Overview of budget communications
- Voter trends in New York State
- Legalities of budget communication

How school leaders create and execute powerful budget communications
- overall communication vision and strategy.
- appropriate vehicles for message delivery.
- how to create the messages that get vote results.

What is good budget communication?
- Examples of powerful communication.
- How communication can influence popularly held views or sway beliefs.
- The impact of both "good" and "poor" communication.

Goals of Your Budget Communication
- To inform (provide school information, explain new budget initiatives or regulations)
- To persuade (budget votes, bond issues, controversial operational changes)
- To strengthen and support a school mission or vision (create buy-in from district stakeholders including staff, students, parents, community members, state)

Before You Begin . . .
- Determining overall strategy
- Delineating different audiences
- Clarifying messages
- Determining the best vehicle
- Understanding "features" and "benefits"

Creating Your Message: Powerful Writing
- Basic writing rules
- Addressing current perceptions accurately
- Words and phrases to use - and avoid

Facing issues in print: Proactive Response
- How to address rumors and accusations
- Methods of communicating a point of view: persuasive writing
- Gaining support through writing
- Answering questions in print

Communication Vehicles - brochures, letters, newsletters, news releases, web
- Tips for Successful and Persuasive Writing
- Creating informative newsletters
- Outline of creating a news release
- The web as an extension of your written communications process
- Person-to-person

How to Evaluate Your Message
- Evaluation prior to release
- Post communication analysis