Community Involvement

Base your responses to each of the following questions on research as well as your own experiences as an educator.
Read the case study below. Create a Word document with your responses to the questions and your solution to the problem. Be sure to include 3 references to the research you use in your responses.
Judi Jenkins was leaving the district office where she had been meeting with Charles Turner, the assistant superintendent. Everyone knew Mr. Turner ran the show in the district, so Judi always went to his office rather than the superintendent’s office. She was anxious to get back to her office and get the paperwork done before the soccer game. As the principal of the high school, one of her greatest accomplishments had been to expand the sports program.
Suddenly, from his doorway, the superintendent, Mr. Hill, called out for her to come in his office. Mr. Hill began to share how the board was wanting more partnerships between the high school and the local community. He shared how he had developed a program called SCP, School Community Partnerships. He wanted to partner teachers and staff with families in the community and arrange activities on which they could collaborate. He wanted to make it mandatory for teachers and staff members.
Judi interrupted the superintendent to emphasize the recent success of the soccer team and how that had impacted the relationship of the community and the school. After all, turnout for the games had been great, and the high school was now recognized statewide for its soccer team.
The superintendent reminded Judi that the board puts education first and that the school was more than just a soccer team. The board wanted documented attempts to associate all sorts of people with the school, not just the parents of soccer players. The superintendent said he wanted to appeal to people who mattered. He reminded Judi that his last attempted program would have worked if the assistant superintendent, Mr. Turner, and she as the principal. would have supported it.
Judi left the superintendent’s office after being told the program was going to be implemented and she should look it over and suggest modifications she thought would be beneficial. She took the packet and went back to Mr. Turner’s office. After visiting with Mr. Turner, Judi decided to look the program over and find ways it could be watered down. She stacked the packet on her desk and hoped that Mr. Hill would forget about it or change his mind.
Questions:

1. What do you think the principal and the assistant superintendent discussed after the meeting with the superintendent?
2. As the principal, should Judi continue to patronize the superintendent? What other possibilities should she seek?
3. What methods should be used to determine whether there is a need to improve school-community relations?
4. What role do other stakeholders (teacher, parents, community members, students) play in developing and implementing a plan for improving school-community relations?
   Solve the Problem:
   Assume you are the principal. It is a week later after your conversation with Mr. Hill. He calls and instructs you to be in his office that afternoon at 2 pm with your suggestions for the SCP program. What would be your plan of action? What does the literature say about effective school-community relations? What is the role of leaders (building and district level) in developing elements of an effective program? What criteria will be used to determine program effectiveness? How would you begin the conversation with the superintendent?