Education: Infrastructure and Finance Management

Because school bonds create a public financial obligation, officials who propose and manage such bonds have an ethical obligation to ensure their legitimacy and effective and efficient use. This course draws upon scholarly and practitioner knowledge to guide students as they answer three critical questions that organize the class:

1. What legitimates a need for a school bond? If legitimate, how does a school bond get to the voter for decision?
2. How do principles of effective public management apply specifically to school bonds?
3. What best practices exist to ensure school bonds are transparent so they do not lose legitimacy?

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Assess the legitimacy of a need for a school bond, and if legitimate, describe the process to get a bond to the voter for a decision.
• Analyze how principles of effective public management apply specifically to school bonds.
• Define and recognize best practices that ensure school bonds are transparent and ethical so they do not lose legitimacy.