Module 6 - Budget Marketing EDU-709 School Finance Dr. Bearden Prepared By: Gina Bergskaug Christine Desrochers Stefanie Hoft Karen Martin

What would we like to market to the community? A new school, renovations, etc. A completely renovated building for the middle school (“New England Middle School”) Including a state of the art computer lab available for community use

Address the final decision-makers who approve the budget. School board Budget committee Superintendent Community voters Business manager Owner/Administrator

Identify common threads or concepts that will be used sell the budget to the Board of Trustees and/or community at large. Community could use the updated facility for various community uses Technology would be more accessible to students and to the community during non- school hours when the community center is open

List budget goals and objectives; or describe efforts to connect the proposed budget to the existing vision or mission of the school system. To introduce a bond that would be approved in order to update over crowded facilities at the middle school To have our children exposed to and familiar with 21 st century technology and be able to lead the future as mandated in No Child Left Behind To increase availability of technology to those who do not have it at home

“This increased importance of the school site in estimating the need for educational resources also reflects a growing trend that requires school site leaders to better understand what resources are generated to produce education at their school and how to use those resources to achieve the school’s educational goals.” (Odden & Picus, 2008, p. 234)

Describe the total array of media and marketing strategies planned. District wide calls home utilizing the PTO as supporters Specific information meeting for the teachers, who may be community members as well Brochure describing the proposed bond Street corner signage regarding the meetings Articles in local papers with facts and meeting dates Bond issue meetings with community Bond issue meetings with Teachers/Staff Website explaining the bond issue Survey to initiate what the community would like to see updated (facilities) Community wide Question & Answer session

Describe any creative ways that are recommended to promote the budget proposal. Invite community members into the school, so they can see how overcrowded/rundown the building is. Create a power point for community that would promote the positive aspects this bond would bring to community, not only the school children within it. Voters need to know what is in it for them. Target senior citizens, updates could be used as a senior center. Show the community how the new middle school will enhance the adequacy of every students achievement Explain how students will be better served in two schools, rather than one overcrowded middle school.

Describe the characteristics of the community that may affect the decision of the board. 35 % of the voters are elderly 50% of the voters have school-age children 86 % of the voters are white 14% of the voters are minority

List the typical key players in the school system and in the community. Teachers Staff Community members Voters PTO School board Owner/Administrator

Identify the major obstacles to winning approval. Elderly do not typically vote for school bond issues Minority do not trust our leadership Community feels the leadership keeps key changes within the school district to themselves Property taxes are already quite high and the economy is in a state of unrest.

Suggest ways to improve the budget approval process to the board. Open communication and create a sub committee that would consist of various members of the community as well as school leaders, parents and teachers. This committee would act as liaisons to the community as a whole. Community meetings Open and honest communication between district leaders and stakeholders. Frequent meetings between the district leadership and the teachers, who may communicate to the voters. Meetings between the district leaders and stakeholders to answer any questions, receive suggestions, and listen to what they want and what they have to say.

Cite any models that you followed in developing your proposal. Timberlane district model from School bond issue (1 million) was approved to create a Performing Arts Center that schools and community could utilize.

Flyer for community members

References Elementary and Secondary Ed Act (2007). Retrieved from

Presentation for School Community Learning In the 21 st Century

Vision of a 21 st century learner Students will use engaging technologies in collaborative inquiry-based learning environments with teachers who are willing and able to use technologies’ power to assist them in transforming knowledge and skills into products, solutions, and new information. -B. Nesbitt (2007) Video clip: A vision of k-12 students today

The video clip shows that students today…. Need the training to compete in a global market. Spend on average about 5 ½ hours on a computer each day. Listen to books on their ipods. Want a chance to create something by using new technology Require adults to engage them through digital learning

“Student preparation for higher education or the workforce includes technology literacy and the ability of students to find, sift, manipulate, and communicate information using the latest software. Government organizations, both within and outside education, view technology use in schools as workforce preparation” (Odden & Picus, 2008, p. 123).

How can we prepare our learners? We propose a bond issue to address the overcrowding at the middle school and our technology needs.

New Bond Issue Would house new technology for our students, faculty, and community to access on a regular basis. Prepare our students to compete in a global economy. Provide seniors and other members of the community a large meeting space and ability to utilize school facilities. Give students a place to complete assignments and utilize different forms of technology before, during, and afterschool.

Communication and Collaboration We need community members to be part of a sub committee that would work closely with the district and create a bond for the public to vote on in March. The public opinion matters, our goal is to collaborate and create a facility that the entire community could utilize.

Flyer Handout Public Flyer During community presentation, we would go over each bullet.

References ZVCjfWf8 ZVCjfWf8 Odden, A. & Picus, L. (2008). School Finance: A Policy Perspective. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.