As the sour economy makes it more and more difficult to raise campaign funds, an increasing number of campaigns are turning to their staffs for a higher percentage of fund-raising. The trend is unmistakable. In fact, several present campaigns report that a majority of their campaign money is being raised from staff in the form of voluntary donations.
To varying degrees staffs have always donated to campaigns, of course, but the amounts being raised these days is definitely on the increase. Furthermore, many campaigns have opted to allow contributions through payroll deductions. Some begin the process months and even years before a is likely, minimizing the amount donated to as little as $1 per pay period. Those funds are banked by the legally constituted political action committee, which uses them during the campaign proper.
Supporters and vendors who used to be major contributors still do donate, but the recession has reduced the amounts and frequency of those donations.
If the idea of organized staff donations makes sense to your situation, run it by your school attorney. In every case we know, the legality of such fund-raising has been upheld, and the matter has even been the subject of a favorable opinion in the Ohio Supreme Court.
Also, consider being creative. One district we know of made campaign donations one of a handful of options given employees. Included were purely charitable items like the local food pantry. Good luck and best wishes.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Columbus Dispatch: Poll says Ohioans need to go to school on education policy and funding
Monday, May 4, 2009 10:52 AM
BY CATHERINE CANDISKY
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
If you're reading this, you're apparently among the few.
A new poll conducted by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and Catalyst Ohio, a Cleveland-based education magazine, shows Ohioans are pretty clueless about education policy and the school-funding debate.
Two-thirds were unsure whether the Ohio Supreme Court had found the state school-funding system unconstitutional. (Psst: it has four times)
Ohioans do know one thing. They don't want to pay more in taxes for schools.
A majority, 55 percent, said they are unwilling to pay more in taxes to "even out" education spending across the state, while 42 percent said they would pay more. The rest were unsure.
The poll findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,002 randomly selected Ohio residents contacted between April 1 and April 9. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
Some other results:
Asked about the change in the quality of education at their local districts, 22 percent said it has improved, 29 percent said it has worsened, and 39 percent said it stayed the same.
On the subject of giving schools more flexibility to design their curriculum, 81 percent favored it and 62 percent say there should be a single national standard and national test for all students to pass.
Asked about teachers, 87 percent favored giving schools more ability to fire bad teachers; 72 percent support paying more to teachers working in tough schools; 66 percent said schools should pay more to teachers in upper-level math and science classes; and 52 percent oppose basing teacher salary on academic progress on state tests, but 69 percent support paying teachers based on their performance, rather than on longevity and degrees earned.
53 percent favor a longer school day or year.
62 percent favor all-day kindergarten for all students.
52 percent said they favored the concept of charter schools, though most said they did not know much about them. Only 7 percent said Ohio should continue as it does today allowing for-profit companies to run charter schools, while 41 percent said for-profits should be allowed only if schools are doing a good job. About 75 percent had a negative view of online e-schools.
BY CATHERINE CANDISKY
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
If you're reading this, you're apparently among the few.
A new poll conducted by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and Catalyst Ohio, a Cleveland-based education magazine, shows Ohioans are pretty clueless about education policy and the school-funding debate.
Two-thirds were unsure whether the Ohio Supreme Court had found the state school-funding system unconstitutional. (Psst: it has four times)
Ohioans do know one thing. They don't want to pay more in taxes for schools.
A majority, 55 percent, said they are unwilling to pay more in taxes to "even out" education spending across the state, while 42 percent said they would pay more. The rest were unsure.
The poll findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,002 randomly selected Ohio residents contacted between April 1 and April 9. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
Some other results:
Asked about the change in the quality of education at their local districts, 22 percent said it has improved, 29 percent said it has worsened, and 39 percent said it stayed the same.
On the subject of giving schools more flexibility to design their curriculum, 81 percent favored it and 62 percent say there should be a single national standard and national test for all students to pass.
Asked about teachers, 87 percent favored giving schools more ability to fire bad teachers; 72 percent support paying more to teachers working in tough schools; 66 percent said schools should pay more to teachers in upper-level math and science classes; and 52 percent oppose basing teacher salary on academic progress on state tests, but 69 percent support paying teachers based on their performance, rather than on longevity and degrees earned.
53 percent favor a longer school day or year.
62 percent favor all-day kindergarten for all students.
52 percent said they favored the concept of charter schools, though most said they did not know much about them. Only 7 percent said Ohio should continue as it does today allowing for-profit companies to run charter schools, while 41 percent said for-profits should be allowed only if schools are doing a good job. About 75 percent had a negative view of online e-schools.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Levy Campaign Funds in these economic times
As the sour economy makes it more and more difficult to raise levy campaign funds, an increasing number of school districts are turning to their staffs for a higher percentage of levy fund-raising. The trend is unmistakable. In fact, several present levy campaigns report that a majority of their campaign money is being raised from staff in the form of voluntary donations.
To varying degrees staffs have always donated to campaigns, of course, but the amounts being raised these days is definitely on the increase. Furthermore, many districts have opted to allow contributions through payroll deductions. Some begin the process months and even years before a levy is likely, minimizing the amount donated to as little as $1 per pay period. Those funds are banked by the legally constituted political action committee, which uses them during the campaign proper.
Parents and school vendors who used to be major levy contributors still do donate, but the recession has reduced the amounts and frequency of those donations.
