Engage your educational community early and often to provide outstanding public relations focused on the purpose, benefits, and consequences of proposed facilities plans and projects. Deepen
understanding of constituents’ priorities to enhance communications, build trust and provide substantiation for decisions.
"Thoughtexchange allows us to not operate from a place of assuming what we think is important in the community, but from a place where the community is telling us what’s important to them. Then we use that to inform the decisions we make going forward."
- Dr. Susan Enfield, Superintendent of Highline Public Schools
Engaging constituents broadly in an open and transparent process provides assurance that facilities
decisions align with community priorities. Exchanges help our district partners to:
- Provide direction to decision leaders to ensure that facilities projects meet district needs and
reflect stakeholder perspectives. - Identify barriers to the successful completion of facilities projects.
- Inform constituents with comprehensive and interactive communications about facilities plans to keep them on your team and in the loop.
Constituent Engagement Strategy
Districts partnering with Thoughtexchange see the most success with facilities proposals when beginning their constituent engagement at least 14-18 months before a vote. This gives time for a broad-based exchange (Weather Report) that familiarizes people with Thoughtexchange, shows what’s most important and highlights any facilities-related themes.
Our district partners also run quick exchanges to expedite the work of facilities committees or task
groups and provide a point of focus for face-to-face public meetings related to facilities planning.
Working with these smaller groups concurrently with the larger public engagements outlined below
will advance facilities-related discussions and align your communications strategies with participants’
perceptions.
We know not every district has the same lead time or objectives, so we offer different roadmaps for
planning an engagement strategy that will work within the time you have available.
Roadmap 1: Beginning more than 14 months ahead of the ballot
Weather Report - Provide an open, safe space that lets every constituent's voice be heard and gives every voice equal consideration. The analysis highlights any facilities-related topics that emerge to inform future decisions. Demonstrate listening and learning to build trust and a greater sense of ownership among constituents.
Question: What do you think our schools are doing well and what can we focus on in order to improve?
Facilities Review - A general facilities review will inform long-term planning and also near-term facilities needs. This helps to communicate and build support for the most important needs.
Question: What are some important perspectives to consider as we plan for the maintenance and improvement of our facilities in the years to come?
Facilities Proposal - Follow up on the general Facilities Review with more specific project details. This helps inform messaging and scope of projects included in the final proposal on the ballot.
Question: What are your thoughts or questions about this proposal?
Roadmap 2: Beginning between 7 to 13 months ahead of the ballot
Weather Report - see Roadmap 1 above for details.
Facilities Proposal - see Roadmap 1 above for details.
Roadmap 3: Beginning less than 6 months ahead of the ballot
Facilities Proposal - see Roadmap 1 above for details.
Post-Bond Facilities Exchanges
Post-Bond Pass - Inform constituents of timelines, logistics, budget, and key issues to ensure spending aligns with stakeholder values.
Question: What are some important things for us to consider about our new school building?
Facilities Design - Ensure alignment of constituent values within the context of project constraints and in support of students.
Question Options:
- What are your thoughts and questions about the design of the new ___________________?
- What are some things you would like students, staff and community members to be able to experience and achieve in the new ____________________?
- What are some things you would most like to see in out new facilities in order to support the success of our students?
Post-Bond Fail - Identify gaps in understanding and share common values relating to facilities needs. Inform future plans for existing facilities or a redesign of the ballot proposal.
Question: What are some important things we need to learn from the outcome of the recent bond election?
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