District rehires firm for $60K

MILAN TWP.— After a 15-minute discussion among the board, Edison Schools officials recently renewed a contract with Allerton Hill Communications for marketing and communication purposes. Edison's partnership with the Columbus-based firm, which exclusively works with school districts, began last year with a cost of $5,000 per month, equal to $60,000 annually. For Edison, it's being paid through the general fund, also known as the everyday operating budget. At a recent board meeting, the elected officials unanimously supported the renewal of this deal for the same amount. "District leadership selected Allerton Hill based on its extensive experience working with school districts and its strong reputation among educational leaders across Ohio," superintendent Corey Ream said. "The firm is highly recommended by the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and by superintendents throughout the state who have partnered with Allerton Hill over time." The firm understands the unique communication needs public education has and supports the district's efforts in sharing information quickly with stakeholders, according to Ream. Allerton Hill Communications supports Edison Schools by: • Managing social media platforms • Creating strategic messaging • Publishing content that highlights student success, staff achievements and district initiatives • Sharing financial information with employees, such as the district treasurer "This work supports the district's ongoing commitment to transparency and helps keep stakeholders informed about important topics and decisions," Ream said. Examples of the firm's work can be found across the district's social media and publications, such as newsletters. "By working with a firm that specializes in school communications, Edison Schools is strengthening its ability to provide timely, accurate and meaningful information to the community," Ream said. "This partnership supports the district's mission and reinforces its focus on keeping stakeholders informed, engaged and connected to the work happening in support of student success." Is it worth it? Board members raised several questions related to the contract, mainly about the price tag attached to it: • Patricia Cuthbertson questioned whether any feedback had been received from stakeholders related to the quality of information. Ream said the district received a report from the firm in December. And every two weeks, the district receives feedback on its social media presence. Although he has not surveyed or collected official information, Ream said everything he has heard has been positive. • Jacqui Rockwell said she approves of the work being done by the firm and does not want to discredit any efforts made by the firm, but she raised concerns about the cost. She questioned what measurements are in place to understand this partnership and its true value. "Our goal with this is to show the public what we do daily to educate them about where we are financially, how we stack up financially to other districts around us so that when we do come to them and ask for a new levy or a building issue, they have a little bit more educated background then what they may have otherwise," Ream said. Ream specifically mentioned those who are a step away from the district and do not have students enrolled within the buildings. He said the district tries to connect with these community members, so they know what is going on within the buildings. • Rockwell also asked if there was any way to lower the cost by bringing part of the service in-house. Ream said the partnership is based on a flat fee, so the firm will do as much as the district asks them to do. He added the firm also has knowledge on how to strategically share information, meaning what to share out to the community, how to share it and when. The other option Edison Schools explored before partnering with the firm was hiring an in-house person, like other local districts that have a communications department. Ream said the district is big enough to brand itself and inform the community on what is happening but not big enough to need an in-house team. "By the time you bring in somebody with that background and you pay salaries and benefits and retirement and all those types of things, you still may not be getting somebody with the knowledge that schools require because there are only certain things we can say," Ream said. "Bringing in Allerton, it's not really more expensive than bringing in somebody on their own, and then we're getting that knowledge that comes with an education background."