MSBA forum focuses on public’s opinion of schools

The Missouri School Boards’ Association says legislative advocacy and open communication may be the answer to reducing negative opinions of public education.

MSBA hosted a fall regional meeting Tuesday at Paxton Keeley Elementary School. Brent Ghan, MSBA’s chief communication officer, presented the main program that focused on perceptions of public education to administrators and board members from MSBA member districts, of which the Columbia Public School District is a part.

“National polling shows that the public is supportive of public schools, especially their local schools,” Ghan said.

In his presentation, Ghan gave examples of negative statements sometimes said about public schools, such as “the problem is not how much is spent, but how it is spent.” He then asked the attendees to brainstorm ways to inform others of the positive aspects of public schools.

In response to this question, Wanda Brown, an assistant superintendent of Columbia schools, gave examples of different programs the district has in place, such as Stand By Me, a program where volunteers mentor students.

“We want to challenge people to come see our schools,” Brown said.

An idea brought up by other attendees and later reinforced by Ghan was to publicize the achievements of Missouri public school students.

Ghan’s presentation also included techniques for communicating and publicizing school information, both within schools and in order to reach the greater community. Each attendee received a booklet that contained a “communication toolkit.” This toolkit consisted of sample letters, sample speeches and newsletter articles.

The meeting also covered topics that MSBA members said will be “pressing issues” for the 2007 legislative session, including tuition tax subsidy programs, school start dates and the 65 percent solution, an initiative that would require school districts to spend at least 65 percent of their budget on classroom instruction.

Ghan encouraged meeting attendees to contact their legislators in order to help shape policy.

“Legislators listen to you,” Ghan said. “They listen to school board members and administrators back in their districts.”

Mary Lou Kimmons, a Moberly Public Schools board member, said that it is important to come to these meetings to keep up with state and national news in education.

“Eventually, (the news is) going to affect your kids and your district,” Kimmons said.