1

Creating Community Advocates for Your Schools:

Community Engagement

CASB Annual ConventionDecember 4, 2008

2

Session Goals:1. Introduce participants to community

engagement—what it is and what it isn’t 2. Explain the mechanics of community

engagement—methods, steps, and tips3. Share examples of successful

engagement processes, the benefits, and lessons learned

4. Answer questions and provide resources for further study

3

What is Community Engagement?A long-term effort to generate community dialogue around major issues that affect a school district and the community is serves.Engaging diverse constituents in conversation early in the process for any major change you are considering to assure you hear and utilize their point of view in the decision-making process.Face-to-face dialogue on issues through small-group discussions, with board members listening and recording what is said.

4

What is Community Engagement?

Citizens talking to one another and hearing one another’s point of view.Involving the community in value dilemmas and tough choices, because some things must be given up to gain others.Asking the community to share in the responsibility for problem solving.

5

What is Community Engagement?

“The essence of governance is the ability of a community, when engaged in a dialogue, to provide the context, overarching values, and direction the community would like to see the schools pursue.”

Monte Roulier, “Reconnecting Communities and Their Schools

Through Authentic Dialogue,” National Civic Review

6

Community Engagement is NOT:

An information campaign to get community “buy in” to a decision already madeDAD – Decide, Announce, Defend!Appropriate for every decision the board or a school district makes; but is appropriate for engaging constituents in big issues that have a broad impact.

7

Why Community Engagement?Replace 1-way communication with 2-way dialogue.Engage stakeholders to improve teaching and learning.Create greater community trust in schools.Foster deeper parent and community involvement.

8

Why Community Engagement?Build and improve relationships.Establish a thorough process that is rewarding to stakeholders and of value to the board in its “real” workHelp balance competing values, though decision-making is still difficult

9

CASB Principles of Community Engagement

Community Engagement:1. A way of coming to public judgment through

deliberation.2. Relies on dialogue, not debate.3. Requires sustained opportunities for

discussion.4. Requires leaders who trust the public.5. Two-way communication that builds

relationships.-Colorado Association of School Boards

10

CASB Principles of Community Engagement

CASB observations in a report titled “Public Engagement in Five Colorado Communities”

Community engagement is on some level a matter of will.Professional staff would rather not suffer the messy inconvenience of outside voices. Community members would rather not take the risks and time of participating in a deliberative process. School boards would rather not listen to public challenges to their judgment or step on the toes of their staffs, who wish the board to listen only to them. At its root, therefore, public engagement requires both courage and will from local leadership.

-2002 CASB report to Kettering Foundation

11

Do’s and Don’tsDo…

Involve diverse stakeholders.Invite them to special events to focus on specific topics, purposes, issuesGo to them, where they are: back-to-school nights, site-based management team meetings, PTA/PTO meetings, district parent meetings, coffees, etc.“Close the loop” or report back what you plan to do with the input, including the steps in the process.

12

Do’s and Don’tsDon’t…

Intimidate parents and others with education jargonHave meetings that run too long or don’t start on timeDiscourage questionsForget to honor their values and beliefsFail to do what you said you were going to do with their input!

13

Basic Steps in the Process1. Find a question you want answered:

Begin with the end in mind.Discuss the possible questions as a board.Questions should focus on overarching values, such as: What do you want your child to know and be able to do?Begin with a basic question that’s not too difficult.Don’t ask unless you plan to use the information.

14

Basic Steps in the Process

2. Bring stakeholders together.Involve stakeholders who represent the diversity of your community and schools.Make the invitations personal, and keep the groups small (8-12)Hold the sessions in neutral locations, or go to them to put them at ease.

15

3. Hold your first session.Introduce one another to put them at ease.Ask 1 or 2 questions the first session, and send the questions ahead of time.Designate board members to serve as the facilitator and note takers.Have district/school staff in the room to help frame issues or provide information, if asked.Explain the goal, process, and what you plan to do with the input.Board members listen, listen, and listen more!Encourage dialogue, discussion, and ask clarifying questions.

Basic Steps in the Process

16

Basic Steps in the Process

4. Process the information gathered:Gather all the raw information, and share with all board members.Organize it by categories, especially noting community values.Develop draft “mega ends” statements.Send draft statements back to participants, and ask if you captured what they said. Ask for input and revisions.

17

Basic Steps in the Process

5. Refine and finalize input.Revise statements based on collaboration and teamwork between the Board and Superintendent, with staff review and recommendationsAdopt and implement “ends,” and use it in as many ways as possible.Do it again!

18

PSD District Ends EngagementOct. 2006-May 2007: Community Engage-ment to gather input for District Ends PolicyHeld 12 community engagement sessions with stakeholders, asking each 2 questions: • “What do you hope our children

can achieve?” • "What do we need to change

about the results PSD is achieving?"

• Stakeholders included parents (English and Spanish), students, school site-based management teams, community members, business people, service club members, and retired educators.

19

PSD District Ends EngagementJune-Sept. 2007: Board used input to develop and adopt broad Ends Policy:In order to be post-secondary ready and to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world, Poudre School District children will demonstrate levels of achievement consistent with high individual expectations in:

• Academics • Civic Participation• Career Preparation• Creative Skills• Thinking Skills

20

Did we achieve these goals?Improve teaching and learning.Create greater community trust in schools.Fosters deeper parent and community involvement.Build and improve relationships.Establish a thorough process that is rewarding to stakeholders and of value to the board in its “real” workHelp balance competing values, though decision-making is still difficult

21

Keys to Successful EngagementDon’t rush the process—take the time needed to synthesize and discuss input.Accept that some content will be lost—all input can’t be included.Separate the “means” from the “ends”—the Board’s focus is the ends.Be faithful to what you hear—stakeholders will express strong community values that should be reflected in ends policies.Successful engagement requires an ongoing commitment from the board & superintendent.

22

Questions and Discussion

23

For More InformationPoudre School District Board of Education

Larry Neal, PresidentNancy Tellez, Vice President

Jana Ley, DirectorTom Balchak, Director

Jim Hayes, DirectorM.L. Johnson, Director

Barb Schwerin, Director

Jerry Wilson, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools970-490-3607, e-mail sstruve@psdschools.org