Maybe it’s the all-star lineup of speakers. Or maybe it’s the new board training mandates. Or just maybe it’s the fact that the KSBA annual conference offers the state’s board of education members and superintendents an incredible opportunity for sharing ideas and networking.
Whatever the driving force, advance registration for the KSBA 78th Annual Conference is fast approaching the 1,000 mark. The event, Jan. 31–Feb. 2 at Louisville’s Galt House Hotels, is coming up just as quickly.
Advance registrations already have maxed out the seating space for nine of the 39 breakout clinics:
· Board member ethics – A, B and C sessions (still open in Session D)
· School board fiscal responsibilities–Part 1 – Session A
· School board fiscal responsibilities–Part 2 – Session B
· Effective boards and good board members – Session B
· Supt. Evaluation System Update – Session B (Supt. ILP Effectiveness in Session C still open)
· Effective superintendent evaluations – Session C (still open in Session D)
· Finance II–Dollars and sense – Session C (Finance III in Session D still open)
Note: See related item in this edition of Boardcast about in-district professional development opportunities in mandated training subjects via the KSBA Training Cadre.
Highlights for planning your conference schedule:
· Five, three-hour preconference sessions on the Kentucky State Police active shooter training program, student insights into successful board meetings, delegating board meeting time to student achievement, social justice issues in education, and 21st-century board member leadership skills. Remember these sessions require specific selection on the conference registration form.
· Friday General Session: Speaker – super-funny motivational pro Harvey Alston, and F. L. Dupree Outstanding Superintendent and KSBA Friend of Education awards
· Saturday morning General Session: Speaker – Researcher, author, blogger, public education advocate and former U.S. education department official Dr. Diane Ravitch
· Saturday luncheon session: Remarks by Education Commissioner Terry Holliday, and Warren Proudfoot Outstanding School Board Member and KSBA First Degree College Scholarship awards
· Sunday morning brunch session: Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Matt Eversmann, whose story was told in the book and movie Black Hawk Down
· Six student musical performances from schools around the state
· More than 70 school-service providers on display in the Exhibitor Hall
Online registration continues at www.ksba.org