Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference
February 5, 2016

Is a bond measure in your future? Want to hear the latest tips on new state seismic funding and bond matching?
Then don’t miss OSBA’s Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference, held once every two years in Salem. The conference has a long history of helping districts plan facilities, define and communicate bond costs to voters, and strategize tactics for effective bond campaigns.
Among the featured speakers are Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins. Also Alana Cox of the Secretary of State’s Office will offer guidance on do's and don’ts of state election law. You will also hear from:
- State Sen. Richard Devlin on Senate Bill 447
- Melissa Martin of Public Affairs Counsel on demographics and messaging strategies
- Gloria Zacharias of the state Business Development Department on seismic grants
The one-day conference also includes the popular “Learn from the Winners” panel, in which representatives of the Reynolds, St. Paul and Woodburn school districts will outline how they successfully campaigned for bond measures in the May 2015 election.
A variety of partners will also be on hand to share their expertise in passing bonds and levies.
In each workshop session, three to four workshops will run concurrently, featuring industry experts and school districts who will share real-world experiences. Sessions and presenters include:
7:30-8:15 a.m. - Registration, Continental Breakfast
8:20-9:30 a.m. - General Session
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Betsy Miller-Jones, OSBA executive director
Dave Krumbein, OSBA past president and Pendleton School Board memberSenate Bill 447 Highlights
Senator Richard DevlinTips for Every Campaign
Jon Isaacs, Portland Public Schools
Julianne Repman, Bend-La Pine Schools
9:45-11:30 a.m. - Workshops
Making the Case for a Bond: Communicating with your Community Before and After You Place a Bond on the Ballot
Jake Weigler, Hilltop Public Solutions
Ben Patinkin, Patinkin Research StrategiesPlan Your Facilities and Manage Your Construction
Russ Allen, Greater Albany Public Schools
David McKay, HMK Company
Karen Montovino, DLR Group
Scott Rose, DLR GroupTurn That "No" into a "Yes"!
Casey White-Zollman, Blue Mountain Community College
Dr. Camille Preus, Blue Mountain Community College
School Construction Contract Basics
Chris Walters, Ball Janik LLP
Angie Otto, Ball Janik LLP
Rob Wilkinson, Ball Janik LLP
Justin Monahan, Ball Janik LLP
11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Visit with Partners
12:00-1:00 p.m. - Lunch and General Session: State Election Law
Jeanne Atkins, Oregon Secretary of State
Alana Cox, Office of the Oregon Secretary of State
1:00-2:30 p.m. - Workshops
Bond Basics Bonanza! Part 1: Nuts and Bolts
Carol Samuels, Piper Jaffray – Seattle-Northwest
Ann Sherman, Hawkins, Delafield & Wood
Nancy Hall, Woodburn School DistrictCommunity Engagement: Before, During and After the Election
Kathy Leslie, Leslie Consulting
Julianne Repman, Bend-La Pine SchoolsSuccessful Bond Programs – Lessons Learned
Darryl Smith, Jefferson County School District
Jon Peterson, Pendleton School District
Steve Olson, AIA, Dowa Architects
Dan Hess, AIA, Dowa Architects
Dave Fishel, Wenaha Group
State Seismic and Energy Programs:
- Introduction to Seismic and Energy Resources for Schools
Yumei Wang, Department of Geology and Mineral Industries- Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program
Gloria Zacharias, Oregon Business Development Department- Seismic Case Studies and New Bond Opportunities
Edward Wolf, Parent Advocate and Writer- Energy: Schools and Resources to Finance Energy-efficient Upgrades
Jon Belmont, Oregon Department of Energy
2:30-2:45 p.m. - Break
2:45-4:15 p.m. - Workshops
Your Campaign Toolbox: Why and How to Use Video and Social MediaBond Basics Bonanza! Part 2: Utilizing State Capital Programs
Carol Samuels, Piper Jaffray – Seattle-Northwest
Ann Sherman, Hawkins, Delafield & Wood
Michael Elliott, Oregon Capital Matching Program (SB 447)
Morgan Allen, OSBACommunity Demographics and Targeted Messaging Strategies
Melissa Martin, Public Affairs Counsel
Kari Chisholm, Mandate Media
Learn from the Winners Panel
Reynolds School District - Andrea Watson, Linda Florence, Jeremy Wright, Valerie Tewksbury, Scott Harden
St. Paul School District - Joe Wehrli, Steve Stone
Woodburn School District - Chuck Ransom, Dave Vancil, Jenne Garcia
4:15-5:00 p.m. - Networking with Districts, Workshop Presenters and Exhibitors
5:00 p.m. - Adjourn
For more information about participating as a sponsor/partner/exhibitor in this conference, contact Lori Sattenspiel.
