| Public schools in Texas are in danger of losing portions of their state funding. In Texas, public-school finance and school bond referendums play an important role in providing quality education and educational facilities to which all public-school students have access. Research from this study demonstrates that several factors play an important role in voter participation in and support of school bond referendums. The main idea was to identify superintendent actions which led to a successful school bond election. This study analyzes the following questions: Does community input relative to bond project selection impact the outcome of the election, and why? What major facility and/or equipment challenges were addressed in the bond issue, and did the bond projects affect the outcome of the bond election? Are school bond issues influenced by internal or external organizations, and why? Does the tax rate impact school bond issues, and how? Does voter turnout affect school bond elections, and how? Does school district effort to inform voters affect the outcome of bond elections, and why? Do community surveys assist the school district in determining which projects are included in a bond election, and how? Ten Texas school superintendents answered these questions in interview sessions. The data produced was analyzed using a transcendental phenomenology study (Creswell, 2013). These superintendents all had unique situations and various beliefs as to why their individual bond elections were successful. This was not a one size fits all result. The ability to recognize the pit falls, plan and then react is invaluable in school bond elections, and this research will assist school superintendents as they endeavor to accomplish those goals. |
