6 Strategies to Successfully Pass a School Bond

A school bond provides a financial avenue for school districts to meet an immediate specified need. These specified needs can range from a new school, classroom building, gymnasium, or cafeteria to repairing an existing building, new buses, upgrades in classroom technology or security, etc. A school bond issue must be voted on by the members of the community in which the school is located. Most states require a three-fifths (60%) super-majority vote to pass a bond. If the school bond passes, property owners in the community will foot the bill for the bond issue through increased property taxes. This can create a dilemma for voters in the community and is why many proposed bond issues do not receive enough â€Å"yes† votes to pass. It takes a lot of dedication, time, and hard work to pass a bond issue. When it passes it was well worth it, but when it fails it can be extremely disappointing. There is no exact science for passing a bond issue. However, there are strategies that when implemented can help improve the chances that the bond issue will pass. Build a Foundation The district superintendent and the school board are often the driving forces behind a school bond issue. They are also responsible for getting out into the community, building relationships, and keeping people informed about what is happening with the district. It is vital to have good standing relationships with powerful civic groups and key business owners within a community if you want your bond to be passed. This process should be continuous and ongoing over time. It should not happen just because you’re trying to pass a bond. A strong superintendent will make their school the focal point of the community. They will work hard to forge those relationships that will pay off in times of need. They will make community involvement a priority inviting members into the school not only see what is going on but to become a part of the process themselves. Potentially passing a bond issue is just one of the many rewards that come with this holistic approach to community involvement. Organize and Plan Perhaps the most crucial aspect of passing a school bond is to be well organized and to have a solid plan in place. This begins with forming a committee that is as dedicated to seeing the bond passed as you are. It is necessary to note that most states prohibit schools from using their own resources or time to lobby on behalf of a bond issue. If teachers or administrators are to participate on the committee, it must be on their own time. A strong committee will consist of school board members, administrators, teachers, advisory councils, business leaders, parents, and students. The committee should be kept as small as possible so that a consensus can be reached easier. The committee should discuss and create a detailed plan on all aspects of the bond including timing, finances, and campaigning. A specific task should be given to each committee member to carry out according to their individual strengths. A school bond campaign should start approximately two months before the vote is scheduled to occur. Everything occurring in those two months should be well thought out and planned in advance. No two bond campaigns are the same. It is likely that parts of the plan will have to be abandoned or changed after realizing that the approach is not working. Establish a Need It is essential to establish a real need in your bond campaign. Most districts have a list of projects that they believe need to be completed. When deciding what you are going to put in the bond it is vital to look at two factors: immediate need and investment in your student body. In other words, put projects on the ballot that will resonate with voters who understand the value of education and show them there is a need. Make those connections apart of your campaign and bundle things where appropriate. If you are trying to build a new gymnasium, package it as a multipurpose facility that will not only serve as a gymnasium but as a community center and auditorium so that it can be used by all students and not just a select few. If you are trying to pass a bond for new buses, be prepared to explain how much money you are currently spending to maintain your bus fleet that is outdated and run down. You can even use a deteriorated bus in your campaign by parking it in front of the school with information about the bond. Be Honest It is essential to be honest with the constituents in your district. Property owners want to know how much their taxes are going to go up if the bond issue is passed. You should not skirt around this issue. Be direct and honest with them and always use the opportunity to explain to them what their investment will do for students in the district. If you are not honest with them, you may pass the first bond issue, but it will be more difficult when you try to pass the next one. Campaign! Campaign! Campaign! When campaigning begins it is beneficial to keep the message simple. Be specific with your message including the voting date, how much the bond is for, and some simple highlights of what it will be used for. If a voter asks for more information, then be prepared with more details. Campaigning efforts should be holistic with a goal of getting the word out to every registered voter in the district. Campaigning occurs in many different forms, and each form may reach a different subset of constituents. Some of the most popular forms of campaigning include: Build a Website – Create a website that gives voters detailed information about the bond issue.Campaign Signs/Posters – Put campaign signs in supporters’ yards and posters in high traffic locations such as the post office.Speaking Engagements – Schedule speaking engagements with civic groups in the community such as the Senior Citizen Center, Masonic Lodge, etc.Organize a Voter Registration Drive – A voter registration drive allows you to recruit newcomers and potential supporters who might not vote otherwise.Door to Door Canvassing – Simple word of mouth campaigning may make the difference especially in reminding voters to get to the polls.Telephone Committee – A simple way to poll voters in the community as well as to inform them about the bond issue and to remind them to vote.Direct Mail – Send flyers highlighting the bond issue out a few days before the vote.Media – Use the media to get the message out when possible. Focus on Uncertainty There are some constituents that have their minds made up on a bond issue before you even decide to do it. Some people always vote yes, and some people always vote no. Do not waste time on trying to convince the â€Å"no† votes that they should vote â€Å"yes†. Instead, focus on getting those â€Å"yes† votes to the polls. However, it is most valuable to invest your time and effort on those in the community that have not decided. Visit with those on the fence 3-4 times throughout the campaign to try and sway them to vote â€Å"yes†. They are the people who will ultimately decide whether the bond passes or fails.

