EDHS Public Relations PlanSUBMITTED BY: CARISSA BENGTSON

ED 6150: LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND POLITICS

Context: EDHS

El Dorado High School is one of the four comprehensive high schools in the El Dorado Union High School District. It is the oldest school in the district and recently celebrated its 100th Anniversary. It is the school furthest east in the district.

EDHS is a blend of rural and suburban populations. Students come from as far east as Kyburz, as far west as Placerville, as far north from Kelseyville, and as far south as El Dorado.

Context: EDHS

EDHS currently serves roughly 1400 students. 79% of students are Caucasian; 14% Hispanic; 4% two ore more races; 1% Asian; 1% Native American / Alaska Native; 1% Black. 29% of students participate in the free and reduced lunch program. 2% of students are English Language Learners; of these ELL students, 100% have a home language of Spanish. EDHS receives Title I funds to help provide for its students.

Class sizes average 28 students / teacher, but some classes, such as PE and English 4, have 40 or more. There are about 65 teachers on campus, spread between a CARE (EDCOE-sponsored), online continuation high school, and the EDHS site. Staff is 100% Caucasian and have an average of 16 years teaching experience (with an average of 12 years in this district).

Context: EDHS

The current API Score is just below 800 (a decrease from 2011-2012 when the score was 805), which puts EDHS out of “safe harbor”.

EDHS has maintained WASC certification and will not have another WASC visit until 2019.

Programs: EDHS

EDHS boasts many student-centered programs.

AVID: Four-year program that prepares students for post-secondary learning.

Natural Resources: Four-year program that focuses on science.

Health Careers Academy: Four-year program that prepares students to go into Health Careers.

Regional Occupations Program (ROP) that includes Culinary Arts, Medical Arts, Firefighting, Welding, and More.

Blue Latte: After-School free tutoring and class assistance program

Athletics: Football, volleyball, basketball, waterpolo, track, and more

Current Issue: EDHS

EDHS is currently facing an increase in students with multiple Ds and Fs. This increase is impacting class sizes as students need to repeat courses. It also affects our student retention as students who fall far behind often leave the comprehensive site to attend a continuation high school to make up credits.

Teachers are frustrated with failing students as it feels there is little parental or administrative support; students who also repeat appear to cause problems in the classroom and present behavioral issues.

Parents are frustrated with students repeating courses and have indicated they feel there is little school support in helping students pass classes.

Students are frustrated and overwhelmed when they fail courses and must forfeit elective classes in order to make up credits.

Administration and the school board have also communicated their concerns regarding these grades, but faculty has felt that their teaching philosophies and ethics have been called into question and that they are being “strong-armed” into watering down curriculum and rules regarding student onus and responsibility.

Goal: EDHS

1: To increase staff involvement in additional academic support

2: To better communicate avenues of support with parents and students

3: To increase community awareness of academic programs

1: To increase staff involvement in additional academic support

Objective 1.1: To increase staff participation across the disciplines in student support

Objective 1.2: To equip staff with resources and support to help further reach students.

Goal 1: Communication: Teaching Staff and Effective Meetings

The first step in reaching our goal involves reaching out to the teaching staff. The best forum for this communication is through faculty and departmental meetings. Student progress and standing will be communicated during the faculty meeting and teachers will be provided with breakdowns of areas with the biggest need.

Department chairs will be tasked with furthering collaboration within their departments, at which point individual teachers will be provided with their own printouts, including how many of their students are receiving Ds and Fs in multiple classes, specifically in that teacher’s discipline.

In departmental meetings, faculty will focus on ways department members can provide more support on a departmental and teacher level. This will include reviewing and revising policies and ways to better connect with students, parents, and administration.

Goal 1: Communication: Teaching Staff and Effective Meetings

At the next progress report, faculty will receive another printout of the school-wide student standing in their classes. They will also receive individualized reports at their departmental meetings.

Department chairs will submit department notes regarding department ideas and will review these ideas at the department chair meetings.

Individual faculty members will submit their grading policies for administration’s review.

The Blue Latte program will be reinstated. Teachers are needed to run this program, and there must be at least one member from each department. The tutoring may take place in that teacher’s room, or another room in campus. Teachers will keep a sign-in sheet and submit this sheet weekly for review.

Teaching staff may assign students to Blue Latte as a form of “detention” so students may make up their work, with provision. Teachers are encouraged to be flexible in their policies.

All achievement will be systematically reviewed at faculty meetings, and two reports (mid-year and year-end) reports will be distributed.

Goal 1: Communication: Maintaining Contact with Other School Administrators and Teacher Leaders

School leaders (principals, counseling staff, assistant principals) will share their school’s progress at monthly administration meetings. Reports will be distributed and shared in these meetings with the expectation that collaboration between sites facilitates the spread of ideas and methods.

