Technology and Community Relations

Read below how several education leaders responded to the question, "How has technology changed your practice of school public relations?"

"Pagers, cell-phone, modems and emerging technology have conditioned our customers to split-second availability of information. We’ll have to meet that expectation or be considered ineffective. Internet web pages will provide global accessibility to my district. In-house and Internet e-mail, coming this fall, will allow us to reach more people quickly. Modem communication is saving me trips to the printer. My focus is on two-way communication and providing information immediately."
  • Gregory Plagens, West Columbia, SC
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    "Technology will provide the district with advanced techniques for communicating with parents through the use of voice mail, closed-circuit television and e-mail. We also use technology to increase community awareness of school programs and events in Waterford. For example, we are in the process of developing a video exchange/pen pal program which will foster friendships with people who may not be able to join in school activities, such as senior citizens and individuals confined to convalescent facilities."
  • Randall Collins, Waterford, CT
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    "Fax software and a modem give the Albany school district easy access to local opinion leaders. After every school board meeting, we fax our news to a growing list of about 200 key communicators, including every school principals - before the local media report it. We also run regular ‘fax back’ features that solicit community reaction to new developments in the district. Response to the new flashes and fax back features has been very strong."
  • Bill Dixon, Albany, OR
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    "Fax transmission, e-mail, Home Page, and Camera-Ready-on-Disk are but a few of the communicator’s terms of today. Speed and efficiency are the rules of the hour. Organizations that do not have communications tools available convey a message of being in the ‘dark ages.’ The challenge is to use these tools at the right time with the right audience."
  • Hjordy Wagner, Eau Claire, WI
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    [The above is excerpted from "Perspectives", National School Public Relation Association Network, May, 1996]

     

    In this Module:

    Community Support for Change Community Support for Tech Community Involvement Resources

    In the Toolkit:

    Toolkit Home Page Why Change? Why Technology?
    Planning Policy Curriculum and Assessment
    Community Involvement Facility Planning Funding
    Prof'l and Ldrship Development