MCI Printing - Professional Commercial Printing Services
St. Louis, MO — Union Shop Since 1984

School Board Campaign Printing in St. Louis

Built for Down-Ballot Budgets

Yard signs, push cards, door hangers, and mailers for school board candidates across the St. Louis metro and Missouri. Real prices, honest quantities, no agency middleman.

Get a School Board Quote(314) 849-7228

Most quotes within 4 hours. Ask about our two-candidate co-print discount.

Yard Signs

18″×24″ corrugated with H-stakes. Same-day rush available.

Push Cards

4×9 full-color, 14pt gloss. Design tip included.

Door Hangers

4.5×11 die-cut with UV coat. GOTV ready.

Mailers

Print + list + mail under one roof. $0.45–$0.70/piece.

The School Board Campaign Print Stack

What most school board candidates actually use — no consultant upsell, just what works.

MaterialTypical QuantityNotes
Yard signs200–1,000Most-used; order earliest
Push cards1,000–5,0004×9 canvassing handout
Door hangers500–5,000When nobody answers
Bio mailer1,000–8,000First impression piece
GOTV postcard1,000–5,000In-home 4–7 days pre-election
Volunteer signageOptionalRally, canvass routing maps

A Realistic School Board Print Budget — $1,500 to $7,500

Three tiers based on district size and race competitiveness. Postage class and mailing list source change the totals materially — we'll give you an exact number.

$1,500–$2,500

Tier 1 — Tight Budget

  • 200 yard signs (18″×24″ with H-stakes)
  • 1,000 push cards (4×9 full color)
  • 500 door hangers (4.5×11 die-cut)
  • 1,500 postcards (mailed)

Best for smaller districts, incumbent name recognition, or first run with strong grassroots base.

$3,000–$5,000

Tier 2 — Standard Race

  • 500 yard signs (18″×24″ with H-stakes)
  • 2,500 push cards (4×9 full color)
  • 2,000 door hangers (4.5×11 die-cut)
  • 5,000 bio mailers (6×9 postcard)
  • 3,000 GOTV postcards

Right-sized for most St. Louis metro school board races with door-to-door canvassing.

$5,500–$7,500

Tier 3 — Competitive Race

  • 1,000 yard signs (18″×24″ with H-stakes)
  • 5,000 push cards (4×9 full color)
  • 5,000 door hangers (4.5×11 die-cut)
  • 8,000 bio mailers (6×9 postcard)
  • 5,000 GOTV postcards

For larger districts, multi-opponent races, or when turnout and name recognition gaps are real.

Yard Signs — The Single Most Visible Spend

Even in a low-information down-ballot race, yard signs at school drop-off zones and major intersections build name recognition fast. Every sign that stays up from spring break through election day is worth more than two mailers.

Specs

  • 18"×24" corrugated plastic (standard school board size)
  • Single or double-sided printing
  • H-stakes included — no extra charge
  • Union bug optional but recommended for labor support
  • Same-day rush available for late-cycle orders

Typical Pricing

100 signs$2.50–$4.00 each
200 signs$2.20–$3.20 each
500 signs$1.90–$2.80 each
1,000 signs$1.60–$2.40 each

Double-sided adds ~20%. Call for exact quote based on your design.

Push Cards & Door Hangers — Canvassing Materials

These two pieces work together: push cards go hand-to-hand at the door; door hangers go on the knob when nobody answers. Order both or you're leaving interactions on the table.

Push Cards

  • 4×9 full color, two sides, 14pt gloss
  • Photo + 3 priorities + endorsements + URL
  • Production: 5–7 business days standard
  • Rush: 48-hour turnaround available
Starting at: ~$0.08/card at 2,500

Door Hangers

  • 4.5×11 standard, die-cut for doorknob
  • UV coating for outdoor durability
  • Full color both sides
  • Rush: 48–72 hour turnaround available
Starting at: ~$0.12/hanger at 2,000

Design tip: School board push cards perform best with a clear headshot, 3 bulleted priorities (schools, safety, budget), 2–3 endorsement names, and your campaign website. Keep the back for extended bio and map to your polling location.

Mailers — The Bio Piece & the GOTV Drop

Most school board campaigns benefit from two mail pieces: an introduction bio mailer that lands 14 days out, and a GOTV reminder that arrives 4–7 days before election day. MCI handles print, list acquisition, and postage under one roof.

Bio Mailer

6×9 postcard or tri-fold introducing the candidate — who they are, why they're running, and what they'll do for the schools.

  • ✓ Print + list + mail from one vendor
  • ✓ Targeted by school district boundary
  • ✓ All-in cost: $0.45–$0.65/piece at 3,000–8,000

GOTV Postcard

4×6 reminder with polling location, early vote info, and election date. Short copy, bold design, one call to action: vote.

  • ✓ In-home 4–7 days pre-election
  • ✓ Variable data option for personalization
  • ✓ All-in cost: $0.40–$0.55/piece at 3,000+

Cost-Saving Tactic — Buddy Printing

Two or more candidates running for seats on the same school board can share print runs — and each saves roughly 30% per piece.

Combined Mailer

Both candidates featured on one mailing. Half the postage cost per candidate.

Shared Push Cards

Split design on same card, shared canvassing territory. Each candidate pays for their portion.

Joint Yard Signs

Co-endorsed candidates on a single sign. One production run, one distribution effort.

