Superintendent: Schools need more community involvement

The need for more participation from the community was addressed at Tuesday's meeting of the Douglas County School Board.

"We should reach out to adults and civic groups to support us as partners in education," said Superintendent Carol Lark.

Lark said she was excited at the number of parent volunteers she has seen in Douglas schools but something has to be done to let the community know they are welcome to volunteer.

"I'm seeing lots of parents in the hallways, in some schools more than others," Lark said. "They obviously feel very welcome. They're doing math fact drills, one-on-one with students.

"I don't see a lot of parents in fifth and sixth grade but I do see a lot in kindergarten, first and second grades," she said.

Schools can use volunteers to monitor computer labs, as playground and lunch time help, as test monitors and to help with reading.

Lark said there are benefits that come with being a volunteer.

"I've heard volunteers say, 'It gives me a purpose for getting out of bed in the morning, a purpose for living,'" she said.

It was pointed out there are more adults than children in Douglas County.

"Expertise from the retired community could be channeled to benefit our schools," Lark said.

Whittell and Douglas high school principals Sue Shannon and Marty Swisher gave an update on steps they have taken to address communication between coaches and athletes.

Drafts of parent/coach communication brochures, coaching evaluations and sports surveys for parents and players the schools hope to use by at least the fall semester were presented to the school board.

Swisher said the communication brochure gives instructions on the process to follow in communication with coaches.

Some of the instructions ask parents not to question playing time, team strategy, play calling and matters concerning other athletes with coaches.

Instead of a parent asking why their child is not playing, Swisher gave a more appropriate approach for parents to take without questioning coaches' decisions.

"What does my child need to do to improve and get more playing time?'" Swisher said.

Board president John Louritt said he has coached before and knows it is a hard job.

"The coach has his hands full, but it is the coach's decision on playing time, team strategy and play calling," Louritt said.

Swisher said the coaching evaluations might be piloted in the spring unless it needs more fine-tuning.

"We talked with the booster parents and invited input," Swisher said. "We'll take that information to make a good communication tool."

Board member Sharla Hales said parents need to be brought into the process so they see how hard it is to get and keep coaches.

"We should start communication at the middle school level to say what is appropriate, then we have more understanding," Hales said.