One of the greatest needs for the FISD community is a clear, transparent, and informed communication strategy that ensures parents, teachers, and community members have access to accurate information about programs, potential changes to policies or programs, school funding, bonds, VATREs, and teacher retention. It’s clear that in the world today, many people rely on social media as their source of truth and information. The district must find ways of penetrating the misinformation from social media or television. Many critical decisions affecting our students and schools are complex and nuanced, and it is essential that our community fully understands the realities and context behind these issues so they can engage in meaningful discussions and make informed choices.
To ensure that parents, educators, and community members have clear, accurate, and timely information about these topics and more, I believe FISD needs to adopt a new and robust multi-faceted communication strategy. This strategy will need to take aspects from other successful initiatives in other districts while specifically targeting the needs of FISD’s diverse community. Here are some of my ideas to address this need. Click the dropdown to read the details of each plan.
The purpose of the council would be to create a dedicated advisory council with parent, educator, administrator and community representatives. The council would meet regularly to discuss the current state and effectiveness of the overall communications plan. They would also assess the general communication strategy of their local campuses, the district as a whole, upcoming initiatives, areas of concern, and recommend expanding initiatives that have been found to be successful in the past. Regular reports would be shared detailing their findings and recommendations.
A dedicated web page, and possibly an app, should be created as a centralized fact-based resource where parents and community members can find information about important district issues. This page would include FAQs, myth-vs-fact sections, and budget breakdowns. Most importantly, this site would put the decisions into context, by giving the history of the topic covered, the different proposed solutions, and the why behind which solution was implemented. Additionally, I believe we should have an interactive dashboard that tracks district spending, student outcomes, achievements by UIL participating groups and programs, and the various different initiatives the district has implemented. This “real-time” look at the district’s financial and academic progress would be an innovative way to track and share progress and achievements. Some form of text or push notifications should be developed to also allow for instant updates when the need arises.
Currently, Frisco ISD’s school board and district leadership hold community input meetings twice per semester, in addition to allowing community members to speak at regular board meetings on agenda items. While these opportunities provide an opportunity for public feedback, they remain strictly one-way transactions as board members and district leaders cannot engage in real-time discussions. Instead, a written response is posted within 72 hours, but this lacks the depth and immediacy of a true dialogue.I would advocate for hosting site-based town halls that focus on both district-wide priorities and campus-specific concerns. Some topics, such as "School Finance" or "Teacher and Staff Retention," require ongoing education and discussion, as they remain critical to the future of our district. Other town halls should be tailored to the unique needs of specific schools or current “hot topic” issues, ensuring that conversations are relevant, timely, and meaningful to the communities they serve.Most importantly, we must shift our approach to engagement—rather than expecting the community to come to us, we need to meet the community where they are. Frisco ISD is a large, diverse district built on a philosophy of small, community-based schools. Our outreach efforts should reflect that same commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that every parent, educator, and stakeholder feels heard and valued. By prioritizing proactive and location-based engagement, we can strengthen trust, improve transparency, and create a more unified, informed, and involved community.
Frisco ISD’s Annual Parent & Community Engagement Survey provides valuable insight into the concerns, priorities, and experiences of families, educators, and community members. While survey results are presented after being compiled, there is no structured system to track follow-through or measure deliverables. Without clear visibility into how feedback translates into action, it can be difficult for stakeholders to understand what, if anything, has been implemented in response.To strengthen accountability and transparency, I propose the creation of a tracking system that documents when an action plan, whether at the campus or district level, is directly influenced by survey results. By establishing a clear link between feedback and decision-making, we can reinforce the value of community input and demonstrate the district’s commitment to meaningful engagement. This initiative would ensure that parents and community members not only feel heard, but can also see tangible outcomes driven by their voices. I believe this system would foster a deeper sense of trust and collaboration between FISD and the community it serves.
Pol. Adv. Paid for by Stuart Shulman for FISD Campaign
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