If the idea of organized staff donations makes sense to your situation, run it by your school attorney. In every case we know, the legality of such fund-raising has been upheld, and the matter has even been the subject of a favorable opinion in the Ohio Supreme Court.
Also, consider being creative. One district we know of made campaign donations one of a handful of options given employees. Included were purely charitable items like the local food pantry. Good luck and best wishes.
Steve Avakian
To varying degrees staffs have always donated to campaigns, of course, but the amounts being raised these days is definitely on the increase. Furthermore, many districts have opted to allow contributions through payroll deductions. Some begin the process months and even years before a levy is likely, minimizing the amount donated to as little as $1 per pay period. Those funds are banked by the legally constituted political action committee, which uses them during the campaign proper.
Parents and school vendors who used to be major levy contributors still do donate, but the recession has reduced the amounts and frequency of those donations.
If the idea of organized staff donations makes sense to your situation, run it by your school attorney. In every case we know, the legality of such fund-raising has been upheld, and the matter has even been the subject of a favorable opinion in the Ohio Supreme Court.
Also, consider being creative. One district we know of made campaign donations one of a handful of options given employees. Included were purely charitable items like the local food pantry. Good luck and best wishes.
Steve Avakian
Monday, December 1, 2008
The November Election
This election proved yet again that Ohio voters, while conservative, realize when they must step up to the plate. The outcome of levies was, of course, a crazy quilt of outcomes, but the pattern remains intact that if you can demonstrate real need and drive your message through creative, well-financed appeals, most districts have a shot at passage.
There were, as always, some absolutely mysterious outcomes, high performing districts losing and the not so high performing districts winning. The “excellent” branding did not spell automatic victory for some. Yet other districts that are lower on the totem pole passed because voters sensed improvement and real need.
We at Avakian Consulting congratulate the winners and wish everyone well as 2009 nears---clearly the most challenging year in a long time. What will Ohio Democrats and Governor Strickland do now that they control the Ohio House as well as the Governorship? He promises to unveil a plan in the first half of 2009, but won’t discuss school finance beforehand. So far that strategy has been a wise one, avoiding the tax pitfalls that his Democratic predecessors (Gilligan and Celeste) fell into. But time is moving through the hour glass, and we feel 2009 will be the most eventful year we’ve seen in a long time.
Contemplating a levy in 2009? Give us a call if you’re interested in expert consulting and/or year-round community outreach that translates into victory down the road.
Steve Avakian
There were, as always, some absolutely mysterious outcomes, high performing districts losing and the not so high performing districts winning. The “excellent” branding did not spell automatic victory for some. Yet other districts that are lower on the totem pole passed because voters sensed improvement and real need.
We at Avakian Consulting congratulate the winners and wish everyone well as 2009 nears---clearly the most challenging year in a long time. What will Ohio Democrats and Governor Strickland do now that they control the Ohio House as well as the Governorship? He promises to unveil a plan in the first half of 2009, but won’t discuss school finance beforehand. So far that strategy has been a wise one, avoiding the tax pitfalls that his Democratic predecessors (Gilligan and Celeste) fell into. But time is moving through the hour glass, and we feel 2009 will be the most eventful year we’ve seen in a long time.
Contemplating a levy in 2009? Give us a call if you’re interested in expert consulting and/or year-round community outreach that translates into victory down the road.
Steve Avakian
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Experts in Public Outreach Consulting
Avakian and Associates specializes in public policy, community research & engagement, municipal funding campaigns, and public relations.
Since 1981, Avakian and Associates has serviced its clients' needs and developed strategies that have helped win BILLIONS in local funding campaigns on their behalf.
Today, most public endeavors have become fraught with opposition that is well organized and determined. A proven team of successful public affairs strategists to point you in the right direction is needed more than ever.
Steve Avakian launched Avakian and Associates in 1981, focusing on municipal initiatives of every description. Based in Dayton, Columbus and Boston, the firm evolved to its present public policy specialty working with diverse clients ranging from school districts to municipalities, from park boards to professional associations.
Avakian specializes in personal attention to every detail of community outreach. The firm specializes in developing better
communication with taxpayers months before an issue goes to the voters.
When you hire Avakian and Associates you’re hiring a proven professional team that tailors a specific solution to your problem---no “cookie cutter” approaches are practiced at Avakian and Associates.
Every client of Avakian gets personal attention, and many of our clients have been with us for a decade or longer.
Since 1981, Avakian and Associates has serviced its clients' needs and developed strategies that have helped win BILLIONS in local funding campaigns on their behalf.
Today, most public endeavors have become fraught with opposition that is well organized and determined. A proven team of successful public affairs strategists to point you in the right direction is needed more than ever.
Steve Avakian launched Avakian and Associates in 1981, focusing on municipal initiatives of every description. Based in Dayton, Columbus and Boston, the firm evolved to its present public policy specialty working with diverse clients ranging from school districts to municipalities, from park boards to professional associations.
Avakian specializes in personal attention to every detail of community outreach. The firm specializes in developing better
communication with taxpayers months before an issue goes to the voters.
When you hire Avakian and Associates you’re hiring a proven professional team that tailors a specific solution to your problem---no “cookie cutter” approaches are practiced at Avakian and Associates.
Every client of Avakian gets personal attention, and many of our clients have been with us for a decade or longer.
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