Start a petition to ask your school district to move to a community bank

Right now, schools across the country are facing budget shortfalls caused by the foreclosure crisis.  As kids and families lose their homes and move away, schools lose their students and the funding goes with them.

Is the foreclosure crisis having an impact on your school district?  It’s easy to do something about it by asking your school district to take its money out of Wall Street banks that led to the foreclosure crisis and into a community bank that invests in the local community.

1. Call your School District accounting office to ask them what bank they use and who has the power to change banks.

Google search for “School District, your City/County/Town Name and Accounting” to find the phone number. If there isn't a number for accounting specifically, just call the general number and ask for the accounting office or in some cases the treasurer. When you call, be nice.  Accountants don’t usually hear from the public.

What to say when you call:
Hi, this might seem like a strange question, but I am wondering what bank the school district uses?
If they ask, tell them why you’re calling: I just read about a school district that might move its money to a community bank, and I wondered if my school district uses a community bank.
Thank them for that information, then ask them: If the school district wanted to change banks, who would make that decision?

2. Start a petition at Change.org

Chose your target. It should be the individual or group who can make this decision, as identified in your call. Or, when in doubt, target the school board. Most school boards are responsible for the financial health of a school district, so they should be able to make recommendations on the district's banking.

Tell the decisionmaker what you’re asking them to do (for example: "Move Ridgewood School District’s accounts to a community bank.")

Briefly explain why this issue is important to you -- did your school close after the foreclosure crisis, or have you seen the negative impact that the foreclosure crisis has had on your schools?  Include that information. (For example: "Big banks like Wells Fargo are responsible for the foreclosure crisis that has hurt our schools. My child's school closed because so many kids moved away after their homes were foreclosed. The school district should move its accounts to a responsible community bank.")

3. Build your campaign.  Email the petition to your friends, classmates, neighbors, and family to spread the word, and post it on your Facebook page. And, contact katie@change.org to let her know that you've started your petition and want help promoting it to the larger Change.org community.

4. Connect with local groups. You might also connect with organizations working on this issue.  Look for groups like the organization that started the first one of these campaigns, Minnesota Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and New Bottom Line, which is supporting individuals all over the country who want to change banks.