District presents communications audit; report recommends clearer rationale and more building-level outreach

At the April 6 meeting, the board heard a communications audit delivered by Kyle Arlington and Terry Hecht that compared 2022 and 2026 survey results and recommended changes to improve clarity, access and two-way engagement.

Arlington said families and staff rely on multiple channels and that principal-level communications (emails and newsletters) remain the most helpful. He cited a usage figure that about 76% of respondents use the district website occasionally, typically when locating a specific item, and reported that approximately 53% of survey respondents said the district provides about the right amount of communication. Hecht noted that only about 35% of respondents agreed they understood the rationale behind district decisions, and the district has already expanded superintendent updates to add more context and background.

The presenters outlined concrete follow-up steps: reorganize website navigation and add quick links, standardize newsletter and email formatting with clear subject lines and action items, introduce short fall pulse surveys to monitor communication in real time, and emphasize transparency about the reasoning behind decisions. Board members praised website improvements, asked clarifying questions about label differentiation in charts and recommended continuing the work across buildings.

The presenters said full audit materials and slide decks will be posted to the district’s public information and community-outreach web page for review.