Discover session topics that range from hot button issues such as Generation Y communication, budgeting tips, the updated Freedom of Information Act and tools and technology use for support professionals to personal growth discussions on relationship building and time management.
Register now through Illinois ASBO's Web site: https://www.iasbo.org/i4a/ams/conference/conference.cfm?conferenceID=340
Conference Schedule/Sessions
7:00 am - 8:00 am Registration & Refreshments
8:00 am - 9:30 am Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:30 am - 9:30 am Opening General Session Speaker
Life in the Espresso Lane
Laurie Guest
Laurie Guest is well-known for her imaginative ideas and entertaining style. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and is a Certified Speaking Professional, a designation held by less than 10% of speakers worldwide. Her ability to blend real-life examples with proven action steps, is the reason over three-quarters of her clients ask for an encore appearance.
She is a published author with her book Career Compass for Women. With experience that encompasses over 24 years in healthcare and more than a decade as a business owner, Laurie knows what it takes to succeed. She now reveals the lessons she learned along the way that help others in their professional and personal lives.
9:45 am - 10:45 am Breakout Sessions
School Finance 101
Michael P. Frances, Sr. Financial Advisor, PMA Financial Network, Inc.
Come learn about how school districts in Illinois are funded and the different ways they spend those resources. This session will focus on the basics of school funding at the local, state, and federal levels, including the property tax cycle, general state aid, and fund accounting.
Minutes, Meetings and Records: Making the Most of Minutes
Anna Lovern, Director, Policy Services, Illinois Association of School Boards, Springfield
Both the Illinois Open Meetings Act and the School Code require that districts keep a written record of all meetings. This lively discussion will address the specific requirements, best practices, and some do’s and do not’s.
Online School Board Meetings
Scott D. Kuffel, Superintendent, Geneseo CUSD 228
The Geneseo Schools have been using on-line school board meetings for almost four years. Hear how the superintendent and his administrative assistant work together to plan for the meeting, post all necessary documents, and use this media to communicate to the School Board and other members of the school community.
Legal Responsibilities of Educational Support Staff
Brian Schwartz, External Operations/General Counsel, Illinois Principals Association
Support staff employees face a number of complex legal issues in their day-to-day jobs. Examples of these issues include safeguarding records, maintaining confidential information and handling money. This session will address these and other issues and show participants how to reduce their personal liability and keep their corporation legally safe.
Hot Topics in Payroll Administration
Ted Knapp, Instructor/Tax Exempt and Gov't Entities Operating Div., Internal Revenue Service
Learn what the IRS expects from local government. Review 1099 reporting issues, meal & uniform allowances, cell phones and payroll errors encountered on IRS audits.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Breakout Sessions
Budgeting Tips and Tools
David Bein, Exec. Dir./Business Services, East Maine SD 63
What's the role of a budget in a school district, how can a budget be created, and how can it be managed? We'll cover this and more, including some suggestions, tips, tools and resources that can make understanding and working with budgets easier.
Parliamentary Procedure
John Cassel, Director of Field Services, Illinois Association of School Boards
Help turn your school board meeting into the efficient, civil, decision making events you only dreamed possible. What do good meetings look like? What are the basics? What is an effective meeting? Join John as he walks you through Robert’s Rules and the importance of good board processes. This session on parliamentary procedure will be geared toward the board secretary. Bring your questions; receive some helpful handouts.
Open Meetings Act and Electronic Records
Stephanie E. Jones, Associate Attorney, Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn
In light of the ever changing technology, school districts face new problems every day in handling their meetings and maintaining records. This program examines records and meetings laws in light of new technology and provides participants with strategies for minimizing the problems that arise.
Crossing the Divide: Working Effectively with all Generations
Jean Smith, Professional Development Director, Illinois Principals Association
Every administrative assistant has been caught in the middle of the generational milieu … children in the hall playing childish pranks … senior staff in the lounge hanging on past their usefulness …the overly dedicated … the coughed once and stay at home … the cell phone twitters … and the ol’ critters who refuse to learn how to turn the computer on.
As “The One” around which your office revolves and who must make it all work, how do you cross the divide serving individuals of very different generations and values? In this workshop, learn to Cross the Divide and restore some tranquility, even fun, to your workplace.
Protecting Identities
What role does local government play in protecting customer and taxpayer identities? Learn about key state and federal regulations aimed at guarding against identity theft.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Breakout Sessions
Student Imprest and Activity Accounts
Ronald C. Steigerwald, Statewide Marketing Director, Illinois Energy Consortium
Student Imprest and Activity Accounts
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Stephanie Jones, Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn; Kimberly Small, Assistant General Counsel, IASB
How much do you know about the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and how it relates to your duties as a school official? Are your school board members and district staff aware that some Illinois courts and the General Assembly have been addressing some important FOIA issues over the past year? Learn best practices for managing public records requests.
IASB Press
Richard J. Voltz, Assoc. Dir./Prof. Dev. & Induction/Mentoring, Illinois Association of School Administrators and Laurel DiPrima, Consultant / Policy Services, Illinois Association of School Boards
IASB has a great resource for school personnel to use to research various educational topics, it is called IASB PRESS. This is a great resource for school secretaries and administrative assistants to do research for school issues for their administrators.
Relationship Building: Can't We All Just Get Along?
Jason Leahy, Executive Director, Illinois Principals Association
Don’t let the title of this session fool you. There will be no joining of hands and singing Kum Ba Yah. But, Jason will take you through a fun and interactive session that reveals the importance of building high quality relationships both personally and organizationally.
Tips and strategies for developing high quality relationships will be shared, but most importantly, you will find how relationships determine the level of impact you have on those your serve as well as your own job satisfaction.
Understanding the Key Concepts of Government Accounting - GAAP / GASB
Chad Lucas, Partner, Sikich LLP
Review key concepts and practices of governmental accounting as prescribed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board generally accepted accounting standards.
2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Breakout Sessions
Benefits: Cobra, Section 125, and FMLA
Barney R. Mundorf, Attorney At Law, Doster Guin James Ullom Benson & Mundorf, LLC
Are you in compliance with the new COBRA, Section 125 and FMLA statutory changes? In this session, we will review and highlight the 2009 statutory changes; provide you with practical tips to ensure you are in compliance and reveal the potential and significant cost for non-compliance. Don’t miss this opportunity to get up to speed to comply with these new legal obligations.
Paperless Board Meetings and the Boardbook
Laurel DiPrima, Consultant / Policy Services, IL Association of School Boards
Districts are turning to electronic board agenda packet preparation to save time and money. Attend this session to learn about a tool - BoardBook® - that not only reduces costs, but provides resources for more effective meetings and enhances communication and transparency with the community.
Technology Use for Support Professionals
Dr. Kathryn J. Robbins, Superintendent, Leyden CHSD 212
During this presentation, participants will learn ideas and tips on using technology for a variety of purposes, including managing the work day efficiently, setting up various electronic tickler lists, and creating searchable databases for a variety of tasks. Technologies used will include widgets, Google, Office 2007, Filemaker Pro, Groupwise (emails and calendar), and Adobe InDesign.
Time Management
Dave Turner, Retired Executive Director, IL Principals Association
This session will present strategies and techniques relating to time and task management that will result in a more efficient and effective office. Specific topics include planning, delegation, information management, the use of technology and the elimination of workday time wasters. You will pick up tips that will help you, your subordinates and your boss to work smarter not harder.
Key Revenue Sources for Municipalities
Ron Hill, Director of Finance, Town of Normal
Review the major revenue sources Illinois municipalities rely on to deliver services and see how those sources are faring in the current economy.
