Ferris ISD School-Community Relations: A look at where we are and where we can go

Are We Making The Grade?  If you had to give Ferris ISD a letter grade based upon how well our school- community relations are what would it be? A-? B+? C? F?

Are We Making The Grade?  If we asked members in our community (businesses, parents, citizens, etc.), would they give us the same grade?

Current School-Community Relations Policy & Procedures  Local and Legal Policies Conduct on School Premises Nonschool Use of School Facilities School Volunteer Program Advertising and Fundraising in School Visitors to the School Planning and Decision Making Process

Current School-Community Relations Policy & Procedures  Superintendent Duties Internal and External Communication to Improve Staff and Community Understanding and Support of the District Establish Mechanisms for Community and Business Involvement in the Schools and Encourage Participation Work With Other Government Entities and Community Organizations to Meet the Needs of Students and the Community in a Coordinated Way

What Have We Been Doing?  Parent-Teacher Conferences  Progress Reports/Report Cards  Elementary PTA/PTO  Site Base Decision Making Teams  Meet the Teacher Night  Open House  Flyers Sent Home

What Have We Been Doing?  Superintendent Maintains Public Relations  Little Dribblers Use of Our Facilities  Homecoming Parade  Participation in Brick Festival, Christmas on the Square, etc.

What Have We Started Doing?  Junior High PTO  Junior High Parent Welcome Center  District Community Newsletter  District Radio Tower  District and School Websites  Parent Portal  Transition Nights

What Have We Started Doing?  Family Nights  Positive Referrals  Free Breakfast for All Students

Are We Satisfied With Our School- Community Relations?  Community Perception District Administration Each Campus  School-Community Relations Policy Forefront? Goal?

What Else Could We Be Doing?  More Parent Volunteers  More Business Partners  More Family Nights  More Activities That Involve the Community in Accomplishing School or District Goals  Use Social Media as an Additional Form of Communication

What Else Could We Be Doing?  Add a More Specific Goal on Our District Improvement Plan to Address the Need for Better School-Community Relations and Communication  Parent Ambassador Program They become liaisons to the community  Board Member Adopts a School What better liaison for our schools in the community

Benefits Of Implementing These New Ideas  Increase Parental Support  Increase Parental Involvement  Increase Community Support  Better School-Community Relations

Possible Barriers To Implementing These New Ideas  Time  Money  Resistance to Change  Buy-In and Support

Would Our Grade Improve?  We would certainly be closer to an A+ with these and other improvements  We must keep school-community relations as one of our on-going goals in order to remain a successful school district