PDC COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
This campaign must strictly adhere to Washington State Public Disclosure Commission rules:
- No district resources: No use of YSD facilities, equipment, email, phones, supplies, or staff time
- Complete separation: Campaign activities are entirely separate from district operations
- Staff participation: YSD employees may volunteer only on personal time using personal resources and contact information
- No coordination: Campaign cannot coordinate with district staff in their official capacity
- Neutral district role: Yakima School District provides factual bond information only; it does not advocate
All outreach coordinators and volunteers must comply with these requirements.
CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW
Election date: April 28, 2026
Bond amount: Up to $200 million
Passing requirements: 60% supermajority + 40% voter turnout validation
Ballot universe: 40,206 registered voters within YSD boundaries
Campaign strategy: Organize by elementary school boundary neighborhoods to connect volunteers with neighbors who share assigned schools
THREE-PRONGED APPROACH
1. Door Hangers → Knock-and-talk canvassing with printed leave-behinds
2. Digital Outreach Kit → Social media amplification + email/text templates
3. Outreach Coordinators → Activate organized stakeholder groups
OUTREACH COORDINATOR ASSIGNMENTS
PDC Compliance Note: All outreach coordinators operate independently of Yakima School District. Staff participation occurs on personal time using personal resources only.
| Group | Coordinator | Method | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| YSD Staff (personal outreach) | Personal network recruitment | Personal email/social media (off work hours) | Feb 11–28 |
| YSD Retirees | P.E. | Retiree association communications | Feb 11–28 |
| Partners in Education | EPIC | Newsletter/email | Feb–April |
| Yakima Schools Foundation | S.G. | Donor communications | Feb–April |
| Faith Partners | J.K. | Bulletin inserts | Feb–April |
| Boundary Neighborhoods | Volunteer captains (13) | Door hangers + digital amplification | March–April |
TIMELINE & PHASES
Phase 1: Soft Launch (February 11–28)
Objective: Build volunteer base and infrastructure
Activities:
- Launch yakimakids.org with volunteer/endorsement/donation forms
- Distribute Digital Outreach Kit to early volunteers
- Coordinators activate stakeholder groups (retirees, community partners)
- YSD staff recruit through personal networks (personal time, personal contact info only)
- Social media accounts go live with initial content
- Recruit boundary neighborhood captains (13 positions)
Deliverables:
- 200+ volunteers registered
- Social media following established
- Coordinator outreach initiated
PDC Compliance Check: Ensure all YSD staff participation occurs outside work hours using personal resources only. No district email, phones, or facilities.
Phase 2: Build Momentum (March 1–31)
Objective: Saturate communication channels and expand volunteer activity
Activities:
- Paid media placements begin (newspapers, partner newsletters, faith bulletins)
- Door hanger production and distribution to volunteers
- Volunteers begin social media amplification
- Boundary neighborhood captains receive voter lists
- Endorsement collection and publication
- Op-eds and letters to editor submitted
Deliverables:
- 4 paid media placements
- 10,000 door hangers distributed to volunteers
- 50+ endorsements published
- 500+ social media shares/reposts
Phase 3: Get Out the Vote (April 1–28)
Objective: Maximize turnout among identified supporters
Activities:
- Ballots mailed to voters (mid-April)
- Daily social media push ("Ballots are here—vote yes")
- Door knocking intensifies in targeted precincts
- Volunteer phone/text banking to previous yes voters
- Digital ads target high-propensity voters
- Ballot return reminders (email, social, possible postcard)
- Election day presence at ballot drop boxes
Deliverables:
- 5,000+ doors knocked
- 1,000+ direct voter contacts (calls/texts)
- Daily social media content through April 28
PAID MEDIA STRATEGY
Yakima Herald-Republic
- 2 print ads (1/4 page): March 15, April 15
- Digital banner ads: March 1–April 28
- Estimated cost: $2,500
Spanish-Language Media
- El Sol de Yakima: 2 placements
- Radio Cadena (KDNA): PSA rotation
- Estimated cost: $500
Partner Newsletters
- PIE (EPIC): 3 email placements
- Yakima Schools Foundation (S.G.): 2 placements
- Faith Partners (J.K.): Bulletin inserts across 10+ congregations
- Estimated cost: $500
Digital Advertising
- Facebook/Instagram ads targeting YSD boundaries
- Audience: 35–65 age range, homeowners, previous school levy voters
- Estimated cost: $1,500
Total paid media budget: $5,000
DOOR HANGER CANVASSING PROGRAM
Production:
- 10,000 door hangers printed
- 4.25" × 11" with door knob cutout
- Front: Bond facts, QR code to yakimakids.org
- Back: Space for volunteer handwritten notes
- Cost: $2,000
Distribution:
- Boundary neighborhood captains receive door hangers for their volunteers
