This paper discusses school bond referenda in South Carolina. First, it examines laws pertaining directly to school bonds and those that may impact school bond funding. Next, demographic factors and their effects on referenda are analyzed. Political aspects of referenda and their passage are reviewed. Lastly, possible strategies for passing referenda identified in previous research are examined. 9p

In many states, investments in school capital must be approved by bond referenda. Consequently, voter preferences can directly impact the quality of school facilities and their infrastructure. Researchers have often analyzed the causal mechanisms of referendum passage, but they have not examined whether the type of capital project affects the outcome of the referendum itself. In this paper, we use data from the state of Michigan to examine whether voters are willing to provide more or less support for specific types of capital investments. We focus on the relationship between voter support for maintenance versus the construction of a new building or additions to existing buildings. Our analysis suggests there is a higher approval rate for maintenance of existing facilities than the construction of new school buildings or additions. [Authors' abstract] p37-55

Estimates the value of school facility investments using housing markets: standard models of local public goods imply that school districts should spend up to the point where marginal increases would have zero effect on local housing prices. The research design isolates exogenous variation in investments by comparing school districts where referenda on bond issues targeted to fund capital expenditures passed and failed by narrow margins. Results indicate that California school districts underinvest in school facilities: passing a referendum causes immediate, sizable increases in home prices, implying a willingness to pay on the part of marginal homebuyers of $1.50 or more for each $1 of capital spending. These effects do not appear to be driven by changes in the income or racial composition of homeowners, and the impact on test scores appears to explain only a small portion of the total housing price effect. [Ahuthors' abstract] p215-261

Details Nevada's Clark County School District's accomplishment from 1998 through 2010 in completing the construction of 101 new schools, delivering 11 replacement schools not included in the initial program, and completing more than $1.6 billion worth of school improvements. 8p

Describes Michigan's laws affecting school finance, their six steps of the bond procedure, their conduct of the bond election, and a list of recent Michigan bond elections.

Advises New Mexico school district leaders of all the necessary steps, complexities,. and details that lead to a successful bond election, with a primary focus on maximizing community support, and hence maximizing the probability of success not only for one election, but for ongoing elections over the long term. The authors provide checklists and short summaries to keep the manual as short and as easy to use as possible. A critical goal is to provide the information needed to keep the district in full compliance with the rules, laws and statutes that govern bond elections in New Mexico, while minimizing the need to wade through lengthy source documents. Case studies and examples taken from New Mexico school districts are included. 73p.

Narrate the author's experience on a school planning task force developed in response to a failed bond referendum. The public demanded more say in the future planning for the community's schools. The board of education solicited participation of community members for the project. A matrix representing all segments of the community was created. As people submitted letters of interest the matrix was filled. Once it was filled the project began. The board of education and superintendent needed to be as far away from this project as possible. The committee members had to have the ability to speak freely without the board's influence. This writer, the business administrator, along with a professional facilitator was chosen to facilitate this committee. The case study that follows documents this task force's journey and the resulting school referendum. As a result of the task force process the community members had their say in shaping the future of their school facilities and the district gained allies of what used to be their most outspoken critics. [author's abstract] 271

Advises on getting bond issues passed, emphasizing cooperation and communication. Defining the need for the voters, establishing extensive communication between all stakeholders, building consensus, operating a "yes" campaign, and contending with opposition are described.

Describes how three school systems have converted to cloud computing, and discusses administrative, management, bond proposal, and transportation applications.

Forecasts issues for schools in 2011. Subjects addressed include funding, class size, bond issues, community colleges, security, construction, sustainability, maintenance and operations, technology integration, and enrollment.

Advises on improving school tax election results through message testing, benchmarking questions, and sorting out responses by demographic classification trees.

This study investigates what factors are associated with the likelihood of passing school facility construction bonds by local district election. It uses statewide data from Michigan, 1998-2006, to examine the outcome of 789 bond elections. The logistic regression analysis finds that bond amount--percentage of students receiving free lunches, percentage of district population with only a high school degree, voter turnout, and being further down on the ballot--are all negative and significant factors. District long-term debt and holding the election later in the calendar year are both positive and significant factor. [Authors'abstract]

This study investigates parameters affecting the likelihood of passing school facility construction bonds by local district election. Using statewide data from Michigan, this study analyzes school bond data for urban, suburban, small town, and rural school districts that held capital improvement bond elections from 2000 to 2005. This analysis found four parameters that were significant in predicting either passage or failure of school bonds: bond amount, number of students enrolled, the number of times the bond was attempted, and district urbanicity. Examining district bond passage rates by urbanicity showed that rural districts have worse chances of passing bond elections than urban and suburban districts and that small-town districts have the worst chances of all. [Authors' abstract]

Reviews how the Los Angeles Community College District is in the midst of a bond-funded building boom, even while statewide budget cuts have dramatically reduced programs.

Advises on use focus groups to determine opinion on school facility issues. Populating the group with the correct mix of stakeholders, developing the line of questioning, the proper role of the moderator, and analysis of the responses are addressed.

Describes how four school districts experience failed bond elections, and then rebounded with wins by being more transparent to the community, involving the community in decision making, and exerting a special effort to gain the trust of former "no" voters.

Describes how Ipswich, Massachusetts, succeeded in passing a property tax increase in an area where property taxes were already deemed high, increases to property taxes are restricted, and every other means of school funding had been exhausted. An extensive grass roots campaign to improve educational programming is highlighted by a table that lists ten key elements to a successful tax increase vote.