Implement latest technologies in our schools but not abandoning old ones.

30,000 computers.

What are components typically included in a bond package for your district?

KatyISD: Biggest issue is that the maj of bond issues are for new campuses. What is the baseline for technology that needs to be a component of the bond issue? That needs to be our replacements cycle. PC, laptop, server replacements and network retrofits. These are standard brick-n-mortar and our community expects it. The horsepower on computers can last 6 years (buying us 7 million dollars) because it’s all moved to the Web. As you add projectors and cabling, you need to allow for it.

Our last bond issue failed. Tech needs to have the C&I. Public understands the retrofit, but we have to put C&I in front of that. It gets the public to see this as a C&I requirement/initiative rather than technology focused. When we move away from the brick-n-mortar pieces, we put the C&I dept in front.

Austin ISD: what was really driving us is the school funding mechanism. The funding mechanism is pushing us to bonds. M&O is being used for salaries. As a concept….

KleinISD: As part of the bond, infrastructure part of tech is a given. We started in 2004 to integrate technology as part of the bond. The most unique part about the bond that passed is a 1to1 initiative with bond funds. we’ve been more public about that, esp with the new bond. The 08 money bond funds…providing a PC type/tablet device for students at the secondary level. ..what separates us is that we’re using it to pay for integrated technology use. This is discussed and presented by our C&I folks. We’re looking at a 5 year life cycle of devices. We have to get them for 10 years. The bonds are helping us get to where we are at and keep our telephone structures up to date.

Build community awareness and engagement?

AustinISD: This is the key to the whole bond. For Austin, they have a very good method to get bonds on the street and passed. it all comes back to 1989 when a bond package was thrown together—$150Million—and put it together in 4 months and then it didn’t pass. They didn’t communicate or work with the community. This failure…every bond since then has passed. Engage key members of the community, the commerce group, form a citizens’ bond committee, get campus people who are very involved. They work with the school board and superintendent and get that committee to address this. With this guidance—including facilities folks and do that then have them recommend what the bond should be about. The School Board will hold hearings and then this goes back to Committee, gets adjusted, then discussed again. Additionally, it doesn’t hurt if there is some specific special interest that is a big community item…in the case of Austin, technology is always a special interest, as are the Arts. In a recent bond, the supporters of the Arts played a key role.

Klein ISD: Put a committee together, different depts presented their needs, did assessments of existing facilities, evaluating the buildings, formed a committee of community members, students, every aspect of community we could involve in various meetings. We presented where we needed the money. Our superintendent did not have a free day during the whole bond campaign, including attending bunko games, etc. He was so instrumental in getting the word out, the right type of information, addressing the misnomers…he wanted to get the right, correct information. Need a “bell cow.” It’s one cow that everyone follows…you hear that cow, you know where the herd is. Make sure you put a bell on the right person. Continue meeting, getting information out there even after the bond has passed. You have to brag about how the money is making a difference in what you’re doing. One of the things we’re doing is keeping the info flowing…communication and community involvement are the key factors to help people answer the questions.

KatyISD: We have the same committees. Our biggest issue is getting that advocacy beyond the group and addressing voter apathy. Most apathetic voters don’t go out and vote. If you can just get your own staff member to vote—campuses and teachers—then your bond election would pass. We spent time focusing on community. We started Leadership Katy ISD—last 7 years—and it’s a year long commitment. This group goes through every department and learn what it takes to run a school district. The Technology dept does this preso once a month and it’s very well-received. We then take that show on the road. One of the things we have to do is get employees to vote for the bond and to better understand it. It’s not only important to tell what it is, but also to share why it’s important to them. Gotta figure out in your community what the mechanism is for getting information out. This is why you tie in Leadership KatyISD and principals. For us, on our next bond, we’re going to focus on our employees. We’re going to spend time sharing what we expect them to do. We’re going to meet with PTAs…when you “wow the mommies, that’s when you’re getting power.” Once the bond election passes…here’s what we were going to spend money on, the timeline, and evaluation of how money was spent. People need to see how bond dollars have been spent. Our challenge is

What challenges have you faced, and what kind of opposition have you experienced with your bond campaigns? How did you address and overcome them?

KleinISD: By 2011, we’re doing online testing. If you’re going to test online, then you better be teaching online. This is why we’re going this route in our schools. Make videos of technology integration (1to1) with teachers, parents, students talking, and technology baseline standards (document camera, whiteboard, etc). We did the best we could to get the information out to our parents. We were able to show what students need and how it’s impacting what students are doing.

KatyISD: Americans for Prosperity—watch out for this group. They are very astute, funded. Your approach to marketing your school district needs to be very aggressive. Get involved or they will scare their community. We knew they were here but underestimated their impact. They convinced folks that bond elections are about building Taj Majals, poor fiscal management of schools. Technology is not a luxury anymore.  [As a member of the Katy Citizen Watchdogs which is the group that led the defeat of the first 2006 Bond Referendum, I can tell you that Americans for Prosperity supported our efforts because we were a group of conservative Republicans who don't believe in excessive government spending on non-essential matters.  Also know that Americans for Prosperity gave us verbal support, but not a dime.  I imagine a couple of our members donated to THEIR organization, but they never gave us anything.  We were greatly amused that the District players and sycophants thought we were funded by AFP.  As it turned out the PRO BOND organization was the one that had tens of thousands of dollars to spend on radio commercials, advertising and whatever else they needed.  Any money on our side came out of the pockets of the five of us who were the organization! We set up a PAC, we followed the rules of the PAC, and we did not violate those rules as the other side did.]