SchoolDude University 2009 - Vicki Smith Bigham

Strategies for Successful Technology Bond Campaigns

Presented at SchoolDude University 2009

Vicki Smith Bigham

President, Bigham Technology Solutions, Inc.

SchoolDude University 2009 - Vicki Smith Bigham

Building Community Awareness and Engagement—This Is Key!

• Engage key members of the community• Form committees

– Citizens/community committee– Commerce committee– Campus committees– Committee involving different departments– Others

SchoolDude University 2009 - Vicki Smith Bigham

Building Community Awareness and Engagement—This Is Key!

• Consider special interests in the community

• Get a “bell cow”

• Address voter apathy

• Tell more than what the bond is about—share why it is important to the community

SchoolDude University 2009 - Vicki Smith Bigham

Addressing and Overcoming Challenges and Opposition

• Create videos of technology integration• Compare how similarly sized school

districts are funding technology• Get the right person to deliver the

message• Let students present• Quote state regulations, research, etc.

SchoolDude University 2009 - Vicki Smith Bigham

Addressing and Overcoming Challenges and Opposition

• Take a road show to each campus

• Empower principals—let them know what they can and can’t say

• Take the equity issue head on

• Aggressively market your school district

• Outline fact vs. fiction

SchoolDude University 2009 - Vicki Smith Bigham

Reminder: Don’t stop with the passing of

the bond.

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are needed to see this picture.

SchoolDude University 2009 - Vicki Smith Bigham

Vicki Smith BighamBigham Technology Solutions, Inc.

8045-B Antoine #101Houston, TX 77088BighamV@aol.com