Facebook, Twitter, texting and e-mails all represent the rapid changes in communication technology over the past few years. The public, particularly the younger generation, embrace these ways of talking in their everyday life. Others still prefer the printed word on paper and what is referred to as snail mail -- utilizing an envelope and a postage stamp -- or picking up the telephone. Either way, New Philadelphia City Schools believes two-way communication in all forms is critically important to a healthy, thriving school district.
To that end, Superintendent Bob Alsept has been working with community members and the school board to develop multiple ways to keep the lines of communication wide open.
We are launching new tools within our Web site at www.npschools.org, because we had a goal of improving communication within our community. To do that today, you are looking at e-mail, Twitter and Facebook. We have launched all of those through our Web site. It gives more ways for people to communicate with their district and with their schools.
Also, each Friday in February at 9:30 a.m., I am going to have Coffee Chats at the Daily Grind coffee shop in downtown New Philadelphia. There is not a set agenda, just an informal setting to talk about our schools over a cup of coffee, and maybe a sweet roll. I will answer the questions that I can, and I can certainly work to get answers. The Coffee Chats will last approximately one hour, and Alsept encourages all interested members of the community to meet with him for open dialogue. I just believe that, as the superintendent, that the schools need to certainly represent their community. That is why it is so important for us to have open communication, and for me to be out there and have methods of staying in touch with parents, grandparents, students, staff, and community members. I want to keep the lines of communication open. It is very important for me to be able to accurately gauge what is important to our community.
To reach as many people as possible and learn what they perceive are the most important things that should be represented by New Philadelphia City Schools, Alsept has collaborated with interested community members and the board of education to launch a comprehensive survey.
We are conducting this survey to determine whether we are in touch with what the community wants for its schools. We want to hear the voices of everyone involved in creating a successful academic experience for our children, explained Jeanmarie Roth, a local accountant and involved parent who volunteered to be part of a team that provided input on the surveys focus. This is important to us because in the past one of the main criticisms of the administration is that they didnt listen to or hear what the community was saying. We want the community to know that we do care and we will listen. We are hoping to use the information from the survey to create a vision for the future of New Philadelphia City Schools.
This survey will be available to people electronically or through paper copy through March 5. We will spend all that time gathering data that represents the feelings of the people that make up our community and our school system, stated Alsept. The survey can be taken online through a link from the schools Web site.
Between March 5 and the end of April, we will take that input, and we will craft a vision, mission, and core beliefs that represent the feelings of our community. We will have another chance, through an electronic survey, for public comment on the rough draft before the board takes action on it at the May board meeting, when the final results will be adapted, continued Alsept. Then, we will be gearing up for the 2011 school year and beyond. If we have done a good job, that mission, vision and core belief will help us as board members and staff members, and will drive our decision making. Looking at that and making sure we stay true to that in the decisions that we make will make us accountable to our citizens.
Printed copies of the survey will also be distributed through the next Quaker Talk newsletter, and through the schools.
It is so important to gather a large number of replies from a cross section of our community, said Alsept of the survey project. He stressed that this vision and mission statement will hold true across administration or board personnel changes. A true vision/belief/mission statement is created when youve done the job well; this is the foundation of any successful organization.
To participate in the survey and to be part of the district e-mail newsletter, Twitter, or Facebook updates, visit the districts Web site at www.npschools.org.