Why it works: A combined 20,000-piece run costs significantly less per piece than two separate 10,000-piece runs. Budget math favors co-prints whenever candidates share endorsers and geographic turf — which is most school board slates. Ask us about pricing two-candidate scenarios side by side.

Missouri School Board Campaign Compliance Basics

This is a summary — not legal advice. For district-specific rules, check with the Missouri Ethics Commission or your school district's election authority.

“Paid for by” Disclaimer

  • ✓ Required on all campaign materials
  • ✓ Must be legible — 7pt minimum on mailers
  • ✓ Must appear on all sides of yard signs
  • ✓ Format: “Paid for by [Committee Name]”
  • ✓ We pre-flight all files for disclaimer before printing

Filing & Union Bug

  • ✓ Missouri Ethics Commission: register if raising/spending money
  • ✓ Filing thresholds vary by district size
  • ✓ Union bug: optional but required for AFT/NEA endorsements in many districts
  • ✓ Bug placement: bottom corner, min 1/4" from edge

For the full disclaimer rule breakdown, see our political mail disclaimer rules guide.

Timing — When to Order for Your School Board Race

6–8 weeks out

Order yard signs — allows buffer for proofing, production, and strategic placement before peak visibility window

4–5 weeks out

Order push cards and door hangers — needed before canvassing begins

3 weeks out

Submit bio mailer — needs list processing, print, and USPS handling time

10–14 days out

Bio mailer in-home window — first impression for voters who haven't been canvassed

4–7 days out

GOTV postcard in-home — polling location, early vote reminder, final push

Anytime

Rush yard signs and push cards: 48-hour turnaround available for late additions or unexpected opportunities

Missouri school board elections: Most districts vote in April (Municipal Election). Some districts also appear on the August primary ballot. Check your district's specific election calendar — filing windows typically open in January.

Working with MCI — A St. Louis Union Print Shop That Gets Down-Ballot

Local Pickup — Skip the Shipping Cost

Yard signs are heavy. Local pickup at 10017 Office Center Ave, St. Louis 63128 saves you $80–$150 on shipping for a typical order. Same-day rush is only possible in person.

48-Hour Rush for Yard Signs

When a volunteer recruits a new sign host two weeks before election day, we can get those signs out in 48 hours. Most national vendors need 7–10 days.

WBE Certified

Women's Business Enterprise certification means your campaign spend counts toward supplier diversity goals — relevant for district candidates with institutional endorsers.

Union Shop Since 1984

The union bug means something in St. Louis school board races where AFT and NEA endorsements matter. We've printed for union-endorsed school board candidates for 40 years.

School Board Campaign Printing FAQs

What materials does a school board campaign need?+
Most school board candidates use yard signs (200–1,000 depending on district size), push cards or palm cards for canvassing, door hangers for when nobody answers, a bio mailer introducing the candidate, and a GOTV postcard 7–10 days before election day. Volunteer signage is optional but helpful for visibility at polling sites.
How much does a school board campaign cost to print?+
Total print budgets for school board races typically run $1,500–$7,500 depending on the district size, number of opponents, and mail program. A tight budget ($1,500–$2,500) gets you yard signs, push cards, door hangers, and postcards for a smaller district. A competitive race in a larger district ($5,500–$7,500) adds more mail drops and higher quantities across the board.
Do school board candidates need yard signs?+
Yes — yard signs remain the single most cost-effective visibility tool for school board races. Even 200 signs placed strategically near school drop-off zones, major intersections, and supporter homes creates strong name recognition in a low-turnout election. We recommend at least 200 signs for a modest district and 500–1,000 for competitive metro races.
What are the rules for school board campaign materials in Missouri?+
All Missouri school board campaign materials must include a "Paid for by [committee name]" disclaimer. For some districts, you'll also need to register your committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission before spending or receiving money. The disclaimer must be legible — minimum 7pt type on mailers, visible on yard signs. Union bug placement is optional but recommended if you're seeking labor endorsements.
When is the next school board election?+
In Missouri, most school board elections are held in April during the Municipal Election. April 2027 is the next typical cycle. Some districts also have elections in August tied to the primary ballot. Order yard signs 4–6 weeks before election day; first mail drops should be in-home 14 days out, with a GOTV piece 4–7 days out.
Can two school board candidates share a print run to save money?+
Yes — buddy printing is one of the most effective cost-saving tactics for down-ballot races. When two candidates running for seats on the same board share a mailing or push card run, each pays roughly 30% less per piece. A combined 20,000-piece run costs significantly less per candidate than two separate 10,000-piece runs. Ask us about our two-candidate co-print discount.
How long does school board campaign printing take?+
Standard production is 5–7 business days for most printed pieces. Rush options are available: 48-hour turnaround for yard signs and push cards, 72 hours for door hangers. Mailers take longer due to list processing and USPS handling — plan 10–14 days for mail drops. Same-day pickup is available for rushed yard sign orders at our St. Louis facility.

Related Campaign Services

Campaign Yard SignsPolitical MailersCampaign Door HangersElection Palm CardsAll Campaign ServicesMissouri Campaign PrintingDisclaimer Rules Guide

Get a School Board Campaign Quote

Most quotes within 4 hours. Local pickup in St. Louis. Rush service available.

Running on a tight budget? Ask about our two-candidate co-print discount.

Request a QuoteCall (314) 849-7228