OT - School boards signs Update- the results are in!

[v.t.]

I WON!!!

I can't believe it, but I won by quite a bit. All the teachers and PTA members went out and voted. A friend got a text that said, please vote for *** he is running against 'some' PTA Mom. Doesn't he know that you don't mess with PTA parents.
So to celebrate we are going to Disney!! Don't know which I am more excited about, school board or Disney!
Thanks for all your support!


I have made the decision to run for school board, (pray for me!) and it looks like I will be running against a home builder who has unlimited funds. I did not know political signs were so expensive. Has anyone every ordered signs? I need a good company that is affordable. Any other suggestions as to running the campaign? I know we will have to answer questions for the local paper and I will probably run a small ad or two. But could use your advice if anyone has been through this.
THANKS!

 

[dawson5]

My brother in law ran and was elected for the school board in our home town. I think he concentrated more on the issues and sent out mailers of his stance on issues and a small bio. He has a buddy who works for Canon, who took the photo and helped him create the mailers. He did it all on his own, didn't hire an outside firm. I think he did this two or three times. It did help that he is a third generation in the town, rec. director and coached quite a few of the sports teams (boys and girls). If they didn't know him personally, they knew of him.

 

[Suz D]

If you have any specific questions please feel free to PM me. I made an impulse decision to run for school board. I was running against 3 people (all who were very well established in our community) and I had only lived there 4 years and had homeschooled 2 of the four years. I had a budget of under $500 to work with and didn't even get signs. I passed out bookmarks (that were handmade-nice of course) with all of my information, views, and my slogan on them (KIDS are my #1 priority) was my slogan. I attended all of the forums and tried to be well prepared for whatever came along.

Shockingly I won by a large margin. I would love to give you input about running and also about being on the school board (it wasn't anything that I thought it would be). We ended up moving 1.5 years into my term of office due to a job change for my DH while I truly miss serving on the board, times are tough all over right now and it's a hard, hard place to serve. Good luck to you!

Oh, BTW, I found the same thing as you did. The signs were very expensive. I just did an online search and found some that were fairly reasonably priced including shipping. I don't have the info anymore, but there are tons of places that provide that service.

 

[andrews_dad]

In my area they need to beg people to do it. There is no pay and TONS of hours involved. Headaches galore. Taxpayers vs teachers vs what is best for the kids. What a challange! So, in my area you just need to get at least 10 write-in votes and the "job" is yours!

 

[libinatorsmom]

Vista Print does Yard Signs - I have seen them - they are very nice and professions - sometimes you can get some free ones ans usually with a regular order free shipping as well

GOOD LUCK

 

[v.t.]

Thanks for the quick responses. I will look at Vista Print as well as doing mailers, great idea. Suz D look for a message from me, I would love to hear your ideas!
Thanks for the support!

 

[MaumeeMom]

I've helped on a few campaigns for various local offices and here are some things that I have found:

Go local! Even if you have to pay more - spending the money locally will help you make connections and show that you care about the local economy.

Yard signs are expensive but if placed strategically, they can have a big impact. Follow your community's rules regarding placement - some towns don't let you have them in the right of way and they can and will be pulled and tossed which is a big waste of money.

Be prepared for any and all kinds of questions - from what kind of car you drive to how much time you spend on the internet. Decide ahead of time how much information you will share with the public.

Be visible - go door to door handing out flyers, go to any and all sporting events, pancake breakfasts, etc., etc.

Have a keepsake or take away - people love goodies so spend the money on pencils or magnets that they can use and they will see your name every time they do.

Have fun!!

Good luck!

 

[DVCBELLE]

I used to work for a member of Congress - and he did a study for his campaign color and they found out that green was the most effective color to use for yard signs and political flyers....

guess it was right b/c he is now one of the highest ranking members of Congress

wish I had advice on the signs...I used to gasp at the bills for them!!

 

[dawson5]

In my area they need to beg people to do it. There is no pay and TONS of hours involved. Headaches galore. Taxpayers vs teachers vs what is best for the kids. What a challange! So, in my area you just need to get at least 10 write-in votes and the "job" is yours!

My brother in law gets a small amount of money for each meeting he attends and something like $100 for when he has to go to Columbus for meetings. Definitely won't get rich doing it but where he is, there is a bit of compensation.

 

[Suz D]

My brother in law gets a small amount of money for each meeting he attends and something like $100 for when he has to go to Columbus for meetings. Definitely won't get rich doing it but where he is, there is a bit of compensation.

Indiana was where I served on the SB too! We did get paid a yearly stipend which I thought was really generous. The second year we received pay for the meetings as well. The SB has now taken a pay cut because of the mess created in Indiana by the tax reform. I wouldn't want to live there now! It's just awful.

 

[dawson5]

My BiL is in Ohio, hubby and I moved to Indiana. Actually where we are, our schools are still some of the best in the state. We're also in one of the counties where we are exempt from the property tax reform--we're at 1.5%, rest of the state is 1%. I do look to the future to see what will happen as they are trying to get ours to go with the rest of the state at 1%.

I would not be happy if I were in one of the other nearby districts, but where we are it is quite good. Quite a few of our schools are recognized for excellence.

 

[Maude4Disney]

I just wanted to wish you luck. My DH was elected to the school board last year. We got his signs locally. The guy we worked with for the signs gave him a pretty good deal since it was local. I think he pd about $100 for 12 signs. He didn't do any mailers or any take-aways, but he was at anything and everything that was school involved. He usually was anyway though. Word of mouth works great around here.(SMALL community) You need to be out there and be seen.

 

[v.t.]

Thanks for the encouragement! I am very involved with the schools through various district committees, volunteering and PTA, but my kids are younger and we are not as known in the community. I have the fear that since I wasn't born here and did not play football (haha) that it doesn't matter. The only football games I get to see are from the window of the concession stands, which I am in charge of for the whole district.
Your support means so much, now if all of you could just move to Springtown and vote........