Communications and Community Relations
General Information

What does the Communications and Community Relations Department do?

Just as the Teaching and Learning Department is closest to the classroom, the Communications and Community Relations Department is closest to the community which supports that classroom. This becomes critical once we understand the demographics involved: only 30-35% of District 203 households have a child enrolled in public school.

We interact with hundreds of volunteers and share thousands of communiques during any given school year, serving as a liaison between (and within) schools and communities.

• Coordination of communication with both internal and external shareholders via various publications, website content management and Talk203, our email notification system;
• Facilitation of media relations, working closely with print reporters, as well as television and radio stations, to report daily/weekly District 203 activities, as well as serving as a liaison in emergency situations;
• Coordination of District 203 volunteer organizations, which serve students and staff by providing the additional support necessary to sustaining quality education - including Home & School, the School Family Community Partnership, HURRAH [Happy, Upbeat Retirees (and other) Residents Actively Helping] and Business Partnerships;
• Facilitation of Naperville Education Foundation activities which enhance the educational program above and beyond what tax dollars can provide, including general donations, grants, Kid Boosters, Cents for Kids and the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Literacy Fund.
• Coordination of alumni relations.

• Undergird and further the goals of the District 203 Board of Education
• Support and enhance the quality of teaching and learning for District 203 staff and students by partnering with the community to create a shared vision of excellence; and
• Increase two-way communication between the school district and the community it serves, which, in turn, contributes to an atmosphere of trust and cooperation among all stakeholders, employing public participation, accommodation and, sometimes, conciliation, as critical public relations tools.

Talk203 Telephone and E-mail Information System

District 203 communicates with families and the community via telephone callouts and e-mail, through a system powered by Blackboard Connect. This system is used for emergency school closing information or other matters of urgency, as well as informational calls and e-mails regarding events in individual schools and throughout the District.

Talk203 for Parents/Guardians

Parents/guardians of District 203 students do not need to sign up to receive information from the Talk203 system - they are automatically included in messaging from the District and their student(s) school(s) if they have provided an email address to the school(s).

Talk203 powered by Connect-ED is tied into our student information system. There are no online accounts to manage, and school/grade changes each year are automatically implemented. If you need to revise your parent/guardian contact information, please see the Communications Systems page for instructions.

Talk203 for Community Members

Community members with no students in District 203 may sign up to receive community information sent by the District. Due to limitations of the system, community members are not able to receive information specific to particular schools. Please click the Community Talk203 graphic above to access the Talk203 for Community Members page with a link to the signup e-mail.

Talk203 Submission Form

Do you have District 203 news to share? This downloadable form is for use by staff members and authorized school organizations only. All message submissions must be cleared through appropriate administrators. Please save the form to your desktop, fill it out and send as an attachment to the appropriate administrator as directed on the form. Further instructions are contained on the Talk203 Submission Form (Word form)