Is the idea of a bond referendum being thrown around in your district? Do you have no choice but to go to your community for a second or third time because the facility needs are not going away? It’s not too early to start planning. Here are five key strategies and how they were central to the success of three recent bond votes in April 2023.
1. Reach a Consensus on a Clear, Unified Vision
A vision helps promote clarity for the school’s community that can spark motivation and provide focus in all aspects of the referendum. The Superintendent and the School Board should reach a consensus in their support and be able to express this vision at all times. A unified vision for facilities should identify needs, explain priorities, and illustrate a progression of the next steps.
Jordan Public Schools placed a strong emphasis on “Pride in Facilities” within their strategic plan and clearly communicated securing referendum dollars as a benchmark within their community-driven, board-approved strategic plan. Consistency in this message created a strong foundation of trust and support leading up to the $34.9 million bond approval in April 2023.
Nevertheless, there are times when School Board members may not see eye to eye. In many cases, leveraging the results of a community-wide survey provides a clear direction for the School Board to reach a unified consensus. Making decisions based on survey results has proven time and time again to predict the success of a referendum.
2. Listen to Community Concerns
Many referendum-contingent projects can be high-profile and attract a great deal of attention and generate strong emotions. Providing opportunities for the community to raise concerns and identify priorities embeds transparency into the process. Opportunities such as: