Kentucky School Boards Association
Across the Board: Service, Support & Success
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2017 Winter Symposium

Whether you’re looking for information to help you become more effective in your role or for those last few training credits before year’s end, KSBA’s Winter Symposium has something for every board member regardless of how long they’ve served. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn and network with colleagues from across the state!
Friday, December 1st, Welcome Session
8:30AM - 9:00AMWelcome Session (Commonwealth A-C, 1st floor)

Gather with your friends and colleagues as we kick off this year’s event! Join us and learn (or be reminded of) important information that will help you get the most out of your conference experience.

Friday, December 1st, Session A Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
9:15AM - 10:30AMA1 The Capital Construction Process (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level III required topic “School Finance”; counts toward mandated finance requirement)

This session provides an overview of the process used for capital construction projects in school districts. The discussion focuses on the role of the school board, covering topics such as facility needs, the facilities planning process, financing and bonding of capital improvements, project delivery options and contract administration.
9:15AM - 10:30AMA2 Your Superintendent is Leaving. Now What? (Bluegrass AB, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level II required topic “Superintendent Selection”)

At some point, most board members are faced with a superintendent vacancy. Hiring a district CEO is one of the most important roles of a school board, but it can be daunting to carry out. This session provides practical insight boards should know before filling the top job, including statutes and regulations, basic elements, timelines, considerations in undertaking a search, and developing a contract.
9:15AM - 10:30AMA3 Student Discipline (Bluegrass DE, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level II required topic “School Safety & Discipline”)

Based on KSBA’s recently updated Kentucky Student Discipline Desk Reference, this session provides an overview of key changes to the Kentucky student discipline landscape. The presenter explains recent legislation addressing bullying, domestic and dating violence reporting requirements, enhanced student political and religious speech rights, and truancy and status offenses. The session also discusses and analyzes important recent student discipline cases as well as basic student discipline procedures.

Friday, December 1st Session A Level IV/V Workshop - IF YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND A4, YOU WILL NOT CHOOSE A WORKSHOP IN SESSION B (3 hrs. training credit)
9:15AM - 12:15PMA4 Dodging Coconuts, Thriving in the Midst of the Storm (Colonel A, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level IV/V elective)

Sylvia Lovely teaches participants how to acquire the leadership skills to better understand the world, and explains her four P’s: being prepared; finding purpose; planning deliberately and intentionally; and developing the gift of perspective that provides the skills to make positive decisions for yourself and others.

Friday, December 1st, Session B Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
10:45AM - 12:00PMB1 Legal & Ethical Considerations for School Board Members (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level I required topic “Ethics”; meets mandated ethics training requirement)

This session will offer a refresher of the Code of Ethical Conduct for Local School Board Members and will further illuminate legal ethics issues such as conflicts of interest, nepotism, and confidentiality. Pursuant to 702 KAR 1:115, all school board members must complete one hour of ethics training annually.
10:45AM - 12:00PMB2 New Accountability System: A primer for board members (Bluegrass DE, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level II required topic “Student Assessment”)

This year was a transitional one for the state’s accountability system, but next year the rubber hits the road. Learn the ins and outs of the new testing that will begin next year – in a system that, among other aspects, emphasizes closing achievement gaps and ensures schools are looking at the whole child.
10:45AM - 12:00PMB3 School Board Governance (Bluegrass AB, 2nd floor)
(Level III required topic “Leadership Through Teamwork”)

Highly effective school boards focus on governance and transforming the needs and desires of the community into policies that guide the schools. This session helps board members better understand the board’s governance role, board/superintendent team leadership, and how to provide oversight without micromanaging the superintendent and district staff.

Friday, December 1st, Lunch Session (1 hr. training session)
12:30PM - 2:00PM
- Fee: $18.00		Charter Schools in Kentucky – What to Expect and When (Commonwealth A-C, 1st floor)
This session updates attendees on the status of Kentucky’s charter school sector, including the Kentucky Board of Education’s regulatory process and the local school board’s role as an authorizer. Time is reserved for the presenter to answer questions on these topics.
Extra Adult ticket fee: $18.00
Extra Child ticket fee: $18.00

Friday, December 1st, Trade Show Visitation and Networking
2:00PM - 2:45PMTrade Show and Networking (Foyer, 2nd floor)

Dessert is served! Take advantage of this time between sessions to visit with vendors and colleagues while enjoying a tasty treat.

