Board discusses family engagement, volunteer and strategic‑plan goals; staff to propose communications and next steps

Board members and central‑office staff discussed strategies to boost family and community engagement and to add a strategic planning goal focused on school improvement and family engagement.

Main points from the discussion - Parent education and captive audiences: Board members proposed using regular school events (performances, grandparents' day, back‑to‑school nights) as opportunities to distribute short fact sheets on topics parents often name as urgent: summer reading loss, signs of mental‑health concerns, safe technology use and resources for help. A board member said a brief printed or one‑page flyer could prompt parents to seek more support; staff suggested handing those items out and including them in communication bundles. - Volunteer and grandparents programs: Board members proposed expanding volunteer opportunities (reading to students, classroom helpers) and tapping grandparents or community volunteers who may have daytime availability. Staff noted some programs ("Dads" events and volunteer initiatives) already exist at several schools and that principals coordinate volunteer activities; staff recommended assessing and standardizing promising local models and principal collaboration across schools. - Strategic plan: Staff said they intend to propose adding a fifth goal to the district strategic framework (the board will be asked to approve any goal changes). The proposed change would better capture school improvement and family/community engagement strategies. Staff said if the board approves adding a goal in September, central teams will build and report strategies and monthly updates back to the board on progress and related action items.

Why it matters: Family engagement and volunteer support are linked to academic success in district plans and can influence early reading progress and student social‑emotional supports. Staff said targeted parent education and expanded volunteer use are relatively low‑cost, actionable strategies that can be integrated into existing school schedules and events.

Next steps and assignments - Staff will bring a goal‑change proposal to the board in September for information and possible action; if approved, teams will begin drafting strategies and monthly updates tied to the strategic plan. - Staff will draft short parent fact sheets and identify where to distribute them (school events, newsletters) and will investigate centralizing volunteer recruitment/coordination practices for principals to share.

Ending Board and staff framed the proposals as tactical, low‑cost efforts that complement academic interventions. No formal vote occurred; staff said they will return with a formal strategic‑plan item and materials recommended for parent distribution.