This chapter, one of seven in the 1973 Yearbook of School Law, reviews the status and development of the law governing school property during 1972. It is based primarily on an analysis of court decisions during that year. The cases divide into (1) those dealing with the acquisition, management, and disposition of school property; and (2) those…

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)

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…

This chapter of "Principles of School Business Management" provides a generic overview of the major tasks associated with financing a school district's large capital programs. The chapter opens with a brief historical review of the limited provisions made for capital outlay prior to the 1960s and of the trends in financing in recent decades. The…

This publication is composed of two separate entities: a relatively brief manuscript entitled "Development of a Model for Planning an Educational Facility" and a much more lengthy Midi-Practicum Report that describes the implementation of the plans outlined in the first manuscript. Each of the three authors wrote one section of the first…

Traditionally, local school districts have shouldered the burden of funding school infrastructure in the name of local control, relying upon local property tax revenues and the willingness of local voters to approve bond issues. Given vast disparities in school districts' property wealth, gross inequities in school facilities will remain without…

Discusses components of a successful facilities-improvement bond issue. Districts must have a clearly articulated mission statement; a unified board of education; an open visible superintendent; the ability to identify, quantify needs. Boards must be attuned to the electorate, develop an organized election campaign; communicate the message…

TO DETERMINE CAUSAL FACTORS IN THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF SCHOOL BOND ELECTIONS, A STUDY WAS MADE OF SCHOOL BOND ELECTION RESULTS FROM 1960 THROUGH 1964 IN THE 209 IOWA SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAINTAINING A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. SEVENTY-NINE PERCENT OF THE REPORTING DISTRICTS (154 OF 195 TOTAL) SUCCESSFULLY PASSED…

Analysis of school bond elections in South Dakota and in South Carolina reveal some common patterns that can help school leaders conduct a successful campaign. Key recommendations include the following: (1) assemble a diverse community task force; (2) focus on "yes" voters; (3) plan early and stress personal contact; (4) bring in expert…

Reviews 30 years of state efforts to support school-facilities construction and renovation in Texas. Describes recent state programs to provide direct funding for school facilities: Instructional Facilities Allotment, Existing Debt Allotment, and New Instructional Facilities Allotment. Although state funding of school facilities has increased,…

This project examines policies related to facilities at public institutions of higher education in Oklahoma in the context of a current legislative debate over a bond issue to fund facilities. The last bond issue for Oklahoma higher education was in 1968. Verification of a representative sample of 27 campus master plans validated an earlier…

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WAS TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIABLES OF DEMOGRAPHY, ECONOMY, ELECTION HISTORY, AND COMMUNICATION, IN ADDITION TO THE PERCENTAGE OF AFFIRMATIVE VOTES IN SCHOOL BOND ELECTIONS. DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM 195 IOWA SCHOOL DISTRICTS INVOLVED IN SCHOOL BOND ELECTIONS OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD AND…

While the number of cases dealing with school property issues was significantly lower than in previous years, a significant number of cases involving the detachment and attachment of land to school districts arose. Eight of the eleven cases dealing with land detachment come from Illinois. The cases concerned requests from parents that their…

While the types of cases reported in this year's chapter are essentially the same as those reported in last year's, the number of certain types of cases have changed--in some instances significantly. For example, the number of cases raising constitutional issues in the areas of school construction, location, and property use have declined. On the…

After explaining briefly the history of educational funding in the United States, the authors discuss the current revenue sources and fiscal status of American public school facilities financing. Included are three tables with state-by-state information concerning bond referenda, public school bonded indebtedness, and debt loads. (JBM)