In the late 1600s, British physicist Sir Isaac Newton first demonstrated refraction and dispersion in a triangular prism. He discovered that a prism could decompose white light into a spectrum. Hold a prism up to the light at the correct angle and white light magically splits into vivid colors of the rainbow! So what do prisms and rainbows have to…

Ipswich, with about 2,200 students, is one of the many school districts in Massachusetts. Ipswich is governed by an open town meeting at which every registered voter may speak and vote. Budgets in Ipswich are highly detailed public documents in which every salary, classroom, and operating expenditure is identified. The budget book provides…

Describes school financial election campaign strategy using a random survey of registered voters, concentric targeting of likely "yes" voters, and an integrated database. (PKP)

Provides advice to help school districts pass bond referenda. Includes lists of why referenda fail and win and ways to develop a successful bond campaign including a referendum timeline. (MD)

After a tentative school budget is formulated it is then shared with the community via public hearings, with the ultimate objective of the public hearings to obtain voter approval on election day. (Author/MLF)

After experiencing two budget defeats by voters, a central New York State school district developed a three-year plan to get spending in line with revenues. Through the use of community outreach strategies, a budget committee, and town meetings, the district received a 63 percent budget approval vote. (MLF)

A multimedia (sound/slide) presentation translates numbers of a school budget into a living representation of the schools served by the school district. Such a presentation was tested with positive results in a New York school district. This article was originally submitted for, and the author received, a 1993 Pinnacle of Achievement Award from…

Analysis of school bond elections in South Dakota and in South Carolina reveal some common patterns that can help school leaders conduct a successful campaign. Key recommendations include the following: (1) assemble a diverse community task force; (2) focus on "yes" voters; (3) plan early and stress personal contact; (4) bring in expert…