Factors Affecting the Outcome of School Bond Elections

14 Apr 2023    

Nicole Hardwick has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation titled “Factors Affecting the Outcome of School Bond Elections,” as part of the Educational Administration, Doctor of Education degree program in the  Department of Educational Administration in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Hardwick is a native of Albion, Nebraska.

In Nebraska, 100% of the costs for capital facility projects are paid with local funds, therefore the success or failure of a school bond election depends heavily on the inclination of the local citizens to tax themselves. Successful school bond elections are critical for districts seeking to renovate, remodel or erect school facilities. Despite the importance, research specific to the success or failure of school bond elections in Nebraska is nonexistent. The research was conducted by examining publicly accessible data on all qualified school bond elections held in Nebraska for capital construction purposes from September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2021 to understand the relationship between selected variables and the outcome of school bond elections.

Hardwick’s advisor was Nick Pace, professor and department chair.