Exhibit partner- SOLD
- Exhibit space.
- Registration and meals.
- Listed in partner flyer distributed to attendees and on the event website page.
- Two weeks prior to event, OSBA will send an email to attendees linking to list of event partners.
- Ability to attend workshops as space permits.
Premier partner - SOLD
- Exhibit space in partner pavilion or two event registrations.
- Listed in partner flyer distributed to attendees and on the event website page.
- Two weeks prior to event, OSBA will send an email to attendees linking to list of event partners.
- One week after event OSBA will send an email to attendees thanking premier partners and providing contact information.
- Sign for general session entrance.
- Company logo on a notepad below on a first-come basis.
Conference registration is $135 for members. Fees include workshop materials, continental breakfast, lunch and breaks.
A $50 fee is charged for each cancellation received after January 29, 2016. No-shows are billed the entire registration fee.
If you need to cancel a registration, please contact Diane Efseaff at 503-485-4816 or 800-578-6722 or defseaff@osba.org as soon as possible.
TO REGISTER:
If you have questions about registration, contact Diane Efseaff at 1-800-578-6722. SOLD OUT
Bond campaigns can be risky for school districts. They test public trust, and require sound planning and community involvement to succeed. Unless they engage the community, a cycle of failure can result. They also require a lot of work by district staff, board members and school supporters.
Board members are a really important part of the campaign process. Watch "A message to school board members" with Valerie Tewksbury, Campaign Chair, Citizens for Safe Reynolds Schools, explaining how board members can help.
Learn how these districts ran successful bond campaigns in the May 2015 election:
- Reynolds School District
- Watch the video - with Andrea Watson, Communications Director
- Facilities Master Planning & Next Steps - May 19, 2015, Election (13,433k
)
- St. Paul School District
- Watch the video - with Joe Wehrli, Superintendent
- 2014-15 (GO) Bond Campaign Proposal (3,221k
)
- Woodburn School District
- Watch the video - with Chuck Ransom, Superintendent
Hear more about their stories of success at the Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference on Feb. 5.
Resources
OSBA Bond Election Resources
- OSBA Election Results Analyzer
Detailed historical analysis of election results, including recent bond/local option election results. - Oregon School Bond Manual (
) - January 2016
The Oregon School Bond Manual contains all the details you need to understand the long- and short-term borrowing options for school districts, education service districts and community colleges. The manual is the result of a collaboration between OSBA, Piper Jaffray and Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP. - Oregon School Construction Contract Manual (
) - January 2016
This construction contract manual helps school districts, education service districts, charter schools and community colleges understand the procurement process and contract negotiations information for design professional and construction services. It was written and produced through collaboration between OSBA, PACE and Ball Janik LLP.
Election Material from the Oregon Secretary of State
Election-related publications are available free on the Oregon Secretary of State’s website: http://sos.oregon.gov
Click on “Voting & Elections” in the top right drop-down menu, then “Election Laws, Rules and Publications,” then “Manuals and Tutorials.” These manuals will be especially helpful:
- 2016 Campaign Finance Manual (
) - revised January 2016
The Campaign Finance Manual includes information about Oregon campaign finance law. It is intended to provide committees and persons required to file independent expenditures with information about the requirements of campaign finance reporting. The PDF, listed under “Campaign Finance,” may be downloaded free.
- 2016 County, City and District Initiative and Referendum Manual (
) - revised January 2016
This manual is intended to provide an overview of the county, city and district initiative and referendum processes. The PDF, listed under “Initiative and Referendum,” may be downloaded free.