Friday, December 1st, Session C Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
3:00PM - 4:15PMC1 Effectively Utilizing the SPGES (Bluegrass AB, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level II required topic “Superintendent Evaluation”; meets mandated superintendent evaluation training requirement)

You’ve learned the basics of the Superintendent Professional Growth and Effectiveness System and your board has used it to evaluate the superintendent. Now what? This session is designed to help boards refine the process and get the most out of the instrument by discussing real-life scenarios from Kentucky districts. Learn what the boards did in each case, what they would do differently and decide what you would have done.
3:00PM - 4:15PMC2 The Biggest Piece of the Budget Pie: Salaries and Benefits (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor, Adair-Johnson) (Colonel A, 2nd floor, Kenton-Woodford)
(A/S Level III required topic “School Finance”; counts toward mandated finance requirement)

State laws and local board policies call for Kentucky school boards to set the qualifications, duties and compensation for all school district employees. This session helps board members better understand the budget impact of salaries and benefits, salary schedules, staff funding sources, types of salary schedules, additional staff pay, and benefits for both certified and classified staff.
3:00PM - 4:15PMC3 A Look in the Mirror: Board Member Self-Evaluation (Bluegrass DE, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level III required topic)

We evaluate the performance of our superintendent. We monitor finances, programs and policies. But we don’t always take a critical look at our own board performance or outcomes. High performing school boards know that the only way to build on strengths and address challenges is to examine their governing performance. Participate in this positive, non-threatening process designed to help any board function more efficiently and effectively.

Friday, December 1st, Reception (Open to all registered attendees and guests)
4:30PM - 5:45PMTailgating Reception (Commonwealth D, 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 2nd, Continental Breakfast
7:00AM - 8:15AMContinental Vendor Breakfast (Foyer, 2nd floor)

Enjoy a light breakfast with colleagues and vendors before getting started with today's workshops.

Saturday, December 2nd, Plenary Session (1.25 hr. training credit)
8:15AM - 9:30PMConquering Virtual Mindblocks (Commonwealth A-C, 1st floor)

Steve Haffner, a former systems engineer and business analyst for major companies, launched his own business as a mentalist, gaining expertise in the realm of the subconscious mind. In his keynote, Haffner shares his insights into the subconscious biases and shortcuts that affect our thinking, and explains how to recognize these hidden impulses to improve decision making, performance and relationships. Haffner uses fascinating segments of “psychological illusion” to highlight key points.

Saturday, December 2nd, Session D Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
9:45AM - 11:00AMD1 Fraud – Are You at Risk? (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level III required topic “School Finance”; counts toward mandated finance training requirement)

Learn how internal controls and segregation of duties not only help district fiscal operations, but minimize the risk of fraudulent activity.
9:45AM - 11:00AMD2 The Board’s Policy Making Role (Bluegrass DE, 2nd 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.
9:45AM - 11:00AMD3 Keys to Creating and Improving Effective Alternative Schools (Bluegrass AB, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level II required topic “Student Learning & Support”)

Personnel decisions, programming and maintaining effective disciplinary procedures are critical as the challenges of serving reluctant learners continue to mount. Discuss current issues and solutions, and learn about some tried and true measures for creating new alternative schools and refining/improving existing schools.

Saturday, December 2nd, Session D Level IV/V Workshop - IF YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND D4, YOU WILL NOT CHOOSE A WORKSHOP IN SESSION E (3 hrs. training credit)
9:45AM - 12:45PMD4 Tough Questions and Best Practices for Tackling Facilities Projects (Colonel A, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level IV/V elective)

Facilities projects, from renovations to new buildings, can be both important and daunting for a school board. Using a mix of case studies from around Kentucky and panels of local architects and project managers, this session addresses questions and best practices for school facilities design, construction and efficient operation.

Saturday, December 2nd, Session E Workshops (1.25 hrs. training credit)
11:15AM - 12:30PME1 An Introduction to Kentucky’s Charter School Laws (Bluegrass C, 2nd floor)
(A/S Level III required topic “Legal Issues”)

Public charter schools became a reality in Kentucky when House Bill 520 took effect on June 29. That bill, as well as the four regulations the Kentucky Department of Education is in the process of promulgating, constitute the legal framework governing charter schools. This session provides an overview of applicable laws and explores next steps for school boards.
11:15AM - 12:30PME2 Using Foresight Techniques to Anticipate and Plan for the Future (Bluegrass AB, 2nd floor)

“No Surprises!” That’s the motto of the University of Houston’s Foresight Studies Program. This presentation discusses how to anticipate and plan for changes to the advantage of our schools and students, using the technique taught in the Foresight Studies Program. Learn how to identify the various types of change and envision how these changes impact public schools.
11:15AM - 12:30PME3 The Board Meeting as A Community Forum (Bluegrass DE, 2nd floor)
A/S Level I required topic “Staff/Media/Community Relations”)

From the agenda to the presentations, school board meetings can become a major forum for what district leaders want the public to know.