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District outlines wide‑ranging community engagement strategy and volunteer program; highlights safety communications
Summary
Peoria Unified’s communications team presented an outreach framework emphasizing authenticity, a RACE approach (research, analysis, communication, evaluation), and partnerships with businesses, civic groups and higher education. Staff highlighted a large volunteer program (more than 3,500 volunteers contributing roughly 50,000 hours annually) and use of video with police after social‑media threats to campuses.
District communications staff delivered a comprehensive briefing on community engagement strategy, stakeholder groups and practical tools the district deploys to connect with families, volunteers, businesses and municipal partners.
The presentation framed engagement around the district’s strategic priorities and a RACE model (research, analysis and planning; communication; implementation; evaluation). Staff highlighted specific programs and partnerships: the Peoria Education Foundation’s grants, MET dual‑enrollment partnerships with higher education, civic partnerships (rotary club activities, Empty Bowls events), the Peoria United Parent Council (PUPC), and live streaming of community meetings to reach residents who could not attend in person.
On safety communications, staff described recent work with law enforcement to respond to threats circulating on social media; the district recorded videos with Peoria police officers for distribution to students and parents and emphasized a zero‑tolerance approach to threats.
The presentation included engagement metrics and scale: the district’s volunteer program now includes more than 3,500 volunteers who average roughly 50,000 volunteer hours per year; the communications team also mails a physical annual review to every household to reach residents who are not online and runs patron tours and other in‑person outreach.
Board members raised questions about reaching intimidated or hard‑to‑reach residents, media literacy for students and staff, and how board members and staff can coordinate public representation at community events. Staff offered patron tours, refined volunteer training, and suggested developing talking points and business‑card style materials for board members who speak publicly about the district.
Staff said the district will continue to develop FAQs, expand targeted outreach to under‑heard communities and coordinate with city planning and law enforcement on questions that cross jurisdictions. The presentation closed with a request for board input on priorities for upcoming engagement work.
No formal action was taken; the session was informational and intended to guide future engagement work.
