‘Wonderful’ AEC informs and inspires
San Francisco hosts school board leaders at CSBA’s Annual Education Conference
Published: January 2, 2013
With its focus on a wide range of critical challenges facing California’s public schools and dramatic examples of successful programs that are overcoming great odds, CSBA’s 2012 Annual Education Conference and Trade Show was designed to instruct, inform and inspire. Some 2,000 school board members, administrators, and other members of school governance teams met in San Francisco’s state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly Moscone West conference center to participate in informative clinics, workshops and table talks last month.
“It was a wonderful conference,” CSBA Executive Director Vernon M. Billy said in a YouTube message to members. “I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our members for all of your support throughout the year. Going into 2013, we are going to be here for you, and we hope you will be there for us as well.”
The attendance numbers made it clear that despite difficult economic times, members of governance teams understand the value of CSBA’s three-day conference. Trade Show exhibitors were also enthusiastic; the show floor—with space for 200 exhibitors altogether—sold out.
Conference attendees were provided with valuable opportunities to network, get the latest on innovative programs and educational services and hone the governance skills they need to do their difficult and important jobs. The conference curriculum was built around several critical education issues, as usual; among them this year was a strand on full-service community schools—a passion of 2012 CSBA President Jill Wynns, who believes that students are best served when schools collaborate with outside agencies and community groups to provide health, counseling, social services and other support to help disadvantaged, poor and struggling students thrive.
“I think we advanced this discussion in the state,” Wynns said afterward. “A strand this deep and rich … could have been a conference [in itself]—and maybe it should be.”
Responding to recent reports about the disproportionate number of black students who are suspended and expelled, conference planners also added workshops on constructive approaches to school discipline.
Special training for newcomers, veterans, executive assistants
A majority of the 408 candidates who were newly elected to school boards in the November elections came to San Francisco a day early to participate in CSBA’s Orientation for New Trustees, which helps them move effectively through their first 100 days in office.
Andrew Blumenfeld, a board member in the La Cañada Unified School District, said he was surprised how useful the orientation was—even for him, with a year of service under his belt and a working knowledge of school finance and the Brown Act.
“These topics really are so complex that I think it’s easy to start to gloss over certain parts that still seem rather mysterious or to lose sight of the bigger picture beyond the budget runs you get from your own staff,” he said. “This training was a welcome opportunity to put all the minutiae back into context, and to fill in gaps in my knowledge with facts.”
CSBA also offered pre-conference trainings for board presidents and a legal symposium for veteran members of governance teams. More than 100 support staff who play critical administrative support roles in districts and county offices of education participated in CSBA’s one-day training for executive assistants.
Conference goes digital
This year’s conference featured a number of new offerings and services, including a social networking community, Engage CSBA. This online community gave members the opportunity to build personal profiles, access the full conference program on their laptops, tablets or smart phones, build a personalized conference schedule, and more. Many conference-goers contributed to what became a lively and informative Twitter feed at twitter.com/csbaaec (search for ‘csbaaec’ to get all the posts), with participants tweeting helpful information, insights and commentary about their favorite speakers, sessions and workshops.
“Another great conference,” tweeted Alex Zucco, a school board member in the Monrovia Unified School District. “Lots of great information.”
CSBA conference planning staff urge attendees to take a moment to fill out a brief survey about their conference experience. These evaluations will help ensure that future conferences meet the diverse needs of the association’s membership. Access the survey from www.csba.org.