- Each volunteer assigned 50–100 addresses
- Volunteers knock and talk; leave door hanger if no answer
Target areas:
- High-turnout precincts (65+ voters)
- Garfield and Hoover boundary neighborhoods (rebuild schools)
- ZIP 98908 (win-back previous supporters)
Tracking:
- Volunteers log doors knocked via Google Form
- Captains monitor progress weekly
- Goal: 5,000+ doors knocked by April 28
DIGITAL OUTREACH KIT
Format: Google Doc (view-only, shareable link)
Contents:
- Bond facts and talking points
- Social media amplification instructions (share to story, repost, tag friends)
- Email and text templates for personal networks
- Door knocking best practices
- Volunteer tracking form link
Distribution:
- Sent via email to all volunteers upon registration
- Link posted on yakimakids.org
- Updates sent when kit is revised
Key feature: Single universal kit (no boundary-specific versions) ensures consistent messaging
VOLUNTEER STRUCTURE
Boundary Neighborhood Captains (13 positions)
Responsibilities:
- Recruit 5–10 volunteers within their boundary
- Distribute door hangers and voter lists
- Coordinate door knocking schedules
- Monitor volunteer activity via tracking form
- Report weekly to campaign leadership
Individual Volunteers
Activities (choose one or more):
- Amplify campaign posts on social media
- Email/text personal networks
- Knock doors with door hangers
- Display lawn signs
- Submit letters to editor
Volunteer registration: yakimakids.org/volunteer
MESSAGING FRAMEWORK
Core message:
"This bond replaces two aging elementary schools and fixes critical infrastructure across all 24 YSD schools."
Key facts:
- Hoover Elementary: Built 1947 (78 years old)
- Garfield Elementary: Built 1966 (59 years old)
- Districtwide improvements: Heating/cooling, roofs, accessibility, playgrounds
- State matching funds: Up to $20.4 million (only if bond passes)
- Tax impact: ~$21/month for average homeowner
What bonds fund: Buildings and infrastructure only
What bonds cannot fund: Staffing, programs, classroom supplies
Prohibited topics:
- District budget cuts
- Staff compensation or workplace issues
- Programs or curriculum
- Staffing levels
Why? Mixing messages confuses voters and violates legal restrictions on bond spending.
PDC Compliance in Messaging:
- Campaign independence: Always clarify this is a citizen-led campaign, separate from Yakima School District
- No district endorsement: Never imply YSD officially endorses or campaigns for the bond
- Staff volunteers: If YSD staff volunteer, they speak as individuals, not district representatives
- Factual vs. advocacy: District provides facts; campaign advocates. Keep roles separate
BUDGET ALLOCATION ($6,000)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Door hangers (10,000) | $2,000 |
| Digital advertising (Facebook/Instagram) | $1,500 |
| Newspaper ads (print + digital) | $1,500 |
| Lawn signs (100) | $500 |
| Contingency / partner placements | $500 |
| Total | $6,000 |
SUCCESS METRICS
Volunteer engagement:
- 300+ volunteers registered
- 5,000+ doors knocked
- 1,000+ social media shares
Paid media:
- 50,000+ impressions (digital ads)
- 6 newspaper placements
- 15+ partner newsletter/bulletin placements
Voter outreach:
- 10,000+ direct contacts (door, email, text)
- 25% reach of registered voter base
Election outcome:
- 60%+ yes votes
- 40%+ turnout (validation threshold)
RISK MITIGATION
Challenge: Recent negative publicity from budget cuts and workplace issues
Response:
- Train volunteers to redirect budget/staffing questions: "This bond is about buildings only."
- Emphasize facility facts over emotional appeals
- Acknowledge concerns without defensiveness: "Facilities and operations are separate funding streams."
Challenge: Low turnout among younger voters (18–24 = 5.2% in Feb 2024)
Response:
- Focus resources on proven high-turnout demographics (65+)
- Door knock in high-density apartment complexes (younger renters)
- Digital ads target mobile users
Challenge: Voter fatigue or competing priorities
Response:
- City agreed not to place competing measures on April ballot
- Keep messaging simple and fact-based
- Leverage volunteer personal networks (trusted messengers)
NEXT STEPS (Week of February 10)
Immediate actions:
- Finalize Digital Outreach Kit (Google Doc)
- Launch yakimakids.org volunteer/endorsement/donation forms
- Coordinators initiate stakeholder outreach (P.E., EPIC, S.G., J.K.)
- Recruit YSD staff volunteers through personal networks (off work hours, personal contact info only)
- Recruit boundary neighborhood captains (13 positions)
- Order door hanger printing (10,000 pieces)
- Schedule first paid media placements (March 1 start)
Cabinet decision points:
- Approve $6,000 budget allocation
- Confirm coordinator assignments
- Review Digital Outreach Kit messaging
- Confirm PDC compliance protocols for all activities
CONTACT
Campaign leadership: info@yakimakids.org
Website: yakimakids.org
Social media:
- Instagram @yes4yakimakids
- Facebook @yesforyakimakids