PR Plans

Hey guys!

This week’s topic is Develop a communication / public relations plan for your school or school district. Incorporate social media along with more traditional venues for communicating school / district news.  District level communication should be sent out at the start of every year.  Things like the various plans for the school year, the calendar, the comprehensive plan for the year, should be sent out at that time.  These things should be posted to the district website, and sent home in paper versions as well.  The beginning communications for the school should all be sent out as paper versions.  Any school newsletters and calendars, as well as class information, should be sent out as paper versions as well.  After this beginning information is sent out through websites and paper, parents should have the option of opting into a paper version of the school correspondence.  All other correspondence should be sent through the school website, twitter, facebook, and text or voice messages. It’s important to know that all families do not have access to internet, email, or smartphones and computers.  Important information should still reach these families, even though they have difficulty getting digital information.  Information should also be sent out in multiple formats as often as possible.  The first line of communication is not the same for everyone.  It is important to reach as many people as possible, sending information out in a variety of ways helps everyone get the latest information.  There is an awesome chart of pros and cons for communication in Planning for Technology on page 157.  This chart tells us that mass communication is good for getting out information, and spreading news. It’s not great for changing the minds and attitudes of stakeholders.  Interpersonal communication is best for that, those include parent meetings, and home visits and other face-to-face communications.  In other words, prioritize your communication.  Think about what you want to accomplish and send information out accordingly.

Thanks for watching this week!

Resource:
Whitehead, B., Jensen, D., & Boschee, F. (2013). Planning for technology (2nd ed., pp. 157-158). Thousand oaks: Corwin sage.