Last week, Associate Principal Dr. Patrick Sassen met with students, teachers, and members of the community for the Community Wellness Task Force’s Youth Summit at Croya. District 67 and 115 Superintendent Dr. Montgomery and District 65 Superintendent Dr. Lisa Leyali met with the LF/LB Chamber of Commerce for its Realtor Breakfast.

The Youth Summit served as a way to get students more engaged in the Community Wellness Task Force by bringing them together with outside members of the community. The Realtor Breakfast brought in local realtors to learn more about what is going on in the high school.

These are two recent examples of the communication efforts the districts are bringing forward to the community.

“I think the more people we can get to have conversations with\ around school, the better we are as a community high school.” LFHS Principal Dr. Erin Lenart said.

When first starting at LFHS, Lenart began the Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC), which consists of students from all grades and meets to work with student organizations to provide insight into student life at the high school.

PAC recently organized the Tri-District Student-Board Listening Session. PAC strived to have a diverse range of students and allow them all to ask “difficult” questions.

“This was an opportunity for students, board members, parents, guardians, and administrators to discuss their observations and questions about LFHS and the transition from eighth grade to high school,” Chief Communications Officer Melissa Oakley said.

Lenart said that her favorite part of the night was that it gave insight into the less spoken about aspects of LFHS culture.

Students and staff deemed the event a success.

“My favorite part of the event is definitely having select student leaders be in attendance, but their parents as well,” senior Kat Yakes said. “I think that parents have such a different perspective on student issues, so letting them share their opinions is quite meaningful to me, along with PAC.” 

However, communication in a public school community is not without its challenges.

Public schools must follow the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). It is a federal law that protects the educational records of students in public schools. This restricts the information that can be shared publicly when an incident occurs at a school. This includes, but is not limited to, the identity of students involved without release from the parents or guardians. 

“Sometimes we’re just clarifying the truth. Sometimes, we can’t clarify the truth because we also have confidentiality rules around us,” Lenart said. “I ask people to have the same respect by which I enter those conversations. I’m also protecting students, I’m protecting staff, and I’m protecting everyone.”

On the other end of community engagement is district-wide news.

Oakley works to streamline communication from the districts to the community through various media, such as social media, newsletters, and more in order to spread information.

“Community engagement is about more than an ongoing flow of information. Community engagement is also about listening and creating space for voices to be heard, for collaboration, and candid feedback,” Oakley said.

In the upcoming months, the district will continue more communication with an emphasis on school finance.

“All feedback is good feedback,” Lenart said. “Even if it’s negative…there is something that is trying to be said.”