Community Connections Plan
Purpose
The DCSD Board of Education is committed to two-way, meaningful engagement with the citizens it represents. This plan ensures the Board continuously listens to, learns from, and communicates with a broad and diverse cross-section of stakeholders to inform governance decisions and strengthen community trust.
Guiding Principles
- Represent All Voices: Actively seek input from a wide range of stakeholders, including those who have been historically underrepresented.
- Be Transparent: Clearly communicate how input is used to inform Board decisions.
- Show Appreciation: Close the feedback loop by thanking participants and sharing outcomes.
- Be Intentional: Align engagements with key Board discussions (e.g., Ends reviews, strategic planning) and use thoughtful timing.
- Stay Focused: Center conversations on values, vision, and long-term priorities—not operational details.
Core Questions for 2025–2026 School Year
All engagements will explore one or more of the following questions aligned to the rollout of the new DCSD Strategic Plan and the Board's Ends:
For All Stakeholder Groups
- What areas of alignment do you see between the Board's Ends Statements and the new DCSD Strategic Plan?
- Does this new strategic plan proactively address the biggest challenges you believe DCSD will face in the coming years?
- What makes you (or your organization) feel heard, seen, and valued in your interactions with DCSD?
Additional Questions for Board Committees
- What areas of alignment do you see between the new Strategic Plan and your Board Committee’s current priorities and work?
- Are there ways your committee could better support the implementation of the Strategic Plan?
Additional Question for External Partners (e.g., Mental Health Organizations)
- What areas of alignment do you see between the Board’s Ends Statements and your organization’s work with students and families?
Engagement Priorities for 2025–2026
|
Stakeholder Group |
Format |
Timing |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Senior Citizens |
Visits to senior centers |
Fall 2025 |
Board pairs visit and debrief. (See notes below for details) |
|
Mental Health Providers (External) |
Roundtable discussion |
Winter 2025-2026 |
Include partners and independent providers. |
|
Alumni / Recent Graduates |
Virtual focus group and survey |
Spring 2026 |
Utilize social media and school channels to recruit participants. |
|
Student Advisory Group |
Roundtable discussions |
Nov 17, 2025 & March 30, 2026 |
Two opportunities for Board members to engage with SAG students as part of the SAG calendar |
|
Educators (Licensed Staff) |
In-person focus groups |
February 2026 |
Separate sessions for elementary and secondary. |
|
Support & Operations Staff |
Focus groups by department |
Fall 2025 |
Separate from licensed staff; include transportation, maintenance, etc. |
|
Ongoing Board Committees (e.g., DAC, FOC) |
Regular updates + added dialogue |
Ongoing starting in Sept. |
More in-depth discussions over multiple meetings on the strategic plan priorities and connections to their Board focus areas. |