Meeting Minutes, October 21, 2009
How to Effect Change Within the System
Emory Lavista Parent Council Meeting October 21, 2009
For a glimpse of the system, visit http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/superintendent/organizat... for a visual of the current DCSS organizational chart.
The meeting began with a hearty thanks to McLendon Elementary for hosting ELPC for the first time!
Principal McFarlane welcomed the gathering. He noted his pride that 35 languages were spoken by students who were from 31 countries.
DeKalb County School Board Members as well as principals from elementary, middle and high school were recognized and thanked for their attendance.
Two featured speakers were introduced, Mr. Terry Segovis, DeKalb County School, Area Assistant Superintendant Region II, http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/superintendent/area.assi... and Ms. Ramona Tyson, Deputy Chief Superintendant, Business Operations who reports directly to Dr. Lewis.
Ms. Tyson began by noting her excitement to have community, parents, stakeholders more involved.
She noted that DCSS is updating the strategic plan for technology for the district to insure more access and equity http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/mis/projects/techplan.ht... . She noted several priorities including customer service, communication, and increased parental involvement. She was especially excited to introduce an extranet site ‘ecommunity’ which was scheduled to be launched soon. Ms. Tyson believes that this website would open communication between stakeholders and the district which she stated would address the perception that communication is blocked which directly addressed the ELPC topic “How to Effect Change within the System.” Ms. Tyson was open to parent feedback and wants parents to be part of the communication solution.
Ms. Tyson proceeded with a multimedia presentation on the ‘ecommunity’ site which she noted was a multi-channel approach to information to address the digital learning age. She stated that the source for this technology emerged from concepts from educational conferences. She stated that the DCSS official website http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/ will still exist due to federal mandates. The ‘ecommunity’ site would allow the incorporation of new information in particular to utilize social media to promote dialogue. Ms. Tyson noted that on Georgia’s State Department of Education website, social networking links are used http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ . She continued with a site demonstration of “DCSSCommunity: A Place Where Our Children Come First.” She noted that special events could be advertised with an RSVP component. The demonstration was followed by a question and answer session.
Q: Is this where school based/classes post podcast, webcasts would be?
Would this include student blogs and classroom teachers?
A: While this has the capability to be used individually it can also go district-wide.
Q: How would content for schools be added to pages is it free form like a wiki?
Who has the control?
A: Policy is going to be determined to address securities.
Q: How does this link with Parent Portal?
A: Oct 23rd parents can register and within 48 hours access will be granted after verified.
Q: How is this going to address the issue of communicating across schools?
A: This is a very complicated issue.
Q: What different information is going to be one website versus the other? As a parent of a child who is hard of hearing, she is having difficulty obtaining information.
A: The current DCSS website contains information about departments, missions, etc. The new website provides information that parents deem useful.
Q: What is Web 2.0?
A: Web 2.0 is highly interactive information including social media. For example, web 1.0 such as Yahoo, browser is inundated with irrelevant information and web 2.0 such as Google provides more relevant information. This would allow for more focused Public Relations, Communications, and TV feeds.
Mr. Segovis continued by describing the breadth of the DCSS which can be accessed http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/fastfacts.html and understood within a broader context
that DCSS is ranked as the 27th largest school district in the United States (by enrollment) and 3rd in Georgia (Gwinnett #1, Cobb #2, Fulton County #4, City of Atlanta #85).
Mr. Segovis noted that the new DC School Board is energized and cooperative with the district, emphasizing that everyone is solution oriented. For example, he noted that there was a current effort to resolve the district/state discrepancy in calculating GPA. Mr. Segovis identified his staff, Ms. Margie Chandler as a most gracious, patient and effective administrative assistant. He noted the contributions of Dr. Boza, the Area Administrative Coordinator. He provided a handout with their contact information:
Ms. Chandler 678.67.1079 mhc0810@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Dr. Boza 678.676.1096 jose_g_boza@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Mr. Segovis 678-676-1079 terry_m_segovis@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
He then answered questions with the overarching theme of addressing concerns directly at the school and then contacting his office.
Q: How did ‘ecommunity’ come together? She noted that many parents have concerns about texting, blogging, twittering. She continued to note that is would be helpful to have more visibility for emerging ideas including meeting minutes which contributes to transparency.
A: Ms. Tyson noted that for every IT project there is a project summary monthly. http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/mis/projects/
Q: Who is the intended audience of the ‘ecommunity’?
A: Anyone who is a computer user.
Q: One parent noted that the Parent Portal is a train wreck coming with the need to inform parents who are waiting for implementation about the 2 day delay in accessing information.
A: Information has been posted and presented and expectation is that the system will come on-line smoothly. Visit www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/parentassistant/ for detailed information. Registration will be on-line and will take at least one day of verification. Evening support will be provided to parents via a web-based ticketing system. Tips will be sent to parents via Kaleidoscope and via email.
Q: (comment) Parents want educational information as well as policy information, for example about fitness options in schools.
Q: (Comment), Principal, Mr. Marshall noted the importance of person to person communication.
Q: (Comment) There is a risk of diluting communication with too many sources. This parent noted that the PTA structure could be used more effectively as well as Parent Advisory Committees. It was noted that Board of Education meetings are monthly, open, and informative.
Q: How will you get parent input into the ’ecommunity’ site?
A: Ms. Tyson requested that emails be directed to Mr. Orson who will confer with Ms. Tyson. She solicited parent involvement in this process. She noted her commitment to seek more input from all stakeholders.
The next meeting will address enacting change within your school and will be held on 11/18/09 at Henderson Middle School, 2830 Henderson Mill Road, Chamblee, GA 30341.
All meetings begin with refreshments at 8:45 and run from 9:15 to 10:30.
To receive information from council, please send an e-mail to EmoryLavistaParentCouncil@gmail.com
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan M. Furman
Recording Secretary
Sally Harrell, Co-President sallyharrell@riverside.net
Marshall Orson, Co-President marshall.orson@devonwoodmedia.com
Nancy Moore, Vice President davidenancymoore@bellsouth.net
Donna Toulme, Corresponding Sec dtoulme@bellsouth.net
Greg Studdard, Community Rel. gsms123@aol.com