Teacher Leaders will be appointed at each site with the expectation of one member from each department. Teacher leaders will share their results, concerns, and methodologies with departments from other sites.

The implied goals of these communication efforts include a synchronizing of district efforts and styles in supporting students in their academic achievement.

Goal 1: Communication with the District Board

Individual site progress will be presented to the Board at each grading period. These reports will be disseminated to board members, district office administration, and uploaded to the district and school sites for parent access.

District progress will be presented at quarterly, at which time staff-written reports and grading reports will be disseminated to board members and district office administration.

Goal 1: Communication: Home and School; Media; Community

Home and School: Parents and students will receive eight progress reports each school year. Each

report will include a tutoring schedule and list of available resources to help improve student achievement.

Information regarding academic support is to be communicated at eighth grade orientation night, back to school night, open house, and through the school website.

Media: EDHS will utilize the following mediums to communicate with students, parents, and

the community:

A student-centered, advisor-maintained website; the school newspaper; and through announcements at sporting events and on the marquee.

Community: Community members are encouraged to attend school board meetings.

The use of media, specifically athletic events, will also reach community members.

Goal 2:To better communicate avenues of support with parents and students

A link to the Blue Latte Program will be incorporated on the school website. This site will include a calendar of tutoring times, the extended day bus schedule and drop-offs, and policies.

Mailed reminders and information will go home in both English and Spanish and Connect-Ed calls will be placed every two weeks to remind students and parents of availability.

Teachers will be encouraged to call parents of failing students and remind them of the Blue Latte Program and build parent support in making sure the students attend this program.

Students will be asked by teachers/counseling staff to attend Blue Latte as a way to remediate grades

Monthly informative meetings will be held at EDHS in which all parents and students are invited to attend and discuss Blue Latte, its advantages, and recommendations.

Goal 3: To increase community awareness of academic programs

Through reaching out to parents and students, EDHS is also reaching out to the community. The Blue Latte Program will be advertised at athletic events, on the local television station, and in programs at other extra-curricular events such as band performances and school plays.

The Blue Latte Program will also be presented at school functions, such as 8th grade preview night, orientation, and back to school night. This will inform parents of students from other sites about the academic support in place.

Board meetings will also provide information to parents regarding these academic programs.

Summary of Goals

These goals are meaningful for EDHS for several reasons. Firstly, they are student-centered and create additional avenues of academic support and success for students. Secondly, it involves parents in the communication and responsibility of such programs while also extending the information into the community. Thirdly, it promotes active participation from staff members and creates opportunity to collaborate with other sites.

These goals also help curb failing grades and reduce the financial burden of students needing to repeat classes or, worse, leave the comprehensive site.

Addendum: On-the-Spot PR

Welcome to EDHS, Home of the Cougars! I am pleased to share some of what makes our school so special. EDHS offers several unique opportunities for student learning, including specialized programs such as AVID, Natural Resources Program, Health Careers Academy, and the Regional Occupations Program. We also offer the Blue Latte Program, which is a free after-school tutoring program supported by faculty and an extended-day bus schedule. Finally, our school boasts a strong extra-curricular program with multiple athletic teams, an award-winning theatre program, and regionally-ranked band program. Come and check out our school today!

Media List

5 Television Stations Foothill 7 Television (El Dorado County Local Station)

Campus Media/TV (if available)

Fox 40 Sacramento

KCRA 3 Sacramento

KOVR 13 Sacramento

Media List

10 Radio Stations KFOK radio (El Dorado County)

98 Rock

107.9 The End

KNCI 105.1

101.9 The Wolf

94.7

100.5

106.5

KSFM 102.5

103.9 The Fish

Media List

7 Print Sources The Mountain Democrat

The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento News and Review

School Newspaper

School Publications (brochures, newsletters, literature, etc)

Postings / Flyers around town

The Goldpanner

Media List

7-10 Internet Sources Facebook

LinkedIn

Skype

Teacher Websites

Blogs

School Websites

YouTube

Online Forums

Greatschools.com

District Website

Media List

10 Other Sources Local clubs that work with students (i.e., Kiwanis and Key Club)

Local Churches and Youth Groups (many students attend)

Local volunteer organizations (CASA; Big Brothers, Big Sisters)

Bus Signs / Stop postings / advertising (many people take advantage of regional transit)

Work with local businesses to create better school ownership

Advertisement at extra-curricular events (football games, dances, etc)

Create a partnership with another high school

Create a partnership with feeder schools

Parent Outreach nights that entail important high school and post-high school information

Invite the community to board meetings; make community aware of when these meetings are and invite them to share their voice