Board discusses hiring communications coordinator to improve website and outreach

Board members discussed persistent complaints about the district website and whether a dedicated communications coordinator should be added to address internal and external communications, maintain calendars and produce regular updates that support the five-year plan's student-support and community-partnership goals.

Staff said the job description has been developed and that two employees had been sent to public-information training; they proposed that the position could be funded by reallocating existing budgeted positions rather than drawing on fund balance. Dr. Arnold gave an illustrative salary calculation that equated a beginning teacher's $50,000 salary (200 days) to a proposed communications position and said the resulting figure used for budgeting came to roughly $65,000.

Board members noted the timing: with about 90 school days left in the year, the district would not fill a new position for at least 30 days after approval and a start date might be in July if the board approved the position. The matter will be considered in upcoming business meetings if the board directs staff to move forward.