Freedom Preparatory

AcademyGoverning Board Communication

Findings and Analysis By:

Utah Valley University

MGMT 3000: Organizational Behavior Class

Kyle Kohler, Vincent Marquez, & Brian Fischer

This is a report to those it may concern. Prepared with love, it is our recommendation to resolve possible communication barriers within the Freedom Preparatory Academy.

Outline of Slides:

4-5. Sources of Information.

6-10. Findings.

11-16. Recommendations.

17. Conclusion

Sources of Information

Interview

Seven anonymous student parents.

One board member.

Two administrative employees.

Other Sources of Information

Attendance of Board meeting

Review of November 2012 meeting

minutes

Findings

1. Communication Apprehension.

2. Filtering.

3. Selective Perception.

4. Information Overload.

Findings

1. Communication Apprehension.

Parents find it to be an unpleasing

experience to express their

opinions, concerns, etc.

“Fear of retaliation against us or our

kids.”

Findings

2. Filtering

All the information passed between

the administration, board, and

parents should be

transparent, available on demand and

understandable.

Finding

3. Selective Perception

“Board just reaffirms Director’s

decisions.”

“Administration has a bigger say than

Parents or Teachers”

Finding

4. Information Overload.

Meeting minutes describe actions

without explaining consequences of

decisions.

6-8 hour meetings are simply too long

to maintain attention.

Recommendations

1. Manage communication process.

2. Involve and educate parents.

3. Increase transparency.

Manage Communication Process

Create and effectively use a communication

process (specific event leads to specific

type of communication).

Consistent, reliable, and filled with

manageable information.

Ensure new parents know how to effectively

use this communication system.

What Communication Works?Email and Word-of-Mouth Dominate

Type of Communication

Involve and Educate Parents

Teach parents to expect effective

communication from the Board.

The best way to ensure involvement

and highest possible donations of time

and money is to involve parents by

informing them.

Increase Transparency

Parents, administrators, and board

members should have access to

information that concerns them at all

times.

Use available technology.

Custom Email

Header Top News

Administration Admin’s announcements

Events Upcoming events (inclusion of electronic calendar

link)

Board Synopsis of recent and future Board items (inclusion

of link to more information and minutes)

Teacher Only the Teachers for that family are included.

Extra-Curricular Kids in baseball? Soccer coming up soon. Great

place for student run section.

Conclusion

Control the impression and image of

the Board by managing

communication, improving

transparency, and increasing

involvement.