Canton Public Schools Communications 3-Year Plan 2016-2019Canton Public Schools Communications 3-Year Plan Page 1 Planning Context Incorporated in 1806, Canton Connecticut is located

Canton Public Schools Communications Plan

Canton Public Schools

Communications

3-Year Plan

2016-2019



Table of Contents

Planning Context ........................................................................................................................................................... 1

Canton Public Schools Communication Planning Committee Action Steps ............................................................... 1

Canton Board of Education and Administration........................................................................................................... 2

The Communications Strategic Planning Team .......................................................................................................... 3

Charting Our Course Vision and Mission ..................................................................................................................... 4

Purpose of the Canton Public Schools Communications Plan ..................................................................................... 5

Three Strategic Goal Areas:

Goal 1: Establish an effective communication program for all Canton Public Schools employees ............... 6

Goal 2: Maintain transparency and open lines of communication with the community ................................. 7

Goal 3: Create a strong and positive school/home partnership that is consistent across the district ............... 9

Canton Public Schools Communications 3-Year Plan Page 1

Planning Context

Incorporated in 1806, Canton Connecticut is located in Hartford County astride the Farmington River Valley and has a population of

10,334. The Canton Public School district enrolls 1,620 students from the town of Canton as well as other surrounding Open Choice

communities. All of these students are housed in four school facilities; an elementary, intermediate, a middle and high school.

Canton Public Schools have earned a reputation for being among the highest performing school systems in their comparison group

with students who consistently perform at or above the levels of districts with similar demographic and economic profiles.

Tremendous progress has been achieved and the outcomes speak for themselves. Student performance on standardized assessments is

trending up throughout the system and Canton High School is regarded as one of the top high schools in the state of Connecticut.

From teaching and learning to communications and leadership, the district has systematically worked to improve all facets of the

educational process on behalf of the students of Canton. The Canton Public Schools are a source of pride for the community and by

any measure, this sense of accomplishment is well deserved.

The Canton Public Schools began meeting in June of 2015 for the specific task of developing a Canton Public Schools Communications

Plan. The committee of 13 represented the Canton school community at large.

Canton Public Schools Communication Planning Committee Action Steps:

Identify current perceptions about the image of district and schools

Identify parent, community, and staff issues and concerns

Assess current communication, marketing, and engagement efforts

Provide information that various stakeholder groups want

Develop short- and long-term communication goals and priorities

Develop key messages to be emphasized

Identify new communication, marketing, and engagement strategies that are warranted

Communicate organization and staffing needs

Develop a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of overall communication program

Identify specific internal and external audiences for the focus groups

Customize the focus group discussion questions to address the specific communication needs of your district

Determine the focus group schedule

Formulate the Canton Public Schools Communications Strategic Coherence Plan

(National School Publication Relations, 2015)


Canton Public Schools

Canton Board of Education

Julie Auseré, Chair

Dana Kosior, Vice-Chair

Peg Berry, Secretary

Maria Bradley

David Briggs

Ana Cavanaugh

Joe Scheideler

Jack Powell

Helen Treacy

Administration

Mr. Kevin D. Case

Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Jordan E. Grossman

Assistant Superintendent of Schools

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_jausere.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_pberry.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_dbriggs.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_dbriggs.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_acavanaugh.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_acavanaugh.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_jpowell.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_htreacy.shtml

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_htreacy.shtml


The Communications Strategic Planning Team

Member Title Constituency Represented

Dr. Jordan E. Grossman (Co-Chair) Assistant Superintendent Central Office

Mrs. Julie Auseré (Co-Chair) BOE Member Board of Education

Dr. Jack Powell BOE Member Board of Education

Dr. Perri Murdica Director of Pupil Personnel Services Central Office

Mr. Andrew Robbin Principal Administration

Mr. John Mastroianni K-12 Music Department Chair District

Mr. Craig DeAngelis Athletic Coordinator Canton Middle/High School

Miss Jennifer Peterson Elementary Teacher Canton Intermediate School

Dr. Ruth Kidwell Secondary Teacher Canton High School

Mrs. Tamara Anderson Elementary Parent Parent

Mrs. Jennifer Charron Secondary Parent Parent

Mrs. Anne Marie Pelletier PTO Representative PTO

Mr. Noah O’Leary Grade 11 Student/

Student BOE Representative Student Population

http://www.cantonschools.org/bio_jausere.shtml


Charting Our Course

Our Vision: Opening Minds ... Transforming Lives

As a leader among schools and a source of pride in our community, the Canton Public Schools

enrich the present and shape the future of its students by opening minds and transforming lives.

Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare independent, productive, respectful and responsible citizens who

contribute to an ever changing world. We pursue continuous improvement while honoring our

strong educational legacy and traditions. We unite with families and the community to provide

challenging educational experiences that promote the intellectual, physical, social and emotional

potential of our students.

We Believe:

All students will successfully master Canton’s Community Expectations for Learning

All students benefit from high quality resources and experiences that foster intellectual, physical,

social and emotional growth

All students flourish in a safe and healthy learning environment that values differences

while respecting cultures, abilities and perspectives

All children are entitled to a childhood


Purpose of the Canton Public Schools Communications Plan:

The purpose of the Canton Public Schools Communications Plan is to present a framework for communicating with our community.