- Restrictions on Political Campaigning by Public Employees - ORS 260.432 (
) - revised January 2016
This manual details allowable and restricted activities, consistent with ORS 260.432 and advice from the
Attorney General. The PDF, listed under “Additional Manuals,” may be downloaded free.
Other Resources
- Cross-Tabulated Voter Counts
L2 (formerly known as Labels & Lists, Inc.) provides various election data, products and services, including free Cross-Tabulated Voter Counts: www.l2political.com
Conference Materials and Workshop Handouts
8:20-9:30 a.m. - General Session
Senate Bill 447 Highlights
Senator Richard DevlinTips for Every Campaign
Jon Isaacs, Portland Public Schools:
Do these 4 things and you will pass a bond (49k)
Vote "yes" on the School Bond, Measure 26-144 (video)
Julianne Repman, Bend-La Pine Schools: Tips for bond campaigns (17,098k)
9:45-11:30 a.m. - Workshops
Making the Case for a Bond: Communicating with your Community Before and After You Place a Bond on the Ballot (267k
)
Jake Weigler, Hilltop Public Solutions
Ben Patinkin, Patinkin Research StrategiesPlan Your Facilities and Manage Your Construction (2,910k
)
Russ Allen, Greater Albany Public Schools
David McKay, HMK Company
Karen Montovino, DLR Group
Scott Rose, DLR GroupTurn That "No" into a "Yes"! (25,234k
)
Casey White-Zollman, Blue Mountain Community College
Dr. Camille Preus, Blue Mountain Community College
School Construction Contract Basics (1,297k )
Chris Walters, Ball Janik LLP
Angie Otto, Ball Janik LLP
Rob Wilkinson, Ball Janik LLP
Justin Monahan, Ball Janik LLP
12:00-1:00 p.m. - Lunch and General Session: State Election Law
Jeanne Atkins, Oregon Secretary of State
Alana Cox, Office of the Oregon Secretary of State:
Restrictions on Political Campaigning by Public Employees (4,537k)
1:00-2:30 p.m. - Workshops
Bond Basics Bonanza! Part 1: Nuts and Bolts (1,954k
)
Carol Samuels, Piper Jaffray – Seattle-Northwest
Ann Sherman, Hawkins, Delafield & Wood
Nancy Hall, Woodburn School DistrictCommunity Engagement: Before, During and After the Election
Kathy Leslie, Leslie Consulting: Community Engagement: Before, During and After the Election (379k)
Julianne Repman, Bend-La Pine Schools: Community Engagement (4,692k)
Successful Bond Programs – Lessons Learned (64,662k
)
Darryl Smith, Jefferson County School District
Jon Peterson, Pendleton School District
Steve Olson, AIA, Dowa Architects
Dan Hess, AIA, Dowa Architects
Dave Fishel, Wenaha Group
State Seismic and Energy Programs:
- Introduction to Seismic and Energy Resources for Schools (6,361k
)
Yumei Wang, Department of Geology and Mineral Industries- Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program (347k
)
Gloria Zacharias, Oregon Business Development Department- Seismic Case Studies and New Bond Opportunities
Edward Wolf, Parent Advocate and Writer- Energy: Schools and Resources to Finance Energy-efficient Upgrades (1,056k
)
Jon Belmont, Oregon Department of Energy
2:45-4:15 p.m. - Workshops
Bond Basics Bonanza! Part 2: Utilizing State Capital Programs (922k
)
Carol Samuels, Piper Jaffray – Seattle-Northwest
Ann Sherman, Hawkins, Delafield & Wood
Michael Elliott, Oregon Capital Matching Program (SB 447)
Morgan Allen, OSBA
Community Demographics and Targeted Messaging Strategies (7,890k
)
Melissa Martin, Public Affairs Counsel
Your Campaign Toolbox: Why and How to Use Video and Social Media (1,423k )
Kari Chisholm, Mandate Media
Learn from the Winners Panel
Reynolds School District
St. Paul School District
Woodburn School District
Thank you to our sponsors and supporters!
