The Role of PR in Public Schools

The Role of PR for Public Schools

Goals: 1) To increase awareness of issues affecting education, including unstable and unpredictable funding Example: brochures, flyers at high-traffic areas, same as billboards for new businesses or for WMUs Engineering program. 2) To cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, including elected officials and labor unions, to build public support and help ensure adequate funding, including private donations

Example: Non-profit organizations, to receive private donations, March of Dimes, PCOC, Department of Education also is the backhand of most funding.

3) To gain public acceptance of and support for education initiatives, such as staff reorganizations, facility closures, or major curriculum changes 4) To enhance the reputation of schools among key target publics so that parents will send their child to a particular school and college- bound students will attend that school

Example: Everest Institute, Davenport University commercials

PRs role continued

Public relations do play a central role in public school funding, but it can affect the ability to meet and manage expectations in terms of the budget
PR professionals try to engage the stake holder groups to think about the childs best interests at hand with the parents Also, the best school district for the children involved The stakeholders in mind are:
Labor unions Money needed for printed publications and materials Website and email marketing

Example: wmich.edu, pps.org Social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube Website media: Google, Analytics, or Webalizer, which measures how many people have visited the site. For example: Twitter measures followers, YouTube measures the amount of views to a certain video, like the latest pop music video from Beyonce or Lady Antelbellum.

Target Publics in Public Schools

Parents School staff
Principal, president, teachers, custodians, and administrative staff

Students
Who are comfortable with social media and immediacy without consequences

Business leaders and owners

Example: Financial donors which schools receive funding or sponsorship from, such as funding for Grad

Bash, Breadlift, Talent Show, funding for the sports teams.

Community members at large Alumni Which is important for private institutions and public schools Elected or appointed boards of trustees Local, state, and federal state officials

Question
What other businesses do PR use the same goals?