South Kitsap School District Budget Communication Plan 2013-14

Communication Plan Goals: Create a plan that: Clearly explains the Districts budget situation Informs stakeholders of the short-term decision making rationale Engages stakeholders in a collaborative way, particularly regarding long-term decision making Maintains staff, community and employee association relationships Builds trust and confidence in the District Leadership team

Audience District Leadership (e.g. principals, cabinet and union leadership)

Assumptions/Research What do we know about them? General understanding of budget challenges Need support to communicate issue to staff, families Busy, several time constraints Principals have direct relationships with staff and families

Action Desired What do we want them to do? Communicate effectively with stakeholders Support decision making regarding budget reductions Provide feedback from departments/school community regarding questions, concerns, ideas Support Supt. in development of comprehensive three year district budget plan Understand budget challenges and short-term decision making Feel respected and honored by participating in the long-term decision making process Remain open to negotiations and reach a bargaining agreement before 8/26 Maintain positive relationship with employer

Key Messages What need will this fill for them? District leadership members serve an important role is helping stakeholders understand the budget. Leadership team members will have timely and accurate information in order to address questions from the field. Your input is an important part of this process. We will get through this together. The District must bring expenditures in line with revenue in order to remain fiscally solvent. We will share all budget information in a timely manner and are committed to an open, transparent process. Your input is an important part of this process. We will need to make difficult decisions while maintaining employee relationships and providing support.

Strategies How will we reach them? Budget training on tool kit -Key messages -PowerPoint presentation -Input Forms -FAQs Leadership team updates/meetings

Staff

Not fully aware of the budget challenges and rationale used in the short-term decision making Emotionally charged issue due to the loss of teacher/colleague positions Impacts class-size, workload for remaining staff Busy, several time constraints Association messaging and positioning

Budget presentations Budget website section Superintendents messages Staff phone calls Social Media

South Kitsap School District Budget Communication Plan 2013-14

Audience Student/Families Assumptions/Research What do we know about them? Not fully aware of the budget challenges and rationale used in the short-term decision making Emotionally charged issue due to the loss of teacher positions Connection with teachers; students/families want to support them Busy, several time constraints Need to address loss of staff or service Not fully aware of the budget challenges and rationale used in the short-term decision making Do they believe the District has been fiscally responsible? Emotionally charged issue due to the loss of teacher/colleague positions Busy, several time constraints Association messaging and positioning Not fully aware of the budget challenges and rationale used in the short-term decision making Do they believe the District has been fiscally responsible? Emotionally charged issue due to the loss of teacher/colleague positions Busy, several time constraints Association messaging and positioning Action Desired What do we want them to do? Understand budget challenges and short-term decision making Feel respected and honored by participating in the long-term decision making process Know that students are receiving a quality education. Support the decision making Maintain positive relationship with District Understand budget challenges and short-term decision making Participate in the long-term decision making process Support the decision making Know that students are receiving a quality education Have confidence in the Districts financial management
and continue to support SKSD

Community Groups

Key Messages What need will this fill for them? The District must bring expenditures in line with revenue in order to remain fiscally solvent. We will share all budget information in a timely manner and are committed to an open, transparent process. Your input is an important part of this process. We will need to make difficult decisions while providing support to impacted staff and families. The Board and District are careful stewards of public tax dollars. We will continue to provide a high
quality education within our resources.

Strategies How will we reach them? Budget presentations Budget website section Superintendents messages Student/Family phone calls District newsletters

General Public (Taxpayers)

Understand budget challenges and short-term decision making Participate in the long-term decision making process Support the decision making Know that students are receiving a quality education Have confidence in the Districts financial management and continue to support SKSD

We will engage in an open, collaborative process to plan for our long-term fiscal health. We will work to improve our processes to avoid surprises by reviewing and tightening our internal monitoring metrics. The Board and District are careful stewards of public tax dollars. We will continue to provide a high quality education within our resources. We will engage in an open, collaborative process to plan for our long-term fiscal health.

Budget presentations Budget website section District newsletters Visit and speak with community groups at their meetings Media including social media

Budget presentations Budget website section District newsletters Media including social media