Lessons from Orland and Raymond??

[Stephen Bowen]

Choice advocates in Raymond and Orland pulled off amazing wins for school choice, despite the fact that the public school establishment was working hard in opposition. I know that in both towns, choice supporters used email as a highly effective means for getting the word out, but what other tactics were used? Based on your experiences, what advice would you give choice supporters in all the other towns that may be facing choice votes of their own? What should we learn from you?

I look forward to hearing from those of you from Orland and Raymond!

[Karen Balas-Coté]

Choice advocates in Orland talked among parents, got phone numbers and e-mails, and solicited donations from parents to send out a saturation mailing to every Orland resident that had many points on why Orland should keep school choice, how to vote to keep school choice, and a copy of the very lengthy and confusing ballot so people could understand what they were voting on before they went into the voting booth. This saturation mailing was handled by The Bangor Letter Shop & Color Copy Center and they did an excellent job! (We had about 20 people donate anywhere from $5 to $100).

We also put up around 10 large, simple to read, signs telling people which way to vote to keep school choice, in strategic locations about 2 weeks before the vote. We also talked to Heads of Schools where the majority of Orland students who choose high schools other than Bucksport attend. They were helpful with general information and even sent out a letter to current parents and alumni advocating school choice and getting out to vote.

Additionally, we encouraged parents and alumni who attended other area high schools to write letters to the editors of local newspapers in support of school choice and why.

The saturation mailing and the signs, plus e-mails to around 30 or so supporters to get out the vote really helped.

Karen B-C

[Stephen Bowen]

This is very helpful, Karen! I know you had a webpage you put up and that you made some use of email as well. Do you think those were important factors? I hear from Raymond that email was widely used by the choice supporters there. We see email and websites as great tools in this effort.