normal�134�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="UnnamedStyle01�135�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Conduct bi-annual editorial visits with key media outlets to develop relationships with editorial staff and discuss in-depth district issues. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�136�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Meet weekly with the school reporter and the Lewisboro Ledger. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�137�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Send five press releases to local media weekly. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�138�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish a protocol for teachers and building leaders to submit student achievements and events to local media on a regular basis. <span class="Normal�139�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">//Goal 2: Establish an effective full-time department for public relations for the district in order to meet the PR needs of the district.// <span class="Normal�140�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 1: Increase hours of current Public Relations person to full-time. <span class="Normal�141�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';"> Tactics: <span class="UnnamedStyle01�142�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Conduct a PR needs assessment through traditional and technological methods to justify increase. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�143�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Invite key communicators in to discuss ways the district can improve communication methods and public relations within the community. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�144�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Assess the financial implications of this increase and the ability to fund it. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�145�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Complete these efforts by June in order to implement in the 2010-2011 school year. <span class="Normal�146�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 2: Define the responsibilities of a full-time Public Relations department. <span class="Normal�147�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="UnnamedStyle01�148�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Assess current responsibilities and time allotment for duties. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�149�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Identify additional responsibilities that require increase in staffing. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�150�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Develop a plan to meet the PR needs of the superintendent, communication of district events to the community, internal communications <span class="Normal�151�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">//Goal 3: Establish a technologically current program for sharing student work and information using Web 2.0 tools.// <span class="Normal�152�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 1: Develop an effective website maintenance program to keep district <span class="UnnamedStyle01�153�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';"> information current. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�154�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="UnnamedStyle01�155�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Review and enhance current protocol for regular information submission by teachers, departments, and building leaders to PR person for website maintenance. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�156�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Ensure that PR person is kept abreast of technology in order to integrate <span class="UnnamedStyle01�157�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">it with PR efforts. <span class="UnnamedStyle01�158�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Outline a schedule for updating to maintain timeliness of website. <span class="Normal�159�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 2: Establish a repertoire of technologically relevant ways to disseminate district information. <span class="Normal�160�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="Normal�161�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish a Facebook Fan page for the district and update regularly. <span class="Normal�162�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish a Twitter account and tweet regularly. <span class="Normal�163�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish a weekly blog from the Superintendent. <span class="Normal�164�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Educate teachers about technology updates and the protocol for public sharing. <span class="Normal�165�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Put all district forms and mailings online. <span class="Normal�166�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Send weekly email updates to parents regarding school information and events. <span class="Normal�167�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Use automated phone service more widely and effectively for dissemination of information. <span class="Normal�168�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">//Goal 4: Maintain the small-community feel with town meetings and other traditional methods of communication.// <span class="Normal�169�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 1: Continue to use traditional communication methods for disseminating information to the public. <span class="Normal�170�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="Normal�171�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Produce glossy, quarterly report from the district for mail distribution. <span class="Normal�172�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Continue to use backpack mail for Friday newsletters for families that do not have internet access. <span class="Normal�173�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Hang posters in local businesses’ windows to advertise district events. <span class="Normal�174�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Announce events and report news through the local media. <span class="Normal�175�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 2: Introduce new protocols for traditional methods of communication that allow interaction from the community. <span class="Normal�176�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="Normal�177�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Invite community members to interact with school officials at 4 Town Meetings per year. Meetings will be rotated through the four elementary buildings. <span class="Normal�178�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Hold Principal’s Coffees on a monthly basis for parents to attend and hold interactive discussions. <span class="Normal�179�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Increase parent participation in monthly PTA meetings by inviting parents with personal phone calls from PTA presidents and visually appealing invitations. <span class="Normal�180�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Teachers and Principals make regular phone communications to home. <span class="Normal�181�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">//Goal 5: Improve internal communication between schools, teachers and administration.// <span class="Normal�182�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 1: Improve communication between administrators and teachers. <span class="Normal�183�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="Normal�184�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Distribute weekly newsletter from building level and upper administration to teachers via email apprising staff of policies, recent issues, decisions, news or events. <span class="Normal�185�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Highlight the achievements of teachers and staff on a monthly basis. <span class="Normal�186�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Superintendent holds quarterly round-table with teacher representatives to discuss teacher concerns. <span class="Normal�187�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Use automated phone messages to inform teachers of important events. <span class="Normal�188�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 2: Improve communication between teachers and across buildings. <span class="Normal�189�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="Normal�190�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Grade level meetings across the district monthly. <span class="Normal�191�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish teachers’ message board to post information and events. <span class="Normal�192�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish a teachers’ blog to post challenges and suggestions regarding best practices. <span class="Normal�193�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Establish web page of teacher resources that can be easily accessed and contributed to by teachers. <span class="Normal�194�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Build time to communicate regularly into the school calendar. <span class="Normal�195�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Strategy 3: Improve communication between teachers and students. <span class="Normal�196�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">Tactics: <span class="Normal�197�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Teachers send post-cards home to students twice yearly to congratulate them on achievement. <span class="Normal�198�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Teachers will post homework on website daily for students. <span class="Normal�199�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">- Students will have access to a wiki established by the teachers used to post information regarding class content. - Students will be able to contribute the the wikis and post discussions for clarification and to enhance instruction. <span class="Normal�200�Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">-- <span class="Normal__Char" style="font-family: 'Arial','Arial';">