SOMSD Board of Education

SOMSD Board of Education

Community Engagement & Outreach

Committee Minutes

April 1, 2014, 6:30pm – 8:25pm

BOE members: Madhu Pai (Chair), Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad, Johanna Wright

Administration: Brian Osborne (Superintendent), Suzanne Turner (Director of Strategic Communications), Paul Roth (Chief Information Officer)

Discussion:

1.  Preparation for annual Satisfaction Survey to parents/teachers/students

·  Committee reviewed questionnaires for Community/Teacher/Student survey and provided ‘first glance’ feedback to Administration. Given new committee members, committee aligned on taking the week to review and provide thoughts to M. Pai on questionnaires.

·  M. Pai to send Dr. Osborne consolidated committee feedback.

·  Draft questionnaire to be shared with full board and staff prior to fielding.

2.  Monitor district website improvements

·  Committee reviewed improvements made since the last committee meeting. Administration indicated that majority of broken links are now fixed. Administration shared website improvement priorities based on 2013 survey results. Administration also updated committee on addition of new ‘exit survey’ on website that will enable feedback on experience and help determine additional priorities to address.

·  Committee reviewed quarterly statistics on Powerschool usage, website and school messenger services.

o  Committee raised a question regarding CY 13 website statistics – Q. 4 number seems high; Admin to confirm and update (if incorrect).

3.  RI for Goal 3 Objective B

·  Committee aligned to review annual agenda and annotate/add appropriate communication needs in light of policy changes.

4.  Community Forums

·  Committee discussed G&T engagement opportunities including school level discussions w/parents to understand district G&T strategy and identification criteria

o  Aligned to Fall 14 date, leaving room to further define identification criteria and have G&T coordinator in place, as he/she will be instrumental in leading engagement sessions.

·  Committee discussed whether an engagement session was necessary with parents of special needs students on DMC work.

o  No consensus was reached, and this remains a topic of discussion for the Committee.

·  Committee acknowledged new parent group for students of African decent.

5.  District Goal 3 Update for 14/15 – 16/17

·  Committee discussed the following updates to district goals for 14/15 & 15/16:

o  Obj. A, Indicator 1, Milestone 1: is it realistic to increase goal of PowerSchool usage among parents to beyond 80%?

o  Obj. A, Indicator 2: Possibly expand audience to include realtors and those considering moving to SOMA

o  Obj. B, Indicator 3, Milestone 1: Committee felt it may be unrealistic to reach 10% gains each year in satisfaction ratings among all audiences. Will continue to discuss this indicator.

o  Obj. B, Indicator 3, Milestone 2: Committee discussed possibly breaking out increasing outreach to low engagement groups as distinct objective in Goal 3

o  Obj. C, Ind. 1, Milestone 2: Communications strategy and outreach to 5th and 8th grade parents to happen annually

·  M. Pai will revise district goals draft for May discussion

6.  DistrictSAM

·  Based on review of Board policy, Committee aligned that we are very open to hearing recommendation from District SAM on matters that come to its attention, per Article XXIII (C.4.a.)

·  Committee also aligned that we are looking forward to receiving annual findings of District SAM effectiveness per Article XXIII (C.8.)

·  Committee requested Dr. Osborne communicate Committee’s POV to District SAM members at next meeting

7.  BOE/Admin response plan to petitions

·  CE&O Committee acknowledged CHS Start Time petition and defer this matter to P&M for action