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2014 Winter Symposium

No matter how long you have been a school board member there is always something to discover about the Kentucky School Boards Association. Join us and learn (or be reminded of!) important information that will help you get the most out of the conference and your board service.
Friday, December 5th, Welcome Session (1 hour training credit)
9:00AM - 10:15AMWelcome Session (Commonwealth Ballroom CD, 1st floor)

No matter how long you have been a school board member there is always something to discover about the Kentucky School Boards Association. Join us and learn (or be reminded of!) important information that will help you get the most out of the conference and your board service.



Friday, December 5th, Trade Show Visitation and Networking
10:15AM - 11:00AMVendor Visit Time and Networking (2nd floor)

Take advantage of this time between sessions to visit with vendors and colleagues.

New School Board Member Boot Camp (Day 1) - IF YOU REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION, YOU WILL NOT REGISTER FOR ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS ON FRIDAY.
11:00AM - 4:45PMNew School Board Member Boot Camp (Day 1) (Commonwealth Ballroom AB, 1st floor)

Congratulations and welcome to board service! There is no greater contribution than serving as a member of the leadership team that provides educational opportunities for the children in your community. But now that the campaigning is over, it’s time to get down to business! The New Board Member Boot Camp is a specially selected set of courses designed to get your school board service off to the right start. It’s ideal for every new board member or anyone interested in getting back to the basics. These courses comprise the Boot Camp:

A1 Congratulations! You Made the Team

B1 School Board Fiscal Responsibilities:
Driving Success through Informed
Decisions - 1A

C1 School Board Fiscal Responsibilities – Driving Success through Informed
Decisions- 1B

Please note that if you register for the Boot Camp Day 1 you will NOT register for additional workshops on Friday.

Friday, December 5th, Session A Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
11:00AM - 12:15PM A1 Congratulations! You Made the Team (Commonwealth Ballroom AB, 1st floor)
(A/S – Level I Required Course)

This session will provide new board members with an overview of the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective members of their district board/superintendent team.

11:00AM - 12:15PMA2 Construction Project’s HVAC: How Do We Choose? (Bluegrass B, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level II Required Topic “School Facilities”)

School boards often have questions about different types of HVAC systems that could benefit their new construction or renovation project. This presentation will provide an overview comparing geothermal, VRV, VAV and chilled-beam HVAC systems, addressing installation cost, acoustics, operational maintenance and energy efficiency differences among systems.

11:00AM - 12:15PMA3 Your Association: What You Need to Know About KSBA and its Services (Bluegrass D, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level I Required Course)

As an elected board member you are now a member of the KSBA family. Since 1936 your association has been providing local board members, superintendents and other district leaders a wide variety of essential services ranging from policies and procedures to professional development. In this session, association officers and senior leadership will present an overview of KSBA’s services and resources.

11:00AM - 12:15PMA4 Making Sense of Dollars: Presenting Financial Information to Non-Financial Audiences (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level III Required Topic “School Finance”; Counts toward annual finance training requirement)

If you think school finance is a tough topic to tackle, consider how mind-boggling it is for the people who pay the taxes that fund your programs. This class, developed with help from members of the Kentucky Association of School Business Officials, offers ideas and calendar opportunities to spell out school budgets and taxes to the community.

11:00AM - 12:15PMA5 School Boards and Community Engagement (Bluegrass A, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level I Required Topic “Staff/Media/Community Relations")

This workshop focuses on the board’s role in an effective community engagement process. Participants will learn how community engagement differs from public relations; understand the key principles of effective community engagement; and review the board’s leadership role in it.


Friday, December 5th, Lunch Session (1 hour training credit)
12:30PM - 1:45PM
- Fee: $15.00
Making a Difference (Lunch Session) Commonwealth Ballroom CD, 1st floor

This insightful keynote focuses on the conscious choices we make every day that impact the lives of others. Each of us has the potential to transform the culture of an organization through our actions and attitude. We have the power to bring hope to people facing challenges. Author, businessman and motivational speaker Steve Gilliland explains why this is the essential, motivating truth behind “Making a Difference.”