Strategic Partner: |
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Property and Casualty Coverage for Education (PACE) pace.osba.org Tricia Yates 503-588-2800 x222; tyates@osba.org The leading provider of property and casualty coverage for public schools, education service districts, community colleges and charter schools. |
Premier Partners: |
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Piper Jaffray - Seattle-Northwest Division |
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DLR Group |
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Ball Janik, LLP www.balljanik.com Michael Bass 503-944-6051; mbass@balljanik.com Ball Janik LLP has earned a reputation for industry leadership in land use law, construction and design, construction litigation, commercial litigation and insurance recovery. Our firm has extensive experience representing school districts in matters ranging from site acquisition and land use, construction and design, construction defects and insurance recovery. |
Exhibit Partners: |
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AESC, Inc. |
Opsis Architecture LLP www.opsisarch.com Alec Holser 503-525-9511; alec@opsisarch.com |
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D. A. Davidson & Co. www.davidsoncompanies.com Matt Donahue 503-863-5094; mdonahue@dadco.com |
Oregon Department of Energy www.oregon.gov/energy Jon Belmont 503-378-4040 |
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Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP www.hawkins.com Ann Sherman 503-402-1320 |
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP www.orrick.com Dou Goe 503-943-4800 |
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Heery International www.heery.com Dennis Lawler 503-431-6180 |
Soderstrom Architects www.sdra.com Henry Fitzgibbon 503-228-5617; henry@sdra.com |
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KCDA www.kcda.org Mike Rebitzke 425-251-8115 |
Virco Furniture Manufacturing www.virco.com Rick Sauer 503-957-4298; ricksauer@virco.com |
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McKinstry www.mckinstry.com Colin Podelnyk 503-583-7597; colinpo@mckinstry.com |
Wenaha Group www.wenahagroup.com Dave Fishel 541-215-0443; DaveF@wenahagroup.com |
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Mersereau Shannon LLP mershanlaw.com Courtney Dausz 503-226-6400 x212 |
L2 (formerly known as Labels & Lists, Inc.) www.l2political.com Provides various election data, products and services, including free Cross-Tabulated Voter Counts. |
For more information about participating as a sponsor in this conference, contact Lori Sattenspiel.

Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins
Keynote Speaker: Lunch and General Session - 12:00-1:00 p.m.
State Election Law
Jeanne P. Atkins is Oregon’s 25th Secretary of State and was sworn in on March 11, 2015. She was appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to fill the vacancy left when Brown became Oregon’s 38th governor.
Secretary Atkins retired in January 2015 from the office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., where she served as State Director since 2009. Previously, she was Chief of Staff for Oregon House Speakers Jeff Merkley and Dave Hunt; and has held senior staff positions in the Oregon Senate Majority and House Caucus Office. During her nonprofit work, Jeanne focused on policy analysis and public affairs.
Senator Richard Devlin
Presenter: General Session - 8:20-9:30 a.m.
Senate Bill 447 Highlights
Sen. Richard Devlin has more than 30 years of dedicated public service. After serving in the Marines, on the Tualatin City Council and as a Metro Councilor, Sen. Devlin was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1996. In 2002 he was elected to the Oregon Senate, serving on the Joint Ways and Means Committee from 2003-07. From 2007 to 2010, he served as the Majority Leader of the Oregon Senate. In 2010, he returned to the Joint Ways and Means Committee and began his service as its Co-Chair, a position he still holds. Sen. Devlin has been a leading voice in the Oregon Legislature on protecting funding for public schools, community colleges, businesses and universities.
Hotel Reservations
Make hotel reservations directly with The Grand Hotel in Salem. You may call the hotel or book online:
- Call the hotel, 877-540-7800 or 503-540-7800, and specify you are attending the OSBA Bonds, Ballots and Buildings Conference, OR
- Book online here.
Hotel rates are $124/King and $134/Double Queen for single/double occupancy, plus tax and fees.
A block of reduced-rate rooms has been negotiated to help you save money. After January 14, hotel reservations will be accepted at the group rate only on a space- and rate-available basis. All reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Information about The Grand Hotel's room types and amenities is available on the hotel website or by calling the hotel at 877-540-7800 or 503-540-7800.
Salem Convention Center
Salem Convention Center Parking
We encourage you to carpool if you are attending with others from your district. There is parking beneath the Conference Center; the entrance is on Liberty Street by the Grand Hotel.
