Effective Governmental Relations

1. Effective Governmental Relations Breaking bread together and other tips from our experience

2. Background • Board desire to establish strong relationships with other government leaders: • Mayor & Aldermen, County Commissioners, Law Enforcement • Federal & State Senators & Representatives Used by permission of CountyNewsLive.com

3. In the beginning:Governmental Relations Day • Showcase School • Student prepared & presented meal • School tours • Class visits • Create Dialogue • Identify topics • Share viewpoints

4. Courtesy of CountyNewsLive.com

5. Courtesy of CountyNewsLive.com

6. All photos courtesy of CountyNewsLive.com

7. Improvements • Distinction in Performance Assembly • Invited officials to speak to students • Included DESE Personnel

8. Courtesy of CountyNewsLive.com

9. Differentiation • Quarterly Breakfasts for local leaders • City • County • Hospital • Chamber of Commerce • Community Foundation Courtesy of CountyNewsLive.com

10. Other Activities • Visit the Capital (SBAN & More) • MSBA Advocacy Center • Share Vision Project Report • When other officials are in town, be there!

11. MSBA Advocacy Center/SBAN

12. Express appreciation • Sincere thanks • Time • Interest • Hard Decisions • Resolutions • State Legislators • MML Local Gov’t. Week

13. Use Sound Instruction • If you want to discuss funding, consider . . . • Word problems • Simulations • If you want to discuss philosophical/political issues, consider . . . • Complex, open-ended questions • Discovery learning

14. Other thoughts . . . • Listen as well as talk • Personalize our position “The student who fed you breakfast . . .” “Our busses started picking up students at . . .” “We have reduced staff (increased class size) by . . .”

15. Other thoughts . . . • Use other relationships • Confront the hard questions • Eat together • Take the long view . . .

16. Outcomes • Collaboration with City: • Safe Routes to Schools Infrastructure Grant • Forgiveness of rent on utility poles • Dual Facilities Use by Parks Dept. and School Athletes • Honoring School and Community Leaders Annually • Hermann Regional Economic Development Corp. • Collaboration with the State • Interest in transportation funding rising • Calls from leaders about legislative impacts

17. Questions . . . • Marilyn Rethemeyer • Brenda Bader • Dr. Doug Meyer • Ken Lerbs • Craig Schannuth • Mike Pratte • Dustin Kallmeyer • Dr. Chris Neale Contact: cneale@hermann.k12.mo.us 573-486-2116 x 1302 Thanks for coming!