The district shall strive to maintain effective two-way
communication channels with the public. Such channels shall enable the board
and staff to interpret the schools' performance and needs to the community and
provide a means for citizens to express their needs and expectations to the
board and staff.
The superintendent shall establish and maintain a
communication process within the school system and between it and the
community. Such a public information program shall provide for a district
annual report, news releases at appropriate times, news media coverage of
district programs and events, and regular direct communication between
individual schools and the patrons they serve.
The public information program shall also assist staff in improving
their skill and understanding in communicating with the public.
Community opinion may be solicited through parent
organizations, parent-teacher conferences, open houses and other such events or
activities which may bring staff and citizens together. At times, board
meetings may be scheduled at neighborhood schools. Survey instruments and/or
questionnaires may be developed in order to gain a broad perspective of
community opinion.
The board is a nonpartisan public body and as such shall
not endorse political candidates. Neither staff nor students shall be asked to
disseminate campaign materials from the schools nor shall any of the district's
facilities or communications services be used to disseminate such material.
The superintendent shall identify staff that have
significant public information responsibilities and establish guidelines for
their work. The guidelines shall address such matters as authority for making
releases and the nature and content of bulletins to parents.
The district will collect data on student disciplinary
actions taken in each school, and the information will be available to the
public on request. This information may
not be personally identifiable, and shall not include a student’s name, address
or social security number.
An annual report addressing the activities of the school
district and the administration's recommendations for improvement of student
learning and district operations shall be prepared by the superintendent and
presented to the board as soon as possible after the close of each school year.
Upon board approval, the report shall be made available to the public and used
as one means for informing parents and citizens, the state education agency,
and other districts in the area of the programs and conditions of the
district's schools. The district is required to ensure awareness of and
compliance with certain statutory requirements as specified in policy #2106.
When the district is not in compliance, such deviations shall be incorporated
into the annual report.
Cross Reference: Board
Policy 2106 Program
Compliance
Legal References: RCW 28A.150.230 Basic
Education Act of 1977 — District school directors as accountable for proper
operation of district — Scope — Responsibilities
Adoption Date: February
2005