We’re stuffing packets, copying handouts, confirming schedules and otherwise putting the final preparations in place for this weekend’s KSBA Annual Conference.
In what may be a conference record, advance registrants already have booked up the available seating in nearly half of the 44 breakout sessions. (Come on, anyway; people’s plans change.)
The event begins at Louisville’s Galt House East Friday morning with five, three-hour pre-conference sessions covering board leadership roles, communications (session full), bullying prevention, college and career readiness skills and risk management planning. Presentations run through Sunday morning’s brunch.
As of today, registration has topped the 1,000 mark for board members, superintendents, state education officials, school advocates, commercial vendors and guests. Online registration is available here http://www.ksba.org/protected/EventView.aspx?id=7GB20U3Y.
Here are a few updates to whet your conference participation appetite:
* As of Monday afternoon, more than 140 banners produced by students and exploring the conference theme – College and Career Readiness: Kentucky’s real 2012 Olympics – have been received at KSBA offices. Look for the students’ banners in the second-floor hallway, main ballroom and one or two of the larger workshop rooms.
* A full house (creating a waiting list) of school services vendors will have booths, also on the second floor, from 11 a.m. to 5:15 P.M. Friday (including a reception Friday afternoon following the clinic sessions) and from 8 a.m. to noon (including a continental breakfast) on Saturday.
* Friday’s opening General Session will include presentation of the KSBA Friend of Education Award to a public education advocate well-known to local school leaders statewide, an update on the partnership between KSBA’s Kentucky School Boards Insurance Trust and the Kentucky League of Cities and a sure-fire winning keynote address by Murray Banks, a former Vermont Teacher of the Year, Iron Man triathlon and cross-country skiing champion and humorist with a message.
* On Saturday, two sections of morning workshops will be divided by a General Session that brings together officials with some of Kentucky’s largest employers for a panel discussion on job skills needs and an assessment of how Kentucky schools are preparing graduates for the workplace.
* Doors will open for the Saturday luncheon at noon for a session that will include remarks by Education Commissioner Terry Holliday and the announcement of Kentucky’s 2012 Outstanding Superintendent and Outstanding School Board Member. An added element for the Saturday luncheon is the presentation of the inaugural KSBA First Degree College Scholarship to one male and one female high school senior from among more than 200 nominated statewide.
* At Saturday afternoon’s annual association business session (just before the President’s Reception), seven local school board members vying for five seats as directors-at-large on the KSBA Board of Directors will give candidate speeches followed by balloting by all board members in attendance. Results of the election will be announced at the Sunday morning brunch, which immediately follows a 7:30 devotional service. The brunch promises to send attendees off in the right frame of mind after LaDonna Gatlin – of the musically famous Gatlin family – sings and shares a message about tuning up your life.
And we promise you’ll be on the road and home long before kickoff of the Super Bowl!