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District outlines steps to improve field-trip and ESOL communications after listening session
Summary
Following parent feedback at a listening session, district staff described changes to how field trips are labeled in Infinite Campus, availability of translated paper permission slips in five languages, and additional steps to provide real-time translation for ESOL families.
District staff reported to the board April 23 on follow-up actions from an April 9 listening session about field-trip communications and access for English learners.
Conrad Peters summarized parent concerns that field-trip names in Infinite Campus (IC) messenger did not always match the activity registration and that ESOL families sometimes lacked immediate access to translation during sign-ups and communications.
Administrators said they aligned field-trip naming with the activity registration and reminded families to use the activity registration tab rather than the documents tab. They also said paper permission slips are available in five commonly used languages on request and that the district offers TalkingPoints, a messaging app that translates outgoing messages into families' preferred languages. Peters said staff will also emphasize personal phone calls and real-time interpretation for families who cannot read in any language.
Parents at the meeting urged more detailed behavior reporting in Infinite Campus and templates for incident notes so families would understand the nature and steps taken after behavioral incidents. Board members asked to see a sample of the behavior incident notifications in open session so they can assess whether the communication meets parent needs; administrators agreed to provide a sample and continue follow-up.
District staff said the district supports more than 60 languages overall but currently provides paper field-trip forms in the top five languages and will continue to rely on translation tools, phone contact, and direct outreach for families with limited literacy.
The board asked administrators to continue work to improve timely, clear communications and to report back to the board on progress.
