Earning Tax-Payer Support for Public Schools

Laura Zimmerman was nervous about the upcoming vote in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The parent-teacher organization president at Erskine Elementary School knew the history of ballot measures in Iowa’s second-largest school district: A Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) failed in 2013 and passed by only 31 votes in 2014. And most recently, a bond referendum failed in 2023. She knew it was very important to get the support of the community behind these current and future initiatives.

“I got involved because this is critical funding for urgent and ongoing maintenance, repairs, and upgrades, along with purchasing essential equipment and vehicles for the Cedar Rapids Community School District,” Zimmerman said. “Over ten years, PPEL has provided over $110M in funding for maintaining safe and modern learning environments for students across the district.”

Earning 72% Approval

On September 10, 2024, the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) renewed its PPEL, currently set at $1.33 per $1,000 of assessed taxable property valuation. With 72% of voters supporting the renewal, the district exceeded the required simple majority, securing critical funding for the ongoing maintenance and improvements of district facilities.

Listen to Feedback

A post-mortem survey about the failed bond referendum was an opportunity to ask a question about PPEL: “Would you support renewal of the ten-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) for an additional ten years?” The results from over 9,000 respondents were encouraging:

• Staff residents were 75% “definitely or probably yes”
• Parent residents were 73% “definitely or probably yes”
• Non-parent, non-staff residents were 67% “definitely or probably yes”

With this signal of support, a grassroots effort began to engage staff, parents and taxpayers who do not have children in the public schools.

Connecting Parent Leaders

Laura Zimmerman and Liz Mitchell, a parent leader at Kenwood Leadership Academy and Franklin Middle School, began connecting PTOs across the district. They gathered leaders for an informational meeting featuring Superintendent Grover and Operations Director Chad Schumacher. Parents learned about facilities planning and the PPEL levy.

This robust grassroots network across the large urban district allows parents to share best practices, find volunteers and improve communication. For the PPEL vote, parents helped inform staff and parents about the impact of funding for the last ten years and how it will keep schools warm, safe, and dry for the next decade.

Focus on Parents, Staff and Families

Special elections often have lower voter turnouts. For the September 2024 PPEL, about five percent of eligible voters participated. Turnout of parents, staff and families is essential; otherwise, a minority of non-parents and non-staff will decide the outcome.

The school district’s communication included updates in regular newsletters, a webpage dedicated to PPEL, public presentations, and school-specific PPEL posters sharing how money was invested at neighborhood schools.

Parent leaders had one-on-one conversations with their families and neighbors while sharing fliers at school events. Key messages included tax rate comparisons to understand that Cedar Rapids has one of the lowest tax rates and a timeline of building ages to understand the facts and reality of maintaining these schools. “People understood how the benefits outweigh the costs,” Zimmerman said.

OPERATIONS BRIEF

Celebrating the Win

An operations brief provided an overview of school infrastructure improvements that have been completed or are underway in 2024

Download the Brief

Reach Non-Parents, Non-Staff

Most taxpayers do not have children in the school district and tend to be the most active voters. In the community survey, non-parents and non-staff said they like to receive communication about the school district through the local newspaper, district newsletters, website, email, and Facebook.

The school district shared stories with The Gazette, the local newspaper, and featured several editorials about the PPEL. Residents could opt-in to receive a regular electronic newsletter and follow social media channels like Facebook. Although not mentioned in the survey, television stories helped reach non-parents and non-staff.

Expressing Gratitude

The Cedar Rapids Community School District expressed gratitude to the community. “The renewal of our district’s PPEL is more than just a funding mechanism; it’s a reaffirmation of our community’s commitment to public education and the future of Cedar Rapids,” said CRCSD Superintendent Dr. Tawana Grover.

Chad Schumacher, Director of Operations, added, “With the renewal of PPEL, we can execute a 10-year plan to upkeep our facilities, expand opportunities, and provide transportation to ensure our students can attend school daily. We are committed to being good stewards and will deliver on our PPEL promise.”

Board President Cindy Garlock said, “Our schools are important to our community. PPEL helps us ensure equity across our district, creating consistent, quality learning environments for all our students. But the benefits extend beyond our school walls. Well-maintained schools attract new families to Cedar Rapids, support property values, and help develop the skilled workforce that will drive our local economy in the future.”