MARKETING
Committee chair: Don Livesay
Members: Victor Brown, Paulette Jackson, Jim Mason, Denise White, Mark Witas
Effective marketing bridges the gap between perception and reality. Here are five recommendations we would like to see implemented in the North Pacific Union Conference:
- One-day Marketing Conferences—Conducted in locations throughout the Northwest targeting principals, teachers, school boards, pastors, home and school leaders, interested parents and volunteers.
- Annual School Marketing Plan—Recommend and assist every school in developing a plan approved by the local school board. Develop a marketing plan template that includes basic goals, philosophy, rationale and guidance to encourage easy implementation.
- Best Possible School Environments—Develop a curriculum of content and resources to assist schools in identifying and creating the best possible school environment for marketing.
- Updated Marketing Resources—Provide to every school administrator bi-annually an updated process and package of marketing resources. Many resources are available, but local awareness is limited.
- Updated Database—Provide conferences and school leaders with a database, which would identify names of potential students in local areas and would be updated annually.
The bottom line to provide clear methods of communication which would allow school leaders to effectively and efficiently share their vision with members, parents and potential students.
July 8th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I think the Marketing section is on the right track and has historically been overlooked because it was assumed that every Adventist would send their kids to the local school. The items in the Enrollment section are closely tied to creating success in the marketing realm. I’ve often thought that by doing community oriented events/things that fulfill some of the Mission of the church, we would also generate a stronger marketing presence. In other words, if the school is routinely doing community service and involved with community events, the students will be learning that as a lifestyle and at the same time raise the schools “brand awareness” in the marketplace. The key is doing this in a regularly ongoing fashion, not just Christmas and Easter.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Perhaps looking at our school system like a buisness would also help. Our schools need to change with the times like any buisness does. The client population is different now. Clients are now shopping around to get the best deal. You have on your hands a more consumer savy population, and also one that is highly educated. Most parent these days have at least a Bachlors degree, whereas parents 30 years ago mostly highschool. So we are very confident in knowing we can teach our own kids at home, especially when we see that our schools are still behind a few years.
Perhaps expanding our vision of schooling would open up some doors to the market that you have not thought of.
1) What about online courses?
2) What about new SDA homeschooling curriculums. Homeschooling is booming especialy in Oregon, if you have not noticed. There is a whole new market our school system could tap into. Homeschool International Or Griggs University that it is now called is not enough. We are looking for more SDA homeschool options. Take a look at the homeschool options that are out there and get some ideas as to how our school system could be more competitive in this area.
3) What about virtual classrooms?
4) Using Blackboard.
I think education as a whole, everywhere is changing. Wouldn’t it be better to be leaders and not the tail. More and more learning is being done online. Eventually it will be mainstream. This espcially applies to higher education but do not leave out lower education. They can use these ideas too.
July 17th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
I agree with what Wendy is saying…..we are a homeschooling family who left our local SDA school at the end of the 05-06′ school year. It has been the best decision we ever made! However it is really tough to find a quality curriculum that is uniquely adventist.
The Griggs University/HSI website has curricula which are very dated…..esp the BIBLE curriculum! I have heard people wishing there were curricula that involved the Spirit of Prophecy in them as well. But there is NOTHING out there that is really good. Our school system could make a lot of money in a business like that!
Also our schools should be trying to get homeschooling families more involved in their sports programs and field trips. But nobody contacts me from our prior school. I left a message trying to get more information on sports for this coming year and still have yet to hear back from them!
Our schools need to be a step above any other Christian school and professionalism needs to be there too.
July 21st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
When attempting to market SDA schools to others, we have to address what parents are looking for:
I have always heard Adventist compare SDA education to public schools. This is similar to comparing apples to bananas.
If one is to market, we first have to compare what a SDA school, which is a private school has to offer in comparison to other private schools in the area.
I think when we can compare and advertise high test scores and other things that parents are looking for, then we can indeed ” market”.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I agree with the previous comments–especially in regards to homeschooling. We have been schooling at home now going on five years, after spending two years in an SDA School. This has been a wonderful decision for us. However, I never expected to feel quite as disenfranchised from the church and school as we have felt. We continue to suppot the school and church heavily and believe in good Christian education. Homeschooling is a vital part of Christian education and builds strong students spiritually and academically, we believe.
I hope that the SDA Church can get more excited about strengthening its current program with involvement from homeschoolers–whether it be in areas of sports or music, or better SDA curriculum options for homeschoolers. Home education is the fastest growing system of education in our country. If we ignore it, we will one day pay the price for the demise of the current school system, I believe.
Thank you for inviting our comments. I pray that God will give wisdom to all of us–especially to those on the committees where their decisions will make a difference–hopefully choices for change and a better future.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I appreciate how the marketing list given is primarily goals than can be measurably checked to see if they have been obtained. Good job!
Just a note on the “updated database” goal. This has great potential. Our schools and leaders could benefit greatly from following up with those potential students (and parents) who choose not to attend our schools. We need to find out why the choice is being made, then the most significant causes can be given priority and addressed. This would clearly need to be done with care and sensitivity. If someone has answered these questions in a prior year, and nothing has changed for them, this also should be noted.
I suspect creating an environment where Christ is the center and permeates everything done from studies to student interactions would greatly increase the desirability of our schools to many. While curriculum and resources are important and are not to be neglected, the results of a truly Christian environment offers eternal rewards.