If the parking lot is full, there is overflow parking nearby at Pringle Plaza. Be sure to park on the top level for free, all-day parking. Click here for a map for your reference.
Workshop sessions feature industry experts and school districts who will share real-world experiences. Sessions and presenters include:
8:20-9:30 a.m. - General Session
Senate Bill 447 Highlights
Senator Richard Devlin
SB 447 passed in the 2015 legislative session and will provide important funding opportunities for school facility improvements. Senator Devlin, the bill’s sponsor, will share information about the need for this program and the steps districts can take to apply for these grants.Tips for Every Campaign
Jon Isaacs, Portland Public Schools; Julianne Repman, Bend-La Pine Schools
Successful finance elections have targeted campaign plans, but there are universal tasks and guidelines that can help improve the chances for success. Listen to two seasoned campaign veterans share their tips for a successful election.
9:45-11:30 a.m. - Workshops
In this workshop session, four workshops will run concurrently.
Making the Case for a Bond: Communicating with your Community Before and After You Place a Bond on the Ballot
Jake Weigler, Hilltop Public Solutions; Ben Patinkin, Patinkin Research Strategies
Asking your community to approve a tax measure is no small undertaking. Engaging the public, demonstrating a clear need for your proposal, and making sure your message resonates requires careful attention to detail and a sustained effort over time. We will help you design and implement a successful communications strategy that will put your bond on the path to victory.Plan Your Facilities and Manage Your Construction
Russ Allen, Greater Albany Public Schools; David McKay, HMK Company; Karen Montovino, DLR Group; Scott Rose, DLR Group
Before you can seek public support for facility improvements, you need a good facility plan. Learn how to approach your facility planning process to ensure that the important projects are identified and prioritized. You will get tips for timelines, cost estimation and construction management after your successful election.Turn That "No" into a "Yes"!
Casey White-Zollman and Dr. Camille Preus, Blue Mountain Community College
Blue Mountain Community College suffered a major blow when it failed to pass a bond in November 2013. Rather than give up, the college dusted itself off, took a big step back and reevaluated its bond. Through a year-and-a-half-long process, the college led a community-driven process to determine what the public would support moving forward. BMCC completely changed its approach, and as a result of listening to the community, passed a bond on the next try in May 2015. Our presentation will talk about how other schools and colleges can recover from a devastating loss, and turn those “no” votes into “yes” votes by involving the community, employees, board members and other stakeholders in a transparent, community-driven process.School Construction Contract Basics
Chris Walters, Angie Otto, Rob Wilkinson and Justin Monahan, Ball Janik LLP
Your bond has passed and it’s time to plan for breaking ground on the construction of a new school and upgrade existing facilities. There are planning decisions to make, procurements to structure, architects and contractors to select, and contracts to prepare and execute. All of this will have long-term implications for the buildings and your budget. We will discuss best practices regarding architect and contractor selection, contracts, construction and claim administration to help school boards mitigate risk and focus on serving their students.
12:00-1:00 p.m. - Lunch and General Session
State Election Law
Jeanne Atkins, Oregon Secretary of State; Alana Cox, Oregon Secretary of State office
Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins will provide an update about election law changes and the new Motor Voter Bill. Election compliance specialist Alana Cox will speak about election law restrictions for public employees and answer questions about campaign activity by school districts.
1:00-2:30 p.m. - Workshops
In this workshop session, four workshops will run concurrently.
