District highlights student leadership day and rolls out communication plan, website refresh

Norfolk Public Schools presented a two-part communications update Monday: a recap of a fourth-grade leadership day and progress on the district's Communications Strategic Action Plan.

"We had 52 students attend the day," said Angie Hausman, who described the event and the leadership teams created at each elementary building. Students who attended met the mayor and Superintendent Dr. Jamie Jo Thompson and participated in leadership stations ranging from business creation to service projects.

Student speakers told the board what they enjoyed. One fourth grader said, "I liked meeting the superintendent and the mayor," while another said one thing they had learned was "to listen more than we talk." The board asked how students were chosen; presenters said selection methods varied by school and included teacher nominations.

Tiffany Settles and Mickey Mueller presented the district's communications goals and progress. The district has centralized elementary and junior-high social accounts under the NPS business page to maintain continuity when staff change, said Settles. The district has also contracted Class Intercom to integrate social posting across platforms and is developing student content creators at junior high and plans to expand to the high school. After surveying parents, the district decided not to require a separate mobile app because parents preferred improved website navigation.

Settles said the district will stay with its current website vendor, IdeaBank of Hastings, and has performed a site refresh that emphasizes district-owned student photography rather than stock images.

Board members praised the leadership event and the social account consolidation, and staff said they will continue expanding student content creation and monitoring feedback on the refreshed website.