School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Regulation 7-1.1
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Relations with the Public
A. Generally
Every person requesting information regarding the schools or visiting the schools shall be treated in a courteous manner and may expect a prompt and informative reply to legitimate questions.
B. Division Level Plan
The Department of Media and Communications Development will develop a plan for communicating the school division's mission and accomplishments to the employees and to the community at large. This will be characterized by the following features:
1. The plan will have clearly stated goals and objectives that are to be reviewed annually.
2. The plan will include varied strategies and media such as internal newsletters and bulletins, newsletters for the community, use of Internet and Intranet Web sites, and the use of the school division's cable channel.
3. The plan will have an assessment component describing the means for evaluating the school division's plan.
4. The Department of Media and Communications Development will be a resource for schools in developing their respective plans.
C. School Level Plan
Each school will have a school improvement plan and that plan will include communications and community relations components. The team will be composed of parents, teachers, students, administrators, or other interested community members. The plans will be submitted to the Department of School Administration.
1. An assessment of need or an evaluation of the communication between the school and its community is the first component. This assessment should
address those types of communication that may be particularly effective in a specific school neighborhood.2. A statement of goals is the second component, and this statement will include those areas of focus for the particular school year,
3. The plan will include a description of the strategies for communication and involvement and will incorporate the following:
a. Cooperative efforts with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
b. Involvement of the Partners in Education Program
c. Use of volunteers to reinforce the instructional program
d. Relationships with community agencies
4. Each school's plan will include means for involving parents and the community in activities, including but not limited to the following:
a. Development of the biennial school plan
b. Evaluation of the school program
5. The plan will be evaluated annually.
Editor’s Notes
See Regulation 2-42.1: School Planning Council
See Policy 7-31: Community Relations/Parent-Teacher Association (PTA’s)
Approved by Superintendent: July 16, 1991
Revised by Superintendent: August 14, 1993
Revised by Superintendent: May 26, 2004