Annual Conference: Arrive early to maximize benefits 

School board members and other policymakers planning to attend CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in San Diego Dec. 3-5 are encouraged to arrive early and take advantage of four information-packed preconference symposiums on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

“Whether you’re a novice, an experienced board member, interested in boosting student achievement, or interested in the legal perspective of governance, we have something for you,” said Annual Education Conference Coordinator Deanna Fernandes.

The preconference sessions will be held at either the San Diego Convention Center—site of most Annual Conference activities—or the nearby San Diego Marriot Hotel and Marina.

A new, updated Board Presidents’ Workshop will provide current and aspiring board presidents with tools they need to lead strategically. CSBA governance consultants Leslie DeMersseman and Sherry Loofbourrow will discuss practices that research and experience have shown to forge effective governance teams. Board members will also hear about ways to conduct meaningful meetings and fulfill their governance responsibilities so that their school district or county office of education’s efforts remain focused on improving student learning and achievement.

A practical session on student achievement will be presented by Stanley Pogrow, an education professor at San Francisco State University who specializes in techniques and policies that reduce learning gaps by helping teachers keep their students’ attention. “Student Achievement Symposium: Upper Elementary Grades: Engaging Students and Revitalizing Learning” will help policymakers explore techniques shown to produce dramatic results, particularly for children in poverty. The symposium will also identify ways to use both existing resources and federal stimulus funds to accelerate learning gains.

Other preconference sessions include the Legal Symposium for Experienced Board Members and the Orientation for New Trustees. The registration fee for each session is $195 until Nov. 7, when it rises to $205. The sessions run from 9 a.m. through 3:30 or 4 p.m. Presentation materials, lunch and refreshments are included.

“This year, with the current fiscal crisis in mind, CSBA has worked hard to develop a conference program jam-packed with the most relevant information school board members need to make critical decisions for students and schools,” Fernandes stressed.

CSBA has kept conference rates the same since 2007 to help members make the most of their training budgets. Register for the three-day Annual Education Conference and Trade Show now and save $70; the registration fee is $455 through Nov. 6 and $525 thereafter.

Related link:

Information on CSBA’s Annual Conference is @ http://aec.csba.org; preconference information is under the “Program” tab.