Often superintendents and boards of education employ an expert-based, school-centered, "decide and defend" decision making approach when dealing with critical school district issues. In the case presented here, involving what to do with an historic school building, it is an approach that did not yield the result the superintendent or board of…

Available from Stanley J. Bowers, Executive Director, NTA-TIA, 21 East State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; single copy $5.00. (IRT)

This article describes seven basic strategies that park and recreation agency officials should consider to secure passage of bond referenda. (PD)

Describes strategies that were successful in passing library bond issues for the Atlanta Public Library and the Marion (Ohio) Public Library, as well as legislation providing for cooperative library areas and additional state funding in Michigan. Some lessons learned from an unsuccessful campaign by the Clearwater (Fla.) Library are included. (JPF)

Describes efforts to enlist community support for a bond referendum to build two new elementary schools in Lunenburg County, Virginia. Recommends (1) establishing a grassroots organization; (2) emphasizing moral issues; (3) stressing needs of the school system; (4) orienting the campaign toward the future; (5) starting the campaign early; and (6)…

Notes four strategies that will almost certainly result in losing a school bond election, then discusses four strategies that increase the probability of passage. (SR)

Outlines strategies which have proven successful in developing, conducting, and passing tax referendum campaigns, with regard to collection of data, length of campaign, need for competent leadership, development of community and business support, and use of students, administrators, and school staff in conducting the campaign. (MB)

A poll of 1,933 voters in two counties that passed school bonds and two that did not examines voter perceptions toward school bonds. The factors linked to passage were that the number of students was growing, that most students would benefit, and that the dollar amount of the bond issue was reasonable. (SLD)

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…

Intended for local municipal officials and their advisors on public finance issues, this publication describes the legal environment surrounding bonds and examines some of the factors affecting the political feasibility of bond issues. Four categories of state controls of municipal bonds are discussed: limits on the amount of debt municipalities…

Analyzes citizens' attitudes and opinions related to community decision-making about education in balloting on financial propositions for schools, pursuing the background to the current phenomenon of decreased voter support of finance propositions and increased financial need of school districts. (Author/JM)

Describes organizational and planning strategies used to convince voters in the Park City (Utah) School District to approve two bond referendums. Offers 10 suggestions for conducting a successful school-bond campaign. (LMI)

Many school buildings are in dire need of renovation, expansion, or replacement. Brief case studies from around the country illustrate the importance of finding out why people vote for or against a construction referendum. Lists recommendations for a strategic campaign. (MLF)

This study identifies successful election strategies employed by community colleges in bond issues or tax levy increase elections, and distills these strategies into a list of principles or rules that can be utilized by colleges in preparing for such an event. Results of case studies conducted at Maricopa (Arizona), Santa Monica (California), and…

The ballot, as a device to communicate to the government by citizens, is perceived to be much more effective in some settings--the direct question in a local election--and less effective in others--the major questions and primary offices in a national election. Such political facts of life are part of the resurging interest in the referendum as a…