The plan primarily addresses two types of school district audiences: internal and external:

Internal External

Board of Education Members

District Employees

Students

Volunteers

Canton Families

Open Choice Families

Emergency Management Personnel

Non-School Families

Potential Families

Prospective Employees

Media

Business Partners

Elected Officials

Civic Leaders

Realtors

Economic Developers

Alumni

Grant Award Organizations

Emergency Management Personnel

Community support for and involvement in this plan is vital – particularly, the Canton Public Schools staff who are tremendous

sources of information to our community. One of the top priorities of the Canton Board of Education is to clearly communicate the

vision/mission for the district.


Goal Area 1: Establish an effective communication program for all Canton Public Schools employees.

Strategies for Moving Forward:

Action Target Audience Responsibility When Date Completed/Comments

Identify key communication factors and best

practice in the district and train staff for district-

wide implementation

Staff Central Office

Principals

Departments

2016-2019 2016-2017 Staff Professional Development

2017-2019 Implementation

Provide professional learning opportunities for

Administrators on how to train staff members to

communicate their school’s/department’s

vision/mission.

Principals

Departments

Central Office 2016-2019 2016-2017 Staff Professional Development


Supply each school/department with easy to use

fact sheets/flowcharts/databases/tutorials/links on

ways to communicate with the public.


Principals

Departments

Technology Department

2016-2019 2016-2017 Staff Professional Development


Send out e-blasts to provide district news, Board of

Education agendas/action items, and feature stories

of what staff are doing in the schools.


Principals

Departments

2016-2017

Continue to use social media to inform staff of

what is going on in the district. (blogs, chats, etc.)


Principals

Departments

2016-2017

Conduct staff forums to solicit feedback and ideas. Staff Central Office

Principals

Departments

2016-2017


Goal Area 2: Maintain transparency and open lines of communication with the community



Set up a communication section page on the

district website.

Community Central Office 2016-2017

Distribute external publications and news releases

via social media/e-blasts/ district website.

Community

Staff

Central Office

Principals

Departments

2016-2017

Promote Q-Notify alert system. Community Central Office 2016-2017

Create and post a quarterly BOE Brief and annual

report.

Community

Families

Staff

Board of Education 2016-2017 Canton Board of Education

Communication Goal 2016-2017

Create a YouTube page to highlight what’s

happening in the district.

Community

Families

Technology Department 2017-2018

Maintain and continue to build Key Communicator

Database for Athletics, Music, etc.

Community Departments 2016-2017

Investigate a place on the school website to

recognize school business and booster partners.

Community Central Office

Principals

Departments

2017-2018

Create and maintain a database that features

business internships available for our students and

the creation of a job fair for students.


Principal/School

Counseling

2017-2018

Offer the community meetings to discuss what is

happening in the district and solicit feedback.


Principals

Departments

2016-2017

Investigate and possibly develop a School District

“Brand” for marketing purposes.


Board of Education

2016-2019 Canton Board of Education




Develop an editorial calendar and share with local

press.

Press Central Office

Principals

Departments

Board of Education



Develop a communication plan by

school/department as part of their strategic

coherence plan.


Principals

Departments

2018-2019

Restructure BOE Meetings so there are

opportunities for a “Town Hall” style of meeting.

Community Board of Education 2017-2018

Develop a program inviting members of the

community in to visit classrooms and other

programs in the schools.

Community

Realtors

Developers

Central Office

Principals

Departments

2017-2018

Schedule quarterly meetings with the Central

Office Administration and school organizations.

Booster Clubs

PTO

Central Office

2016-2018

Engage and build relationships with alumni. Alumni Central Office

Principals

Departments

2017-2018


Goal Area 3: Create a strong and positive school/home partnership across the district.



Continue to have each school website present

information in the same way.


Principals

Departments

2016-2017

Encourage teachers to maintain a Google

Classroom/Calendar/Website and Remind.com to

communicate with families and students.

Students

Families

Staff 2016-2018

Analyze website data analytics to monitor usage

and best practices moving forward.

Board of Education Central Office 2016-2017

Develop and maintain an online resource center

featuring information on scholarships, internships

and volunteer opportunities for high school

students.

Students

Families Community

Central Office

Principals

School Counseling


2017-2018

Encourage staff to incorporate technology in

communications such as the use of blogs, live

chats, or webinars with families.

Students

Families

Central Office

Principals

Departments

Staff

2016-2018

Create a student/parent hotline to assist with

information, questions, concerns and other needs.

Students

Families

Central Office


2016-2017

Consistent communication between teachers and

families across grade levels.

Students

Families

Principals

Teachers

2016-2018

Create a program for Open Choice Families to

meet one another on a regular basis.

Students

Families

Open Choice

Coordinator

SRBI Coordinator

Central Office

Board of Education





Explore Parent/School Compact for

implementation.

Families Central Office

Board of Education



Offer training on how to communicate with the

schools.

Families Central Office

Board of Education



Develop an Orientation Program and Leadership

Program for new families to Canton.

Prospective Families Central Office

Board of Education

2017-2018

Documents

Canton Public Schools Communications 3-Year Plan 2016-2019Canton Public Schools Communications 3-Year Plan Page 1 Planning Context Incorporated in 1806, Canton Connecticut is located