Collaborative Partnerships Providing accurate, timely information to the public is an important function of public institutions. The efficient delivery of this service fosters trust and enables citizens to draw conclusions and take action based on information, not rumor and gossip. The manner in which school districts perform this function affects the way the public views a school district. The most effective community involvement programs are inclusive, take advantage of the variety of media outlets that exist in every community and disseminate information in a timely manner. Some school districts have large departments dedicated to this function, while smaller districts, including GISD, must rely on a hand full of people who perform a variety of community relations functions.
Boards of trustees can also play an important role in community involvement.
Boards perceived as accessible and sensitive to citizens' concerns are less likely to be seen as insulated from the community. The methods districts use to involve the community and keep citizens informed of district activities also vary. Newsletters, town hall meetings, cable television programs, Internet Web sites, school calendars, brochures and inserts in newspapers and other publications are some of the methods used to communicate with parents and other citizens.