Bond Basics Bonanza! Part 1: Nuts and Bolts
Carol Samuels, Piper Jaffray – Seattle-Northwest; Ann Sherman, Hawkins, Delafield & Wood; Nancy Hall, Woodburn School District
Want to learn about how bonds work? How to size them and estimate the tax impact on your residents? What the rules are for spending the money? What goes into drafting a ballot title and what timelines might be? How to turn a losing campaign into a winner? Come hear Carol Samuels from Piper Jaffray and Ann Sherman from Hawkins Delafield & Wood talk about the nuts and bolts. Nancy Hall from Woodburn School District will then translate these finance and legal concepts into a real life case study of success for her district.Community Engagement: Before, During and After the Election
Kathy Leslie, Leslie Consulting; Julianne Repman, Bend-La Pine Schools
Effective bond campaigns start long before a measure is proposed. Districts that are “always” in campaign mode by building relationships with their communities and engaging voters in district operations have the greatest chance of success. Learn the why and how of effective community engagement strategies from Kathy Leslie, author of "The Politics of Authentic Engagement: Perspectives, Strategies and Tools for Student Success," and a local district expert with a successful history of public outreach and engagement.Successful Bond Programs – Lessons Learned
Darryl Smith, Jefferson County School District; Jon Peterson, Pendleton School District; Steve Olson, AIA, Dowa Architects; Dan Hess, AIA, Dowa Architects; Dave Fishel, Wenaha Group
Sometimes getting the support of your community, stakeholders and key communicators is as much about addressing the negative aspects of your bond projects as it is about addressing the positive ones. Our panel, made up of school district administrators, project managers and architects, has been through the good, bad and ugly of what it took to successfully pass a bond measure despite some unpopular decisions that needed to come with it. Lessons learned will be shared by these experts on how they got the necessary support, changed opinions and perceptions and turned the negative into the positive by voting time.
State Seismic and Energy Programs:
• Introduction to Seismic and Energy Resources for Schools
Yumei Wang, Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
DOGAMI's presentation will cover Oregon's earthquake hazards, the issues surrounding seismically vulnerable schools, and the importance of protecting students and others, especially in collapse-prone school buildings. Information on how to access seismic reports of school buildings will be provided. Examples of school building upgrades that involve seismic mitigation, energy efficiency and deferred maintenance will be shown. An overview will be included of energy-efficient upgrades that reduce energy usage in schools, save money, upgrade facilities and improve learning environments.
• Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program
Gloria Zacharias, Oregon Business Development Department
OBDD's presentation will cover the Oregon Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program and how it will distribute $175 million to seismically vulnerable schools to conduct seismic strengthening upgrades.
• Seismic Case Studies and New Bond Opportunities
Edward Wolf, Parent Advocate and Writer
This presentation will cover how the 2014 State School Task Force's recommendations developed into a $125 million opportunity to assist schools with incentives/funding opportunities. Case studies will be used to demonstrate how SRGP investments in seismic upgrades allow a district to leverage seismic safety awareness in communities.
• Energy: Schools and Resources to Finance Energy-efficient Upgrades
Jon Belmont, Oregon Department of Energy
This presentation will cover a variety of ways in which school districts may be able to finance energy-efficient upgrade projects.
2:45-4:15 p.m. - Workshops
In this workshop session, four workshops will run concurrently.
Bond Basics Bonanza! Part 2: Utilizing State Capital Programs
Carol Samuels, Piper Jaffray – Seattle-Northwest; Ann Sherman, Hawkins, Delafield & Wood; Michael Elliott, Oregon Capital Matching Program (SB 447); Morgan Allen, OSBA
Want to improve your odds of getting bonds approved? This continuation session from Part 1 will focus on Senate Bill 447, the new State Capital Matching program approved by the 2015 Legislature. Topics include how to access technical assistance grants, the rules associated with obtaining matching grant funds and the school district ranking formulas, timing and likely availability of funds, and how the state program affects your bond sizing, tax rules, ballot title and campaign messaging.Community Demographics and Targeted Messaging Strategies
Melissa Martin, Public Affairs Counsel
Today's voters want to be heard. Districts need to understand and be responsive their individual community's demographics and values before embarking on a money measure campaign. Learning who frequent voters are and strategically targeting messages that move these voters can make the difference between success and failure..Your Campaign Toolbox: Why and How to Use Video and Social Media
Kari Chisholm, Mandate Media
There are many ways to target and reach your voters. Essential campaign tools have expanded beyond traditional campaign methods to include digital media. Learn why you need to add social media, email and video to your campaign plan and get tips for the most effective way to reach your voters online.Learn from the Winners Panel
Reynolds, St. Paul, Woodburn school districts
Representatives of the Reynolds, St. Paul and Woodburn school districts will outline how they successfully campaigned for bond measures in the May 2015 election.