Voters in Starkville, Mississippi, passed an $9.8 million bond issue last year despite opposition by the local chapter of the NAACP. The election returns reflect that the district already was committed to a policy of finding and hiring qualified black teachers and administrators and district leaders were willing to commit themselves to the…

A homemade video graphically displayed a rural Wisconsin school district's cramped and deteriorating condition. Voters approved a 5.5 million dollar plan to expand and modernize the existing 3-story building that links the elementary school and high school. School officials believe the grassroots video helped convince voters in favor of the…

Improving a school's Q4C quotient (quality control, customer commitment, and communications) during election planning hinges on district mission, a culture of high expectations, basic skills mastery, commitment to customers, continuous feedback, healthy working relationships, broad community involvement, high- level strategic planning and…

Explains how one North Carolina school district was able to pass high-dollar bond issues for school construction. Discusses the planning and bidding processes, and the district's philosophy towards incorporating innovative changes in design and equipment. (GR)

Following two-failed school bond issues in 1995 and 1998, one mid-sized rural school district organized an effort that led to two successful school bond elections in 2001 and 2003. The school district's strategic plan mirrored many of the recommendations for successful bond referendums published in School Bond Success: A Strategy for Building…

The author of this article talks to Robert Kreider about why helping people with special needs is so important to him and his colleagues. Robert Kreider is the president and chief executive officer of The Devereux Foundation, the nation's largest non-profit provider of behavioral healthcare services to children and adults with emotional,…

Fiscal accountability has become an important issue with communities and school boards across the nation. Renovation of older school buildings can sometimes result in lower costs than constructing new facilities. The advantages of recycling and criteria for deciding whether to replace or repair structures are discussed. The bulletin recommends…

Presents a New Jersey school board's method for revenue raising through bond approvals by the community. The key to this board's success is the involvement of citizens in the early decision-making process. (MD)

This article describes the unfavorable conditions and the innovative tactics used in a well-planned, successful referendum campaign for one school district's capital improvement bond issue. (MJL)

State credit-enhancement programs for school districts lower interest costs and increase market acceptance for the bond issues. School districts receive higher bond ratings than they would have based on their own credit standings. Describes programs in 14 states that are recognized and rated by at least 1 major bond rating agency. (MLF)

Of the 58 referenda held in search of capital funds for public library buildings in 1997, 49 were successful, and of the 67 referenda seeking operating funds, 55 were successful. Funding levels and voter approval rate are examined, and a sidebar describes a bond issue at the Topeka Public Library. (LRW)

To understand how the political dynamics of state bond elections could affect education funding, this study analyzed factors influencing voter support on all 319 state ballot initiatives or referenda to authorize debt for a specific government function from 1978 to 1990. Voter support for education debt is generally high. (34 footnotes) (MLH)

Discusses planning and funding a high school whose design simultaneously addresses the changing nature of education, aesthetics, and security while enhancing the learning process. The concept of pooling funding sources or passing a bond issue for developing affordable joint-use facilities is highlighted. (GR)

This paper constitutes the first of a three part series examining the boom in the construction and renovation of K-12 schools and the continuing challenges that communities face in getting the facilities their students and educators need. Part 1 reports on the increase of school construction and renovation that began in 2002, despite a sagging…

Public colleges and universities are seeking the authority to issue millions of dollars' worth of bonds to pay for construction projects. These requests are emerging as one of the major higher-education issues in legislative sessions this year. (MLW)