Fairport schools outline rapid communication plan for Sept. 30 capital project vote

Fairport Central School District communications staff on Monday described a concentrated outreach campaign to inform families and voters about the district's proposed "For the Future 02/2025" capital improvement project ahead of a Sept. 30 vote. Lindsey Redick, who led the presentation, said the plan will use digital, print and in‑school channels and will emphasize consistent talking points for principals and administrators.

The plan, Redick said, has three "avenues of attack": an electronic and social media campaign, a refreshed capital projects section on the district website, and a suite of printed materials. "You may have seen through ParentSquare," Redick said. "We also do YouTube. That's where all of our video content lives." She said the district will post building‑specific videos and conceptual drawings online and link them in school communications.

Redick said ParentSquare is the district's primary channel to reach parents and families and that principals will send school‑specific messages and videos during orientation and other high‑attendance events. "We would like principals in each school to have the same talking points and then also the talking points that apply best to their school," she said, adding that some messages will focus on scopes of work specific to individual buildings, such as cafeteria and kitchen upgrades at JA.

Printed outreach will include an eight‑page, full‑color Special Edition of the district's commentator newsletter, mailed to homes in the second week of September, a postcard reminder shortly before the vote and 100 copies of a school trifold to be distributed at each school at the start of the year. Redick said the trifold is intended so that "folks could walk out the door on curriculum nights, open houses, locker days" with a takeaway that highlights the scope of work at each school.

Redick also described an "administrator toolkit" with scripts, fast facts and FAQs stored in a shared Drive folder for principals and administrators to ensure consistent messaging. She said the project website will include a FAQ page that explains financing details, including how the district will meet a stated "0% additional tax levy," and conceptual floor plans where applicable.

Board members praised the plan's timing and attention to consistency. One board member said the district would "get that message out fast and furious and often" to prepare for the Sept. 30 vote. Redick said the campaign timeline is measured in weeks, not months, and that materials will be in place as students return to school.

No formal board action on the capital project was recorded in the workshop portion of the meeting; staff presented the communications plan and said they will report progress and any community feedback to the board in upcoming meetings.

The district identified Mallory Foote as a student advisor who will join student representatives at future workshops and board meetings during the school year.