Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Communications department reports growth in engagement, flags education bills to watch
Summary
City Schools of Decatur’s communications department reported expanding capacity — including a redesigned website, a new podcast and greater translation/ADA compliance — and gave the Board a roundup of education bills that crossed over the Georgia General Assembly’s deadline.
The City Schools of Decatur communications department updated the Board on its second year of operations, reporting increased stakeholder engagement, a new website and active legislative tracking as the Georgia General Assembly’s crossover deadline passed.
Key accomplishments: Chief of Communications McCall Parenga (presented as McCall Hartmarunga) said the department established districtwide standards for communications, improved crisis and emergency timelines, launched a podcast (“CSC Words of Dr. Whitaker”), and expanded translation and ADA compliance. The team reported a sharp rise in inquiries handled — from roughly 800 emails the prior year to more than 3,000 from March to March — and said a redesigned district website and app are in rollout. The department said it has begun more proactive media outreach and has supported principal‑level editing and materials to ensure consistent school communications.
Legislative summary presented: The department’s legislative coordinator provided a non‑exhaustive list of education bills the district is monitoring after crossover, including measures that would: - Restrict transgender athletes’ participation in certain designated female activities (SB1/HB267) and require changes to restroom/changing‑area policies (HB267 contains related language); - Create an Office of Safe Schools and statewide behavioral threat management support (HB268); - Revise or potentially repeal certain local automatic traffic enforcement camera authorities and define school zones/timing (HB225, HB651); - Change compulsory attendance law provisions and require attendance review teams and interventions (SB123); - Expand required school safety tools and mapping (SB17) and revise responsibilities for board member conduct/training (SB4); - Limit personal electronic device use in K–8 (HB340), and other bills affecting QBE allocations, preK, and special education provisions (HB307/SB93 among others).
Staff noted the district’s in‑house legislative designee and lobbyist are monitoring nearly 40 education‑related measures and will brief the Board as bills move to final passage. Communications said it will continue to update the Board and stakeholders as the session proceeds and as any legislation affects district operations.
Ending: Board members asked about student engagement products such as a student newsletter; staff said they are exploring student‑led communications initiatives. The department will continue to brief the Board as the legislative session concludes and as the department scales school‑level support.
