This means that most of the taxpayers in that community do not have a direct connection with its schools, a trend being seen around the country. By leveraging their interest in our schools and creating opportunities for engagement, we hope to increase their support of ballot initiatives and strengthen the connections between our schools and community.
Strategies for Engagement
Based on U.S. Census Bureau projections, beginning in the year 2030 all baby boomers will be older than 65, and the senior population is projected to grow to the point that one in every five Americans will be retirement age. By 2034, it is projected that seniors will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history.
Knowing that senior patrons are already a large and important part of our community, which will steadily grow over the next decade, FHSD wanted to find ways to better communicate and engage with this demographic.
Golden Pass
Annual survey data showed that we needed to provide more opportunities for two-way communication with our older patrons. In 2008, FHSD began its efforts by establishing the Golden Pass program for district residents ages 55 and older, which allows them to attend home athletic events at no charge. A resident can receive a pass by applying at the administration building or calling the communications department. Their mailing address and email address are then added to the database of active seniors in the district.
Helping seniors bridge the technology gap helps connect them to friends and family.
Senior PALS
In 2015, the district established a group called Senior PALS (Patrons Assisting and Lending Support), for FHSD residents ages 55 and older. Starting with those who had previously requested a Golden Pass, membership was then offered to the whole community. Senior PALS are invited to spend time in the schools, learn more about the district, and share valuable input with administrators and board members. Quarterly, they receive a brief district update from the superintendent, followed by lunch or dinner and some type of student entertainment.
Because our food service provider donates the meal, there is no cost to Senior PALS attending the event. We have heard anecdotally from our Senior PALS that they like hearing what’s going on in the district “right from the horse’s mouth,” as well having the opportunity to talk informally with board members and other administrators. However, they overwhelmingly agree that their favorite part of the program is student engagement. They have had the opportunity to see student biomedical project presentations, robotics demonstrations, cooking competitions, choir performances, band concerts, and more.
Outreach to Senior Living Communities
More recently, through the strategic planning process, we have a more focused approach and are working to expand our engagement with the senior community. In addition to increasing the number of attendees at Senior PALS events, we have begun outreach efforts with senior living communities within the district. We have built relationships with all four large senior communities in FHSD’s boundaries, welcoming them to attend any of our Senior PALS events.
We have found, however, that for a variety of reasons, it is better to go to them rather than have them come to us. As we partner with these communities, we help support their events. For example, one of the communities hosted a chili cook-off for residents and their families. First responders, in addition to FHSD, provided chili for the residents and families to judge, one of the high school bands performed, and student artists did face painting for the young and old alike.
Additionally, we are working to create a Tech Time class at the senior communities, where high school students, guided by a sponsor, help seniors with technology. The staff at the senior communities have shared that many residents have cell phones, tablets, or laptops that they don’t know how to fully use. By helping seniors use their tech devices, we hope to bridge that digital divide and connect them to friends and family through technology. These efforts create a level of intergenerational connection that is beneficial for both students and seniors.
Seniors offer a lifetime of knowledgeand experience to share with the school community
Senior Fairs
The district also participates in two community senior fairs. One is hosted by a small municipality within our boundaries and the other is hosted by a community organization that targets all seniors within the county.
These events allow us as a district to talk face-to-face with seniors in the community about programs available to them, like Senior PALS, as well as about current initiatives. We also benefit by getting a list of attendees, which we add to our database of senior patrons.
Great by 8
FHSD also engages our senior community through a volunteer reading program called Great by 8. The goal of this program is to increase and improve student reading proficiency by age eight. Volunteers are asked to dedicate time during school hours to tutor students in a one-on-one small-group setting, to increase students’ proficiency and mastery of targeted skill sets. Volunteers help students with sight words, letter recognition, sounds, handwriting, and individual needs.
Our experience has shown that for early intervention to be successful, volunteers must work with students frequently. This makes seniors ideal volunteers because they can consistently dedicate their time to connect with students and develop trusting relationships.
School-Based Activities
In addition to district-led initiatives, individual schools host events to engage with the senior community. Grandparents’ Day in September is a great opportunity for grandparents (and grandfriends) who live in the community to visit schools and see what goes on inside their grandchild’s classroom.
All FHSD schools also host an annual Veterans Day celebration to recognize those who have served our country. Schools have created walls of honor to proudly display photos of parents and grandparents who have served in the military and have hosted fundraisers to benefit Honor Flight. Many students also participate in projects interviewing veterans and creating oral histories. These activities build intergenerational connections and provide insight into the past and their grandparents’ lives.
Reaching Out and Bringing Them In
Based on the spectrum of ages in our senior community, we know not all of our senior patrons use electronic communication and we must communicate with them through a variety of channels, so we communicate via print publications as well as digital newsletters.
We know from survey data that many of our retirees and alumni remain in the district, and we want to remain connected to these groups who are already champions of the school district. We are also developing initiatives to engage older district alums and retired district employees.
Our senior community is living longer, and its population will continue to grow. Its members offer a lifetime of knowledge and experience to share with the entire school community. The promise of higher property values isn’t enough; they need a reason to engage with the school district. Find a way to get your senior community engaged and your district will be the better for it.