During the COVID-19 pandemic, the district formed a Pandemic Awareness Committee that brought together community members, parents, and staff to provide rec- ommendations concerning the ongoing operation of the school buildings. District 53 is fortunate to have strong parental involvement with skilled professionals, physi- cians and medical experts, business owners, and others who bring their talents and expertise to this advisory committee.
Throughout the planning process for reopening schools during the summer of 2020, the administrative team held weekly meetings with members of the Oak Brook Education Association to gather their insights, feedback, and recommendations on options being discussed. The power-ship formed with the education association spoke volumes in building unity between teachers, administrators, parents, and community members as the district prepared for a year unlike any- thing imagined.
Increasing Transparency
To add a student perspective and develop open com- munication between the board of education and student representatives, District 53 established a student ambas- sador program. Interested students applied to represent their peers as student ambassadors on the Education
Committee, a standing committee of the board of educa- tion. This process brought the unique student perspective to the District 53 educational experience. The highlights of the monthly board of education meetings are summarized in a two-page document posted on the board’s electronic governance platform, shared with parents via email and text notification, and posted on social media channels to broaden the reach through- out the community. District 53 encourages community members, parents, and staff to stay informed about board of education actions, investments, and updates.
The Backbone of the District
Communication is the backbone of a school district, and the ability to share the right information at the right time is more of an art than a science. However, by assessing current practices, analyzing results, and evalu- ating implementation practices, districts can determine effective communication strategies to reach a wider audience, bring together various stakeholders, and build unity within the community.
Paul O’Malley is superintendent of Butler School District 53 in Oak Brook, Illinois. Email:
pomalley@butler53.com
Steve Ryan is the founder and CEO of RyTech LLC, in La Grange, Illinois. Email:
sjr@rytechllc.com
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