School Bond Success

by Holt, Carleton R.; Boschee, Floyd

• ISBN13: 9780810844056
• ISBN10: 0810844052
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: Scarecrow Pr

Summary

Many school buildings across America are falling apart due to age or lack of maintenance. Others are outmoded and do not meet the needs of modern educational programs and curricula. Unfortunately, school administrators and boards of education have found it increasingly difficult to obtain the funding necessary to correct facility problems in their districts. However help is at hand in the revised edition of a popular title originally published in 1999. Holt updates the status of school facilities in the U.S. and provides new information on the relationship between school climate and student achievement. New to this edition is a discussion of the importance of technology in school bond issues and construction. The nuts and bolts of securing the funding for facility construction, a component of the building process usually overlooked in training administrators, are clearly outlined in chapters that begin with a look at the problem of aging schools and follow through the planning and project development phases to the bond campaign and election day. Filled with tips, checklists, and insights on the details from experienced school leaders, this is the perfect guide to consult every step on the way to victory.

Author Biography

Carleton R. Holt is an assistant professor of educational administration at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
America's Aging Schools	p. 1
The Present State of America's Schools	p. 1
Obstacles to Facilities Development	p. 9
Changing Enrollments	p. 11
Factors Contributing to the Decline in the Conditions of School Facilities	p. 14
Financing School Buildings	p. 15
Strategies for Success	p. 18
Recommended Activities for Successful Bond Referendum Campaigns	p. 23
A 2000 Status Report on School Facilities in the United States	p. 25
Updated Recommendations	p. 29
The Relationship between School Climate and Student Success	p. 40
Recent Research	p. 43
Teacher Views	p. 45
Safety and Technology	p. 46
Climate Research	p. 49
Summary of Findings	p. 53
Concluding Thoughts	p. 55
Review Activities	p. 55
Endnotes	p. 56
The Preplanning Phase	p. 61
The School Facilities Plan	p. 61
The Community Relations Program	p. 63
Developing an Internal System for Input	p. 65
Designing a School Facilities Plan	p. 69
Making Decisions about Specific Building Projects	p. 71
Review Activities	p. 77
Endnotes	p. 78
The Project Development Phase: Selecting Consultants	p. 79
Selecting the Bond Consultant	p. 79
General Procedure in Issuance of Bonds	p. 82
The Bond Consultant	p. 86
Bonding Consulting Services	p. 86
Selecting the Architect	p. 91
Educational Specifications	p. 94
Preliminary Designs and Other Considerations	p. 95
Review Activities	p. 96
Endnotes	p. 97
The Project Development Phase: Bringing It All Together	p. 99
Forming the Committees	p. 100
The School Board Resolution	p. 108
Review Activities	p. 109
Endnotes	p. 109
Beginning the Campaign: Developing a Marketing Philosophy	p. 111
Know the Product	p. 111
Know the Target Market	p. 113
Know the Appropriate Marketing Techniques	p. 116
Marketing Tools	p. 119
Review Activities	p. 121
Endnotes	p. 122
Campaign Activities	p. 123
One-on-One Contact Activities	p. 124
Media	p. 128
Review Activities	p. 134
Bond Election Day	p. 135
Poll Watchers and Follow-up Activities	p. 135
Canvassing Ballots and Reporting	p. 136
When the Results Are Unfavorable	p. 137
When Victory Has Been Achieved	p. 138
The Real Challenge	p. 138
Review Activities	p. 139
Developing Special Skills	p. 141
Conducting Surveys	p. 141
Managing Conflict	p. 146
Preparing Written Documents	p. 151
Review Activities	p. 158
State School Bond Referendum Percentages	p. 159
Checklist: Effective School Finance Campaigns	p. 205
Planning in Debt Issuance	p. 209
Glossary of Terms: Municipal Bonds	p. 213
Survey Form	p. 217
Survey of Top- and Bottom-Scoring High Schools in One State	p. 219
Afterword	p. 221
Index	p. 223
About the Author	p. 231
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