According to the latest figures from Bloomberg, municipal bond elections (which include school district elections) passed at a rate of only 55%. What does that mean for you? It means your odds of passing a bond issue in November are basically a coin flip. To increase your chances for success: Engage in a pre-election survey…
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Strategic planning comes in many forms and shapes. At best, strategic planning is the map your school district will use to get you where you want to go. At worst, strategic planning is a tome that sits on a shelf gathering dust – and forgotten, until a new, five-year cycle comes around. The concept of…
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If you are planning a ballot issue for your school district in spring 2022, the time is right to do pre-election research. Pre-election research will tell you three things: What your patrons are willing to support. How much they are willing to pay. How the district is perceived by the voting public, which will help…
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Almost 30 years ago, I accidentally learned a lesson that has served me well for decades. I was playing golf at a course in Dallas and, miraculously, I was doing great. With a 12 handicap, I managed to get through the first eight holes at even par. The ninth hole was a short, dogleg-left par…
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In this time of uncertainty, some of the most vulnerable are our children and their families. How you respond to and communicate with them about Covid-19 – and the steps you are taking to ensure their education continues – will leave a lasting impression. Your school district is looking to you, district leaders, for clarity…
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When we ask school districts about their strategic planning efforts, we hear a number of responses – some of which are not very encouraging – such as: I looked for a strategic plan when I became superintendent and found the last one was done 11 years ago. Our BOE is still mad because the last…
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Written research reports are the meat and potatoes of most companies who produce surveys for K-12. These reports tend to be voluminous – anywhere from 50 to 150 pages (or more). The alternative to these massive tomes is the digital dashboard. The term “dashboard” comes from its similarity to the dashboard, or instrument panel, of…
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When we ask district patrons to grade various people, places and things in their school district, the item that often gets the lowest score is “value for the tax dollars spent.” Ironically, even patrons who rate their district high in all other areas (and consider their district the best in the area) give the district…
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If you’re considering a tax election in the next couple of years, spring 2020 is your best bet to get something passed. Fall 2020 will be all about the presidential election and everyone in America will be voting – including millions who are anti-education. I suggest avoiding that time frame at all costs. Spring…
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In our research, we often ask patrons a series of grading questions. One question we ask that almost always receives low marks is related to “Involving citizens in the life of the district.” Why? Patrons often feel like they are not part of the conversation when the district is making decisions on new buildings, renovations,…
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ExcellenceK12
302 SW 5th St.
Blue Springs, MO 64014
913-484-0920
rick@excellenceK12.com
