1. DO KISS - keep it simple and short. Focus on your message and what you want to accomplish. The rest of your presentation should flow from your theme.

2. DO break down your budget into understandable categories. Think like a homeowner.

3. DO NOT take the publics knowledge of the breadth of your services for granted. Most people, for example do NOT realize that your district provides health services for children in private schools- or transportation of special needs children to facilities outside of your district boundaries.

4. DO explain the impact of new state and federal mandates. Your community is certainly aware of No Child Left Behind-but. Do they understand the impact on your budget? Or legislation governing the education of homeless children?

5. DO show HOW budget categories have changed. Using the prior year’s budget, use BULLETED "reasons" why the budget has changed.

6. DO emphasize COST REDUCTIONS. Any area where you have SAVED money should be explained again and again. You are the steward of public money-and your community will appreciate that you do not take this responsibility lightly.

7. DO stylize your slides. Light text on dark slides work best- gold on blue is the most powerful. WORST: black text on white (where you can see dust, scratches on the screen, etc.). Keep bullets SIMPLE-the fewer words, the better.

8. DO use photos. If you’re discussing crowded classrooms, show them. (Be careful though, of seemingly using individual children to promote your budget).

9. DO hand out "fact sheets" to accompany your slides. Provide bulleted information that can be easily read-and remembered.

10. DO be willing to give presentations anytime and anywhere! (And your last slide should always be, "Thank you for the support of our children.")