HomeMy WebLinkAboutP 002 COM - Board Community Relations
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POLICY P.002.COM
TITLE: BOARD-COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Date issued: 30 January 1998
Revised: 25 November 2014
Authorization: Board: 25 November 2014
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To ensure that the Board's various communities have timely access to accurate information on
the schools and school system, and have opportunities for effective involvement in decision -
making processes
2.0 POLICY
2.1 The Board of Education and the school district operate most successfully with the
support and involvement of knowledgeable and informed members of the Board’s
various "communities". The quality of education is highly influenced by the beliefs held
in the community at large and the extent to which the community is able and willing to
support the schools and Board programs and services.
2.2 The Board shall ensure, to the degree possible, that the public and various groups and
organizations in the school district, including internal groups, are provided with timely
information and opportunities for meaningful interaction with the Board.
2.3 To this end:
a) notice shall be circulated to the public and the media, according to Board
practice, of all functions to which all members of the Board are invited, including
functions outside the normal committee and Board schedule if the discussions
will move the business of the Board materially along the way in the overall
spectrum of a Board decision; and
b) while notice shall be published of briefing sessions such as trustee orientation
and team building sessions, such sessions may be held for trustees and staff
alone as long as policy matters or other issues are presented and discussed but
not debated, and as long as the Board is not being asked for its
recommendations on any change of policy.
2.4 The Board recognizes the key role played by the media in keeping the public informed
on school and school district activities and issues. It will have in place programs to
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develop and maintain strong relations with the media based on openness, fairness,
accuracy of information, consistency and continuity.
3.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES
3.1 Processes shall be in place to ensure there is effective community involvement in
decision-making and policy development.
3.2 The role of School Councils as a vital link in Board-community relations is recognized
and supported.
3.3 Such administrative steering committees as may be established from time to time to
consider such topics or issues as report cards, school profiles or other matters of
current interest in which there is a need for community involvement may include, as
appropriate, parents nominated by the Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils
(OCASC) and/or Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) and/or students nominated by
the Ottawa-Carleton Student Presidents' Council.
3.4 The Chair of the Board, or his or her delegate, shall be the official spokesperson for the
Board.
3.5 Board publications shall be written in clear, unambiguous non -sexist language,
reflective of the City of Ottawa’s multicultural society, and be of consistently high quality
within the limit of available resources.
3.6 A plan or plans shall be developed to manage communications in crisis situations.
3.7 A summary of communications activities and programs will be provided to the Board
annually.
4.0 REFERENCES
The Education Act, 1998, § 170, 171, 207
Board Policy P.014.SCO: School Councils