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Zemanski dissertation 4-4-20c.pdf (1.32 MB)

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The adoption and execution of successful levy campaign strategies in districts with low voter support

Zemanski, Justin B.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1585398405479131

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Bowling Green State University, Leadership Studies.
Passing an operating levy campaign for additional revenue in the State of Ohio is an extremely challenging task for school districts. Ohio is the only state that freezes its local property taxes at the amount approved by the voters with no increases for inflation. As a result, school districts in Ohio are continually seeking voter support for their levy campaigns to acquire the revenue they need to give their students an adequate education. While the focus of this study was to identify campaign strategies that were successful in districts with low voter support, it cannot be concluded these same campaign strategies will be successful with any school district seeking to pass a school levy. Five Ohio superintendents, from districts identified characterized with low voter support, were interviewed for this study. During these interviews, several campaign strategies were discussed based on the existing literature, and other campaign strategies emerged. The campaign strategies used during these successful levy campaigns included: utilizing voter modeling, targeting specific voters, creating urgency, careful campaign planning, engaging the community, positive messaging, canvassing, reaching out to absentee voters, motivating voters the weekend before the election (getting out the vote), utilizing social media, hiring a campaign consultant, being committed to the campaign, instilling pride in the school district, and developing trust with the community and the school district. There are several leadership strategies that superintendents should consider while leading a levy campaign: consistently communicating with their levy committee and their constituents; highlighting the accomplishments of their district; cultivating and maintaining personal relationships with their community; and enacting distributive leadership, which includes finding the most talented people to work on the levy campaign and allowing them to fulfill a meaningful role during the campaign.
Paul Johnson, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Lisa Marie Gruenhagen, Ph.D. (Other)
James Fritz, Ed.D. (Committee Member)
Christy Galletta Horner, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Kristina LaVenia, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
115 p.
Educational Leadership
levy; campaign strategies; campaign consultant; levy campaign commitment; instilling pride in the district; establishing trust in the community; consistent communication; highlighting accomplishments; cultivating relationships; distributive leadership

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zemanski, J. B. (2020). The adoption and execution of successful levy campaign strategies in districts with low voter support [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1585398405479131

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zemanski, Justin. The adoption and execution of successful levy campaign strategies in districts with low voter support. 2020. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1585398405479131.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zemanski, Justin. "The adoption and execution of successful levy campaign strategies in districts with low voter support." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1585398405479131

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1585398405479131
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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.