{"id":5013,"date":"2015-11-10T17:27:03","date_gmt":"2015-11-11T00:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.parkrag.com\/?p=5013"},"modified":"2015-11-10T17:27:03","modified_gmt":"2015-11-11T00:27:03","slug":"what-the-school-bond-vote-can-teach-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/v2.parkrag.com\/index.php\/2015\/11\/10\/what-the-school-bond-vote-can-teach-us\/","title":{"rendered":"What the School Bond Vote Can Teach Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

We, held the day <\/em>
\nIn the palm <\/em>
\nOf our hands<\/em><\/p>\n

They, ruled\u00a0the night<\/em>
\nAnd the night<\/em>
\nSeemed to last <\/em>
\nAs long as six weeks…<\/em><\/p>\n

– Goodnight Saigon, Billy Joel<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One of the ways the Park City School Board failed in their attempt to pass a bond was in communication. This failure wasn’t due to\u00a0lack of trying but perhaps more-so\u00a0due to\u00a0lack of imagination. The school board\u00a0hired a communication expert (Panic Button Media) who did what experts have done\u00a0in the past. They coordinated pieces to go into the Park Record. They coordinated appearances on KPCW. They word-smithed\u00a0language to be disseminated. Yet, for whatever reason it just wasn’t enough.<\/p>\n

If this was the Vietnam War, the Park City School Board would be the United States. Those in opposition to the bond instead fought a guerilla war.<\/p>\n

The powers that be trotted out all the standard maneuvers. They had media appearances. They\u00a0met with the Parent Teacher Organizations. Their supporters included influential members of \u00a0the Park City\u00a0Educational Foundation. They did what you are supposed to do when you are in command and control.<\/p>\n

The opposition employed a different strategy. They went grass roots. Their weapons of choice were email lists. They utilized\u00a0neighborhood websites like NextDoor. They attacked using Facebook. Perhaps more importantly, they were hyperlocal. If the bond passes, what will traffic be like at Ecker Hill? Shouldn’t we keep our middle school in Park City proper? Why are we investing in athletics when we should be investing in our child’s education? They won the hearts and minds.<\/p>\n

Sure, the “soldiers” for the school district\u00a0arrived at the village and tried to convince the people that they were right. However, when the soldiers left, the opposition’s message continued to resonate. In the end, the people said they couldn’t support those in charge and voted overwhelmingly to ask for another path.<\/p>\n

I believe this is perhaps a wakeup call for the powers\u00a0that be. Over the next few years, our local governments will be asking for\u00a0another school bond. They’ll be asking more money for transportation. They’ll likely\u00a0be asking for money\u00a0for another field house. Unfortunately, the tried and true methods have shown that they crumble in the face of even a modest opposing force. And make no mistake, the victory over the School Board have emboldened the opposition on many fronts.<\/p>\n

It will be interesting to see if new methods can be devised to truly win the hearts and minds of our community or whether the same-old-same-old will be trotted\u00a0out\u00a0in the hopes that it will work one more time.<\/p>\n

I hope that the powers that be now understand that early communication, with complete open minds, is the only way to truly succeed.<\/p>\n