The Effects Of Social Anxiety On Higher Education

To begin we take a look at two studies that were done on college students and the effects of social anxiety in higher education, researchers were able to conclude that social anxiety does have an impact on the wellbeing and success of students in each study. In our first study, students from Sydney, Australia, were accessed using many psychological tests, scales, and inventories to obtain scores for accurate study. The topic of the study is Impairments in Goal-directed actions that predict treatment response to cognitive-behavioral therapy in social anxiety. The participants who were involved gave written consent to be a part of this study, and those who were on medications were properly stabilized before participation began. This study involved showing participants â€Å"fractal images† of food as a reward to measure goal-directed actions in predicting treatment response to cognitive-behavioral therapy (Alvares, G. A., Balleine, B. W., Guastella, A. J. (2014). â€Å"Anxiet y has been argued to be related to an inability to process rewarding information appropriately to guide actions† (Alvares, et. al, 2014) and â€Å"changes in outcome values† (Alvares, et.al, 2014). The results found that those who had a social anxiety disorder showed higher impairments in goal-directed action that â€Å"predicted poorer response to treatment† (Alvares, et.al, 2014). The participants were given a test of how much a reward affected the outcome of goal-directed actions. Those who kept responding even afterShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy On Preterm Delivery And Intrauterine Growth Restriction766 Words   |  4 Pages2013). -Smoking, alcohol or drug use: Women who smoke tobacco cigarettes have higher rates of preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction (Hammoud et al., 2005). 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Martin Luther Free Essays

THEMES IN U. S. WORLD HISTORY Task 2 Roberta Gauvin Two of the most significant social and/ political changes that occurred as a result of the actions of one individual was Nelson Mandela. We will write a custom essay sample on Martin Luther or any similar topic only for you Order Now Mandela represented an example of a powerful leader who inspired millions of people around the world. First of all Mandela won the first multi-racial elections in South Africa thus creating a significant change in perception and building of a color blind society in Africa and around the world. Prior to becoming a president, people knew him for his anti-apartheid violent actions, his actions attracted attention to the existing problem. His actions made him well known around the world. Martin Luther King was well known around the world for his significant movements for the society. Martin Luther King became an iconic figure, whose courage inspired countless people. First, Martin Luther King advocated for civil rights by means of the peaceful method and never encouraged using violence for achieving the goals. His speech â€Å"I Have a Dream† encouraged the creation of a colorblind society and society based on equality among all people. â€Å"When he was notified of winning a Nobel Peace Prize, he stated that all the funds were to go to further the civil rights movement (King, M 1964). He actively addressed issues of poverty and contributed to the end of the War in Vietnam. References I Have a Dream: The Story of Martin Luther King in Text and Pictures. , New York, Time Life Books, 1968. â€Å"Martin Luther King, Biography†, Nobel prize (1964), Retrieved 14 September 2011 from http://www. nobelprize. or g/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio. html Themes in History, Individuals and Institutions (2006), retrieved 14 September 2011, from http://history. webtexts. com/courses/4573-history/toc/chapters/389802-individuals-and-institutions-as-mechanisms-of-social-change/assignments/342712-7-nelson-mandela How to cite Martin Luther, Papers

Hard Earned Virtues free essay sample

I have been stabbed with a fork more times in my lifetime than anyone should have to count. What a random tribulation, an odd occurrence, and yet there was a time in my life where my younger sister would pursue me almost daily with the intent of plunging cutlery into the back of my hand. There was a part of her that lost control intentionally so as to cause injury, but an even larger part that could not control her sudden mood swings due to rather unique compilation of behavioral disorders. In the midst of these tantrums, my job has always been to remain patient and in control of my faculties, and, in the spirit of honesty, I should have been fired many times over.It is not my natural inclination to quietly wait for her mood to pass or to speak soothing words to other siblings, rather a skill, that through the course of my life I have been forced to learn. We will write a custom essay sample on Hard Earned Virtues or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page My little sister, Jena, although I love her dearly, has added a layer of tension to my life that would otherwise not have been there. Most of my childhood revolved around finding ways to avoid setting her off. Lord knows, that my stepping across the line was a catalyst for an explosive reaction. There have been times when she is constantly moving ever closer to loosing her temper and I send up the continuous prayer, â€Å"give my patience, give my patience, give me patience†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to deal with Jena. And, ultimately, I have learned to be patient. As a High School student, patient people are few and far between. There is an ever-present anxiety over the looming college applications and trying to achieve the highest possible grades so as to overcome this ultimate challenge, and we, as a people group, get wrapped up in the selfish need to attend to only our own learning. In this transitional phase, it is hard to give grace to our fellow students and remember that we all are reaching for the same goal. For instance, in math, our school district has adopted a new method of teaching: instruction in the team format. The difficulty in this is that everyone works at their own pace, and as a math geek, I want to put my nose to the grindstone and plow through all the problems to complete them for my own understanding. Unfortunately, this is not a good way to help my teammates. We all work at a different pace, and slowing down to explain complex calculus takes a great deal of patience but works towards a higher learning outcome than applying mathematical theorems. In this setting, patience leads to understanding the value in teamwork and relationships rather than focusing on annihilating a list of math questions. Patience is a valuable character trait, and I am thankful to have been born into a position where I have had to develop this attribute. In walking alongside Jena, and watching her grow, I have developed patience and understanding as a skill that can be easily applied to life scenarios. Whether it’s solving a list of math problems, or working towards a learning outcome, patience has become my most treasured tool, and my little sister is to be thanked. Although my hand still twinges a bit at the thought, I can be grateful for the fact that I have someone in my life willing to stab me wi