Communications and Community Relations
The Office of Communications and Community Relations offers the media, parents and community members access to resources and information about Sarasota County Schools. Services include Media Relations, Community Relations, Online Communications, The Education Channel and PALS Partners in Education (Volunteers and Business Partners).
Our goal is to keep Sarasota County residents informed about the School Board of Sarasota County, the School District of Sarasota County and the individual public schools within the district. The department coordinates the district’s Media Relations in the spirit of open, transparent communication. Staff members respond to daily requests from reporters and other media representatives for information and interviews about district programs, policies and activities. News releases about district events and accomplishments are distributed to the media and posted to the district’s website.
The department also coordinates the district’s Community Relations by assisting with district-wide and school-specific communication to parents via recorded telephone messages about emergencies and announcements; creating and distributing letters, fliers and other publications to parents about events and issues; responding directly to inquiries from parents and other community members, and planning and coordinating meetings and other forums to maintain a continuous dialog between the community and the district.
Individual schools also receive services from the department. Communication Services for Schools include communications planning and coaching; crisis communications support; media liaison services; assistance with parent notification system messages; consultation services for school websites, newsletters and other communications vehicles; family engagement and event support; video production and volunteer program coordination, among other services.
The district website is updated regularly by the Online Communications staff to include the latest information about district departments, programs and initiatives. The staff also works with schools to assist them with the development, creation and ongoing support of their individual websites.
The Education Channel (Comcast 20 in Sarasota County, Verizon FiOS 33 throughout most of Florida) airs live coverage of regular meetings, monthly work sessions and workshops of the School Board of Sarasota County. The station also produces and airs programs about the district’s schools, students, staff and business operations.
PALS Partners in Education coordinates volunteers and business partnerships at district schools. Originally formed as Partnerships and Alliances Linking Schools, PALS Partners in Education brings parents, business partners and other community volunteers together to continue to nurture Sarasota County’s historically strong support for public education and active involvement in district schools.