The following press release was sent to the Bloomingtonian on Tuesday:

“Panel discussion on how effective communication between the community and public schools can help students

Press release – The power of public education, part 2

Indiana Coalition for Public Education–Monroe County Contact: Keri Miksza, President
Cell Phone: 303-746-8986
E-mail: [email protected]

March 21, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Panel discussion on how effective communication between the community and public schools can help students

Indiana Coalition for Public Education–Monroe Co. presents its second event in “The Power of Public Education” series, titled “Effective communication between schools and communities.” Effective, continuous, two-way communication is at the heart of schools that help students succeed. Research suggests that students do best when schools, parents/caregivers, and the community are partners. A panel of professionals and parents with expertise and/or experience in effective communication to highlight important ideas and strategies for engaging in productive conversations for the benefit of students in our public schools. This event will take place on Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Monroe County Public Library. The event is free and open to the public.

“This series of events will remind us why we have and continue to need strong public schools in Indiana,” said Keri Miksza, chair of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education in Monroe County. “From classroom concerns to school safety procedures, communities have had multiple ways to communicate with schools for years. That’s often too many choices, especially when social media is added to the mix. This event aims to help define approaches for effective communication between public schools and their communities that benefit students.

The panel includes:

• ● Michael Cohen, Monroe County Community School Corporation parent of two and active PTO member
• ● Maggie Polk-Olivio, music teacher and arts coordinator at Fairview Elementary School
• ● Brenda Whitaker, Principal of Edgewood Elementary School, Richland Bean Blossom Community Schools
• ● Markay L. Winston, Wendy Marencik and Peg Smith are members of the ICPE-Monroe County Board of Directors and will moderate the roundtable. The next event in the series will also take place in the auditorium of the Monroe County Public Library. This is: The Power of Public Education, Part 3: Funding Schools and Your Taxes May 9, 2022, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Keri Miksza at 303-746- 8986.
  The event webpage is here: https://www.icpe-monroecounty.org/popepart2.html”