COMMUNITY RELATIONS Getting to Know You: Learning


About Your Community New position, new district—reflections on solidifying relationships amid a pandemic.


By Ron O’Connor, SFO


B


eing the new school business officer in a district can be challenging enough without the added stress of a pandemic. I began as assistant super- intendent of business at Community Consoli- dated School District 59 in Elk Grove, Illinois, in June 2020. From the interview until my first day on the job, all interactions with my new colleagues and stakeholders were online.


The virtual world in which we operated limited the opportunity to become acquainted with people person- ally and build relationships, but I recognized that get- ting to know the community was critical to my success.


12 JULY/AUGUST 2021 | SCHOOL BUSINESS AFFAIRS


Thanks to my superintendent and leadership team, I established and solidified relationships with the dis- trict stakeholders that have paid off mightily—despite COVID-19 restrictions.


Here are some guidelines for settling into a new district:


Learn the Culture


Understand and respect the district’s culture and its place in the community. Learn the vision, roles, goals, pro- cesses, attitudes, and assumptions. But if you want to be an effective change agent, don’t accept the explanation


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