1. Bloomington Public Schools Community Survey January 2017
Survey Data Shows....

12. The Metropolitan Area Outlook
Bloomington School District is not alone in seeing these challenges.
Throughout the Southern and Western Metro Area Suburban School Districts considering November referendums:
Tax hostility markedly increased
Opinions about sufficiency of funding higher
Renewal referendums more challenging

13. The Effort Ahead The Serious Challenge of 2017

15. Referendum Vote Goal I
Victory (based on 33% turnout) = 11,500 out of 61,000 voters
Need to Identify 5,000 more “YES” voters than in 2007 referendum election
Current Projected Parent Vote = 3,300 out of 10,800 already supporting parent voters
GOAL: IDENTIFY AND MOTIVATE “YES” PARENT VOTERS TO GO TO THE POLLS!

16. Referendum Vote Goal II
If PARENT “YES” VOTE is increased to 50% --5,400 “YES” VOTES – then we need to identify and motivate an ADDITIONAL 6,100 “YES” VOTERS

17. School-based Info Campaign
Pros:
Develops ownership
Shares work & accountability
Increases team of knowledgeable people, including parents
Personalization of key messages to fit school community
Increases opportunities for face-to-face communication
Challenges:
Requires new thinking
Requires more staff, parent involvement
Strong organizational skills of team leader
Informational only; no advocacy (on school time or grounds)
Significant workload on Admin teams, including principals, Superintend- ent and CR

18. Information Campaign Step One: Create Team Step Two: Develop Plan
Principal/Admin
1-2 licensed staff
1-2 classified staff
3-5 parents
2-3 students (HS only) HC IM NH
JHS
KHS PB RV
Metro South
BCCA
Comm Srvcs
OGE & OGM
OLE & OLM
VVE & VVM
Pond & SW WB WW
Step Two: Develop Plan
Meeting schedule through Election Day
Strategy to register parents, eligible voters (set goal, track)
Communication Tactics (presentations, social media, etc.)
Strategy to encourage early voter turnout (set goal, track)
Assign 2-3 members of team to Citizens Referendum Committee

19. RUNNING IN PARALLEL

20. Citizens Referendum Committee
Advocacy or “Yes” Committee led by Co- or Tri-Chairs
Chairs are usually parents, community leaders
Committee members: Parents, residents, school board members; Assigned to Committee Stakeholder Groups to support “Yes” Campaign work
“Yes” Campaign runs parallel to School Information Campaign
“Yes” Committee Campaign Tasks:
Create unifying identity and key messages
Fundraising
Provide support to & encourage School Teams
Advocate through robust communication, personal connection campaign, and social media effort
Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) efforts through absentee ballots and early voting

21. PTA Involvement in Referendums
PTSA’s may …
Support the school-based information campaigns, as they are INFORMATIONAL, not advocacy
Support “Get Out the Vote” efforts for parents, without advocating a position
Allow “YES” groups to present at meetings, but as a unit, may not take a position on the “YES” campaign … UNLESS a vote of attending membership is taken and a majority agree in support
These rules are not unique to PTSA’s … they are true for any 501(c)(3)