This report summarizes findings from interviews and a board meeting observation regarding communication barriers at Freedom Preparatory Academy. Key findings include communication apprehension among parents, a lack of transparency in information filtering and selective perception of the board prioritizing the director's decisions. Recommendations are to manage the communication process, involve and educate parents more, and increase transparency by providing consistent and reliable access to information.

1. Freedom Preparatory
Academy
Governing Board Communication

2. Findings and Analysis By:
Utah Valley University
MGMT 3000: Organizational Behavior Class
Kyle Kohler, Vincent Marquez, & Brian Fischer
This is a report to those it may concern. Prepared with love, it is our recommendation
to resolve possible communication barriers within the Freedom Preparatory Academy.

3. Outline of Slides:
4-5. Sources of Information.
6-10. Findings.
11-16. Recommendations.
17. Conclusion

4. Sources of Information
Interview
Seven anonymous student parents.
One board member.
Two administrative employees.

5. Other Sources of Information
Attendance of Board meeting
Review of November 2012 meeting
minutes

6. Findings
1. Communication Apprehension.
2. Filtering.
3. Selective Perception.
4. Information Overload.

7. Findings
1. Communication Apprehension.
Parents find it to be an unpleasing
experience to express their
opinions, concerns, etc.
“Fear of retaliation against us or our
kids.”

8. Findings
2. Filtering
All the information passed between
the administration, board, and
parents should be
transparent, available on demand and
understandable.

9. Finding
3. Selective Perception
“Board just reaffirms Director’s
decisions.”
“Administration has a bigger say than
Parents or Teachers”

10. Finding
4. Information Overload.
Meeting minutes describe actions
without explaining consequences of
decisions.
6-8 hour meetings are simply too long
to maintain attention.

11. Recommendations
1. Manage communication process.
2. Involve and educate parents.
3. Increase transparency.

12. Manage Communication Process
 Create and effectively use a communication
process (specific event leads to specific
type of communication).
 Consistent, reliable, and filled with
manageable information.
 Ensure new parents know how to effectively
use this communication system.

13. What Communication Works?
Email and Word-of-Mouth Dominate
Type of
Communication

14. Involve and Educate Parents
Teach parents to expect effective
communication from the Board.
The best way to ensure involvement
and highest possible donations of time
and money is to involve parents by
informing them.

15. Increase Transparency
Parents, administrators, and board
members should have access to
information that concerns them at all
times.
Use available technology.

16. Custom Email
Header Top News
Administration Admin’s announcements
Events Upcoming events (inclusion of electronic calendar
link)
Board Synopsis of recent and future Board items (inclusion
of link to more information and minutes)
Teacher Only the Teachers for that family are included.
Extra-Curricular Kids in baseball? Soccer coming up soon. Great
place for student run section.

17. Conclusion
Control the impression and image of
the Board by managing
communication, improving
transparency, and increasing
involvement.