A good communication flow with your child's teacher is highly desirable and should be the principle vehicle for questions that may arise. Parent conferences are scheduled during fall and spring for this purpose. However, feel free to contact your child's teacher for any additional meetings. It is difficult to communicate with teachers during the school day as they are often not readily available via email or phone. If there is a message that must be attended to during the day, it is best to leave the message with the Office Manager for direct delivery to the teacher.
Problem Solving – This process of problem-solving pertains to issues in the classroom.
When a parent comes to a board member with a problem, the board member will confirm that the parent has followed the communication channel (first: teacher; next: administrator). If the parent has not, the board member will offer to facilitate the parent’s following of the steps in the communication channel. If, with such facilitation, the parent is still not satisfied with the response, either the parent or the facilitating board member may take the issue to the board.
The board may then decide to appoint one or two facilitators from the board (note that this appointment need not be done at a board meeting), with at least one being a staff member, to listen to the parent’s concern, and work toward resolution.
The appointed board facilitator(s) will contact the concerned parent within 48 hours of the appointment, and will subsequently make a written report to the board, preferably with the parent’s participation.
If a parent has a problem with an administrator, the parent is encouraged to meet in person with the administrator and work toward resolution. If the parent tries that and is not satisfied with the result, they may follow the steps above to involve the board.
Administration and staff will work to inform parents of school policies, procedures, and practices, so that parents know what to expect, and can ask questions and clarify issues. We hope to get to know each WLS parent through frequent interaction. We believe that good communication is based on first-hand knowledge of all parties’ perspectives, and a comfortable familiarity based on a history of dialogue.
Problem Solving Flow Chart for Parents at WLS
YOU
|
|---------> #1 Teacher Your child’s teacher is the natural first point of contact for any concerns you as a parent may have.
|
|---------> #2 Administration The director is always available to help with any concerns you may have. Deana has an ‘open door’ policy.
|
|---------> #3 Board of Directors
The board members are generally available and can help you if your concerns remain unresolved after you have spoken with your child’s teacher and the administration. There is also a Parent’s Forum at the start of each board meeting in which concerns may be voiced.
Problem Solving – This process of problem-solving pertains to issues in the classroom.
- I. A parent with a concern about a classroom or curricular issue should voice the concern to their child’s teacher. We believe that the best way of understanding the issue and effecting positive change is for the people closest to the issue to communicate frankly and respectfully about it.
- II. If the parent communicates with the teacher about a concern and feels a lack of satisfaction, the parent should voice the concern to the administration (the Director). Typically the administrator will either suggest approaches to the problem, or offer to join the conversation between the parent and the teacher, or both.
- III. If the parent tries the new suggestions and/or engages in a conversation with the teacher and administrator together and still feels a lack of satisfaction, they may voice the concern to a board member.
When a parent comes to a board member with a problem, the board member will confirm that the parent has followed the communication channel (first: teacher; next: administrator). If the parent has not, the board member will offer to facilitate the parent’s following of the steps in the communication channel. If, with such facilitation, the parent is still not satisfied with the response, either the parent or the facilitating board member may take the issue to the board.
The board may then decide to appoint one or two facilitators from the board (note that this appointment need not be done at a board meeting), with at least one being a staff member, to listen to the parent’s concern, and work toward resolution.
The appointed board facilitator(s) will contact the concerned parent within 48 hours of the appointment, and will subsequently make a written report to the board, preferably with the parent’s participation.
If a parent has a problem with an administrator, the parent is encouraged to meet in person with the administrator and work toward resolution. If the parent tries that and is not satisfied with the result, they may follow the steps above to involve the board.
Administration and staff will work to inform parents of school policies, procedures, and practices, so that parents know what to expect, and can ask questions and clarify issues. We hope to get to know each WLS parent through frequent interaction. We believe that good communication is based on first-hand knowledge of all parties’ perspectives, and a comfortable familiarity based on a history of dialogue.
Problem Solving Flow Chart for Parents at WLS
YOU
|
|---------> #1 Teacher Your child’s teacher is the natural first point of contact for any concerns you as a parent may have.
|
|---------> #2 Administration The director is always available to help with any concerns you may have. Deana has an ‘open door’ policy.
|
|---------> #3 Board of Directors
The board members are generally available and can help you if your concerns remain unresolved after you have spoken with your child’s teacher and the administration. There is also a Parent’s Forum at the start of each board meeting in which concerns may be voiced.