Extra Adult ticket fee: $15.00
Extra Child ticket fee: $15.00

Friday, December 5th, Session B Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
2:00PM - 3:15PMB1 School Board Fiscal Responsibilities: Driving Success through Informed Decisions – Part 1A (Commonwealth AB, 1st floor)
(A/S – Level I Required Course; Counts toward annual finance training requirement)

This is the first of a two-part session that examines the “big picture” of school finance. Topics include the board’s basic responsibility in financial matters, a review of basic terminology, fund accounting, components of the general fund, an overview of the SEEK (Support Education Excellence in Kentucky) formula and an explanation of the budget process.

2:00PM - 3:15PMB2 Health, Wellness & Academic Success (Bluegrass A, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level III Required Topic “Student Health & Wellness”)

School districts play a critical role in addressing the physical, mental, social and environmental factors related to health and well-being of students and staff. In this training session, board/superintendent teams will gain a better understanding of the Coordinated School Health model as well as the role of the board in improving health and wellness and ensuring success for all students.

2:00PM - 3:15PMB3 Leadership for Student Learning – Effective Use of Data for Accountability and Improvement (Bluegrass B, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level II Required Topic “Student Assessment”)

Identify how board members can use data as accountability and decision making tools that help bring about improvements in teaching and learning.

2:00PM - 3:15PMB4 Creating Community Kindergarten Readiness (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level II Required Topic “Student Learning & Support Services”)

Kids who arrive at kindergarten ready are more likely to read at grade level and graduate from high school. Kentucky is transforming early childhood systems at the state and local levels to ensure that all children are ready to learn and grow in kindergarten. Learn how your district can work with families and community partners to make sure that local kids arrive ready to thrive.

Friday, December 5th, Session B5 - IF YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND THIS SESSION, YOU WILL NOT CHOOSE A WORKSHOP IN SESSION C (3 hrs. training credit)
2:00PM - 5:00PMB5 Energy Efficiency – The Untapped Fuel That Can Fund Your School District (Bluegrass E, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level IV/V elective)

Learn the science and principles of energy management in a new way. This “street-level” course helps participants understand the practical applications of turning a district’s wasted energy dollars into discretionary money for classroom opportunities and positions. Topics include energy management basics, energy accounting and finance, new construction and renovation, project financing, performance contracting and renewable energy.

Friday, December 5th, Session C Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
3:30PM - 4:45PMC1 School Board Fiscal Responsibilities – Driving Success through Informed Decisions- 1B (Commonwealth AB, 1st floor)
(A/S – Level I Required Course; Counts toward annual finance training requirement)

This is the second of a two-part session that examines the “big picture” of school finance. Topics include school-based decision making council allocations, audits and the audit process, and an overview of key financial reports.

3:30PM - 4:45PMC2 Effective School Boards and Good School Board Members (Bluegrass B, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level II Required Topic “Board/Superintendent Relations”)

Review of the roles and responsibilities as well as the qualities of effective school board members. Includes guidelines for being an effective member of the board and behaviors to avoid as a good board member.


3:30PM - 4:45PMC3 School Board Member Legal Obligations and Prohibitions (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level III Required Topic “Legal Issues”)

Come join an experienced school board attorney to get information on how to stay out of legal trouble. Kentucky public school districts and school boards are heavily regulated at both the state and federal level. This session will delineate what school board members can and cannot require its superintendent and school councils to do. The board’s policy role, employees and independent contractors and legal conflicts of interest also will be covered.

3:30PM - 4:45PMC4 Using Energy to Upgrade Your Schools (Bluegrass A, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level II Required Topic “School Facilities”)

Does your school district have more capital construction needs than bonding potential? Learn how Henry County Schools used guaranteed energy savings performance contracting to pay for recent renovations and reduce overall operating costs. Presenters will review how the process works and how districts can determine if this is the right tool for them.

Friday, December 5th, Tailgating Reception
5:15PM - 6:30PMTailgating Reception (Commonwealth CD, 1st floor)

Join us for a tailgating party before football season comes to an end! Wear your favorite team colors or come as you are for food, fun, games, music, drinks and great raffle prizes! Open to all conference attendees, vendors and guests.

Saturday, December 6th, Continental Breakfast
7:15AM - 8:00AMContinental Vendor Breakfast (1st floor common area)

Enjoy a light breakfast with fellow board members before getting started with today's workshops.

