Great schools are a product of students, teachers, school staff, parents, businesses, organizations, and community members working together. Community involvement creates the relationships necessary to build support for our public schools.

Community relations is an organization’s plan for active and continuing participation within a community. This sets the tone of what an organization stands for. The community – including parents, businesses, elected officials and the general public – will judge you not only by your words but by your actions as well. Effective community relations requires listening to and recognizing the perceptions and concerns of the public. It requires accepting responsibility and taking action to correct existing problems and address perceptions.

Why is communicating with the community important?

As part of the larger community, schools fulfill important community goals. Similarly, communities offer a wide array of resources valuable to the schools and the families they serve. When schools and communities work together, both are strengthened in mutual ways and achieve successes that neither could accomplish on its own.

Community relationships help build great schools by:

• Restoring public confidence in public education.
• Generating support for, and reducing negative opinions of, your organization.
• Educating the public about your local’s issues and its contributions to the community.
• Creating a desired position in the public eye.
• Addressing issues of concern to local organizations and citizens.
• Shaping public opinion.
• Developing family involvement.
• Promoting your local’s image and fostering goodwill with the community.
• Sharing positive events and successes in your school.

Source: Building Relationships: A Public Relations Guide by Wisconsin Education Association Council
http://www.weacm.org/Content/ResearchBullets/prbook/2002-03/main.cfm