Page 26 - The Edge - Summer 2019

SPRING CONFERENCE WRAPUP

By Don Harris

Communicate and Stick to the Facts

to Pass Bond, Override Elections
Cathy Thompson Erika Combs

By learning from past mistakes, Cathy Thompson described for the next five years at any time. We track budget requests
how to win support for much-needed bond elections. submitted by school sites for capital improvements and
Thompson, Director of Business Services, Washington incorporate them into an identified project plan.”
Elementary School District, emphasized the importance of The district formed a task force consisting of parents, teachers,
maintaining continuous communication with the community. administrators and community members. In addition, a bond
She and Erika Combs, Director, Stifel Public Finance, provided task force evaluates a proposed plan and tax levy strategies
valuable strategies during a breakout session at AASBO’s Spring over several months and then makes recommendations to the
Conference on April 4 in Laughlin, Nevada. Governing Board.
Washington ESD, the largest elementary school district in “We communicate with people all along, not just at bond
Arizona with 32 schools, generally has success in passing bond election time,” she said. “You need to show transparency and
elections, Thompson said. But there were failures in 2007, 2012 accountability.”
and 2013. For override elections, Washington ESD previously utilized
“We found we weren’t always communicating that well on a voluntary Planning and Steering Council. The council
what we needed or communicating to everybody in the same monitored goals for such areas as learning, curriculum, student
way,” Thompson said. “We realized we needed a systemic progress and budgets, and made recommendations to the
way to communicate – having the same message going out to Governing Board for an override election.
everybody.” Currently the district uses an annual evaluation based on
She noted that Washington is a diverse district with a wide needs and goals. The district monitors existing and proposed
range of parents and community groups. “People wanted to programs against established needs and goals, Thompson
know, ‘What’s in it for me?’” Thompson said. “We moved away said. “We form an override task force to evaluate the success of
from that.” current programs being funded with override funds and data to
An M&O override failed in 2007, Thompson said, because support proposed programs,” she said. “We meet over several
the district didn’t communicate well with the community. months requesting information to make a recommendation for
Then capital overrides failed in 2012 and 2013. “We needed an election.”
to simplify our message,” she said. “We all talk in acronyms. The district shares its goals with the community using social
Average people don’t understand all that. Just provide basic media. “We show them what our schools look like, inside and
information, and talk to them all the time, not just before an out,” she said. “We try to communicate in different ways. We
election.” walk the neighborhoods and talk to people. Try to get your
Another problem was that some people didn’t think the principals more engaged.”
district was spending money appropriately. “Take criticisms to Thompson recommended having Q&As ready to post when
heart,” she said. the board calls for an election. “Just the information, just the
The back-to-back capital override failures might have been facts,” Thompson said. “We’re not telling people how to vote.
due to the economic environment at the time. “Possibly we Have the board adopt a list of frequently asked questions.”
didn’t communicate effectively on the restrictions that were Washington ESD has a political action committee that works
happening,” Thompson said. “Maybe we were asking for too in support of the district and shares information on elections,
much.” but it is small and has limited funds, Thompson said.
For bond elections, previously the district relied on a Getting back to communicating, Thompson said her district
Facilities Council, with representatives from each region. shares what they’re doing at school, namely the district’s
Thompson told of a group of parents who wanted energy- successes and challenges and goals. “Give them tours of the
efficient windows on their schools. The decision was to install district and explain the needs,” she recommended.
them on one school. The special windows did not produce a Posters for planned projects are placed at each school. They
good return on investment, Thompson said, and everybody don’t provide timelines, but list what would be done with the
else got regular glass. proceeds of a successful election.
Currently, the system is data-driven. “We consistently keep
the database updated for all elements and systems in each
building,” Thompson said. “We can report our needs and costs Continued on page 27

26 THE EDGE | SUMMER 2019