Saturday, December 6th, Plenary Session (1 hour training credit)
8:15AM - 9:15AMThe Art of School Boarding (Commonwealth CD, 1st floor)
School Boarding is unique: It takes a servant mentality, great skills and heart for kids. It’s about ownership, understanding how kids learn today and doing the right things. School administrator and motivational speaker Jim Burgett will share each facet of the board’s job, along with some hands-on instruction for communicating with the public. And find out what Zoom Learning means, and what C.A.L.M. and P.A.S.S. stand for.

New School Board Member Boot Camp (Day 2) - IF YOU REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION, YOU WILL NOT REGISTER FOR ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS ON SATURDAY.
9:30AM - 12:15PMNew School Board Member Boot Camp (Day 2) (Commonwealth AB, 1st floor)

Congratulations and welcome to board service! There is no greater contribution than serving as a member of the leadership team that provides educational opportunities for the children in your community. But now that the campaigning is over, it’s time to get down to business! The New Board Member Boot Camp is a specially selected set of courses designed to get your school board service off to the right start. It’s ideal for every new board member or anyone interested in getting back to the basics. These courses comprise the Boot Camp:

D1 The Black and White and Grey of School
Board Member Ethics

E1 The Board’s Policy Making Role

Please note that if you register for the Boot Camp Day 2 you will NOT register for additional workshops on Saturday.

Saturday, December 6th, Session D Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
9:30AM - 10:45AMD1 The Black and White and Grey of School Board Member Ethics (Commonwealth AB, 1st floor)
(A/S – Level I Required Course; Counts toward annual ethics training requirement)

School board members are decision makers. But the choices they face aren’t always clear-cut, and sometimes they involve personal as well as official issues. This class is designed to provide examples of potential ethical questions that school board members face, and to encourage thoughtful consideration of how some actions and decisions can be perceived by the taxpaying public.

9:30AM - 10:45AMD2 A Financial Moment with MUNIS Reports (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level III Required Topic “School Finance”; Counts toward annual finance training requirement)

Mystified by MUNIS? This session will dissect the two financial reports that KDE requires all districts to post to their district webpage – the Monthly Financial Report and the Balance Sheet. Attendees will also see examples of reports that finance officers use as monthly board presentations to summarize the financial transactions for the reporting month.

9:30AM - 10:45AMD3 Understanding U: Effective Communication through Addressing the Other Person’s Point-of-View (Bluegrass B, 2nd floor)

This session offers unique insights through stories, interaction and handouts designed to help participants discover, share and model their emotional intelligence, people skills, communication and collaboration.

9:30AM - 10:45AMD4 The State of Technology in Kentucky Schools (Bluegrass D, 2nd floor)
A/S – Level II Required Topic “Student Learning and Support Services”)

Education in the 21st century requires technology – and lots of it. Is your district meeting the challenge? In this session, experts from the Kentucky Society for Technology in Education and the Kentucky Department of Education will provide information and answer questions on Kentucky’s technological future, the Student Technology Leadership Program, technology funding, Bring Your Own Device, one-to-one programs and digital transformation.

Saturday, December 6th, Session E Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
11:00AM - 12:15PME1 The Board’s Policy Making Role (Commonwealth Ballroom AB, 1st Floor)
(A/S – Level I Required Course)

This session is designed to explore the following topics: the statutory basis for board policy (KRS 160.290 and KRS 160.340), the policy adoption and amendment process, board policy versus administrative procedure, policy manual organization, policy format, and using an online policy manual.

11:00AM - 12:15PME2 Get Your Message Out (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level I Required Topic “Staff/Media/Community Relations")

Board members, new and veteran, must be skilled in the basics of effective communications. This updated workshop covers topics from talking to reporters to making a pitch for public support at a community meeting. For the skilled communicator and those just starting out in positions that call for public interaction, planned and unexpected alike.

11:00AM - 12:15PME3 Superintendent Effectiveness (Bluegrass B, 2nd floor)
(A/S – Level II Required Topic “Superintendent Effectiveness”; Counts toward annual superintendent evaluation training requirement)

One of the most important responsibilities of Kentucky school board members is to hire and evaluate the district superintendent. Regardless of the type of instrument a district uses, this session will help board members understand the importance of an effective superintendent evaluation and explore the skills necessary to become more effective evaluators. It also provides an overview of effective evaluation instruments and effective evaluation processes.