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Pasco launches renewed community engagement push: PEAK, HOPE, Ambassador programs and ParentSquare expansion
Summary
Director of Public Affairs Anna Tinsmeyer presented a multi-part community engagement update. The district reported growth in its PEAK business partnership program, revival of the HOPE nonprofit/faith-based partnership, an ongoing Ambassador program for community members, and broad adoption of ParentSquare, which the district says now reaches 98%
Anna Tinsmeyer, Pasco School District's director of public affairs, briefed the board on four community engagement initiatives the district is promoting: PEAK business partnerships, the revived HOPE nonprofit/faith-based partnership program, the Ambassador program, and ParentSquare, the district's official family communication platform.
Tinsmeyer said the PEAK program, created in Pasco in 2008 to connect businesses and community organizations with individual schools, now has 40 active partners occupying 76 partnership slots across 30 school buildings; contribution levels range from $500 for elementary schools to $700 for high schools, and 100 percent of PEAK contributions are directed to the partnered school. The district reported 14 open partnership slots and recent new partners including local businesses and health organizations; Amazon provided a $2,000 contribution to support the annual PEAK partner luncheon.
Tinsmeyer said the HOPE program (Helping Organizations Partner for Education) has been reactivated after a pandemic pause and now focuses on in-kind donations, volunteer support and program partnerships. The district hosted a HOPE partner meeting with nearly 50 attendees and asked interested organizations to begin on-boarding through a volunteer application and interest form on the district website.
The Ambassador program, now entering its fourth year, runs from November to May and is designed to give parents, community members and staff a behind-the-scenes look at district operations; the next application window opens Oct. 6 and sessions are 90 minutes at rotating school or district sites, with a graduation in May.
Tinsmeyer also reviewed ParentSquare, which the district implemented last year and said has improved contactability to 98% of families from about 75% on the prior system. Features the district highlighted include two-way translation for messages, teacher-to-family direct messaging, electronic forms and permission slips, appointment sign-ups for conferences and stored electronic report cards. The district plans targeted trainings for new staff at new schools and ongoing teacher training to increase consistent use.
Board members praised the programs for increasing family and community engagement and urged community members to sign up for ParentSquare's community group to receive district communications. Tinsmeyer said a community contact form and web pages provide details and contacts for each program.
