Freedom Preparatory Academy

Governing 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

Word of MouthAttending MeetingsMeeting MinutesOnlineFacebookSchool AppTwitterPhoneEmail

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.