DISTRICT ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
This chapter describes the organization and management of the Elgin Independent School District (EISD) in the following areas:
- A. Management, Planning and Site-Based Decision Making
- B. External and Internal Communication
- C. Community and Parental Involvement
C. COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Community involvement activities enable parents, business leaders and others with a stake in public education to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the district and to become involved in its activities. Collaborative partnerships with businesses, educational institutions, community agencies and civic organizations are an excellent way to expand the resources of a school district and involve the community in the schools. EISD schools form collaborative partnerships with a number of local entities.
FINDING
The Career and Technology Department at the high school receives many benefits from its partnerships with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, Elgin Veterinary Hospital, Inc., Elgin Breeding Service, Inc., Southwest Stallion Station, CPS-Vegetative Project and Elgin Vegetative Project Farm.
EISD partners with a local nonprofit community services organization, Advocacy Outreach, to provide a Community Based Work Force Training Center. EISD applied for and was awarded a Technology Integrated Education Grant for $196,000. With this grant, EISD established a computer lab at Washington Middle School. The lab is equipped with three Macintosh computers and 27 PCs with Internet access. In addition, there are 34 laptops available for checkout after an individual has attended two training classes. The lab is utilized by the middle school students from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., by teachers from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and then is open to the community from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for structured classes and individual use. The center offers computer literacy classes, General Education Development preparation and family literacy reading classes in addition to the open lab. Advocacy Outreach funds the teacher at the center. Free childcare includes a multi-sensory reading program for the children. This service is provided by the high school's Future Homemakers of America Club.
Elgin Primary School formed a partnership with Advocacy Outreach to promote parental involvement. Advocacy Outreach funds a teacher for Practical Parent Education classes each week at the primary campus. These classes are offered in Spanish. Elgin Primary School provides the facility space, childcare and a light meal for the participants. A bilingual class in Family Literacy where parents work to improve their own reading skills and learn techniques to assist their children is also offered on the primary campus. The campus provides a snack for participants in this class.
McDonalds partners with Elgin Elementary School. The restaurant funds a trip to the Austin Symphony for all fifth grade students. Other local restaurants provide food and awards for various school activities upon the request of the principals.
EISD's career specialist developed "Passport Elgin," a career exploration program for eighth grade students. Students select a business of their interest, and local businesspeople allow the students to job-shadow them for one day each year. By shadowing an employee at the business, the students learn the requirements for obtaining that type of position and the responsibilities of the position.
Local businesses provide speakers for Career Day at Elgin Elementary School. These speakers provide valuable information about various careers to students.
COMMENDATION
EISD's collaborative partnerships with businesses and community organizations provide benefits to students and parents.
FINDING
EISD employs a volunteer/community outreach coordinator and two parental liaisons. The volunteer coordinator schedules community education classes, but does not recruit and train volunteers. The parent liaisons make home visits and provide transportation for students to get necessary social services.
Although the EISD principals report that the Open Houses in the fall are well attended at all campuses, parental involvement and volunteer efforts are very sporadic. Many parents belong to Band Booster organizations at the middle and high schools. The members of the Band Booster organizations fundraise to support band activities. Parents at the elementary school chaperone field trips. The African-American Social Committee is actively involved on the campus of Elgin Primary School and encourages its members to participate in school activities.
The elementary school secretary said an area bank provides eight volunteers. These volunteers mentor and read to students. One principal said the school attempted but was not successful in organizing a Parent/Teacher organization.
According to the spring 2000 issue of ATPE News, the official publication of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, concerning parental involvement:
"Teachers can't do their jobs effectively without it. Principals are a key component in making it work. Students suffer from a lack of it. Studies from the U.S. Department of Education and many other sources have proven time and again that it increases student achievement, reinforces community and school bonds and leads to parents' heightened overall awareness of their children's well being. It is parental involvement, and it's crucial to the success of every school community and to the entire world, for that matter."
Parent involvement means more than just being visible at the school or at school functions. Many parents spend long hours at work and generally do not have time to participate during school hours. La Mesa Elementary School in Plainview, Texas developed a Parents as Literary Support (PALS) Literacy Bag program to help involve parents with their children at home. The school prepares a number of PAL bags containing a book, a game or something the parents and child can enjoy together. Every night several students take home a literacy bag. Parents and students together use whatever is in the bag and the students return it the next day so another student can take it home. The teacher changes the contents of the bags periodically so parents and students always have new activities to keep their interest.
La Mesa Elementary School also created a Parenting Center at the school where parents can go to get parenting tips, meet other parents and educators, and help with classroom projects. A feeling of usefulness by parents is necessary to the success of any parental involvement program.
Alief ISD holds a volunteer recognition banquet each year. The volunteer coordinator solicits sponsors to underwrite the banquet to reduce the cost to the district.
Bastrop ISD partners with the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce to provide a volunteer program called Hand in Hand. This program provides mentors for at-risk students at all schools. The mentor meets with the student on campus each week and serves as a role model, a guide, a friend and a tutor.
Recommendation 6:
Revise the responsibilities of the community education coordinator and develop a Volunteer/Community Involvement plan to strengthen the parental involvement program.
This employee would be responsible for duties related to parental and community involvement, including the following:
- Identify ways to maximize the use of volunteers, including senior citizens;
- Address methods for facilitating the involvement of disadvantaged parents;
- Recruit volunteer coordinators for each school;
- Develop a policy for screening volunteers to determine the best role for each volunteer;
- Develop a database of best practices to share with each school;
- Identify partnership opportunities; and
- Nurture established partnerships.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND TIMELINE
1. The superintendent instructs the assistant superintendent of Human Resources to amend the job description for the Community education coordinator. September 2000 2. The superintendent informs the Community Education coordinator to convene a committee to develop a Volunteer/Community Involvement Plan. September 2000 3. The Community Education coordinator contacts principals and the chamber of commerce president for committee member recommendations and schedules all meetings. October 2000 4. The committee researches best practices of other districts and develops the Volunteer/Parental Involvement Plan. October 2000 5. The Community Education coordinator presents the Volunteer/Parental Involvement Plan to the superintendent for approval. December 2000 6. The Community Education coordinator describes the Volunteer/Parental Involvement Plan in the district newsletter. December 2000 7. The Community Education coordinator and principals implement the Volunteer/Parental Involvement Plan. January 2001 8. The Community Education coordinator recognizes parents and staff for exemplary parental involvement activities by listing names and activities in the district newsletter. May 2001 9. The Community Education coordinator reports on increased parent involvement to the board of trustees. June 2001 FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation can be implemented with existing resources.