Questions? Contact Us

Idea Exchanges/
Meet the Experts Sessions



Thursday, Jan. 22
Midwest Airlines Center
9:30-10:45 am

Justifying Capital Improvements: New Tools and Technology
for Predictable Outcomes (Room 101A)

Learn about new software used for building design and construction. This software is
cost-efficient and gives the client an improved clarity of design prior to construction. This is also your chance to learn about the benefits of operations and maintenance of buildings after completion.
VJS Construction Services

School Finance Network (Room 101B)

There are no easy answers and many months have been spent bringing together various educational grouops to find a better way to finance Wisconsin's schools. Pick up on this discussion and learn about what we may see in the future.
Members of the School Finance Network

The Superintendent Search: How WASB Can Support the District
during a Leadership Transition (Room 101C)

The selection of a district administrator is one of the most important decisions a school board will make.
WASB Search Services can assist you in this process by addressing your district’s unique local circumstances. WASB can also assist the board in preparation for a new administrator and the transition of leadership.
Wisconsin Association of School Boards Search Service Consultants

Special Education Update (Room 103B)

Get the latest information on special education rules, regulations, requirements for reporting claims, court
decisions and mandated services — just to name a few. Take this opportunity to get a comprehensive briefing.
Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials, Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services

Unilateral Change in Health Insurance Carrier through Interest Arbitration (Room 201A)

Many schools could reduce health costs substantially through a change in insurance carrier. Schools unable
to reach voluntary agreement on a carrier change might use interest arbitration to force union acceptance
of the change. Learn more about the advantages and risks inherent in arbitration over health insurance
carrier changes at this session.
Wisconsin Association of School Boards Legal Information

Enhancing Technology without Depleting the Budget (Room 201B)

Technology is critical for student learning and staff effectiveness. But it can also be expensive, overwhelming, and quickly obsolete. Learn how one district has enhanced technology through a grassroots
effort, without a technology director, referendum, or budget depletion.
North Fond du Lac School District

'Data, Data, Data': The Good, the Bad, and the Challenging (Room 201C)

Find out how to receive the data that indicates how prepared your high school students are for college.
Learn how data can be used to provide insights into strengths and weaknesses of particular high school
curricula, by presenting a study comparing changes in math placement test performance stemming from a
change from traditional to a reform high school math curriculum.
School District of Nekoosa

Building Vertical Teams: The What, the Why and the How (Room 202A)

How well are your students prepared for their futures? Find out how vertical teaming leads to increased success in advanced placement courses and enhances college and career preparation. Explore the
benefi ts of vertical teaming, and evaluate a framework for implementing vertical teaming in your
local district.
South Milwaukee School District

Overview of the LEED Schools Rating System (Room 202C)

Green schools are cost-effective and provide many benefits that traditional schools do not. Learn about the long-term savings of building a green school. Gain an understanding of LEED for Schools, a green building rating system that guides the design and building of the school.
Miron Construction

Collaborative Governance: A Case Study of Communication, Inquiry
and Engagement (Room 202D)

Learn about one school district’s systems approach that led to a collaborative governance structure.
This approach fostered conversations that led to organizational innovation. See an example of how
collaboration can create ownership among stakeholders and can help a school district evolve.
Shorewood School District

Five in 75 (Room 202E)

This session provides valuable information including: judging the financial security of your district’s
insurance company; funds available to enhance the safety of your schools; liability insurance coverage
for your valuable volunteer athletic coaches; and complimentary professional services available to assist
with insurance and risk management questions.
Gander Consulting Group, LLC

Technology Challenge: Too Much Stuff to Manage, Not Enough Staff (Room 203B)

Schools have more information technology elements to manage than ever before. However, budget constraints, changing technology, and staffing shortfalls, make finding a solution particularly challenging.
Attend this session and get some solutions to these technology challenges.
SchoolDude.com

AGC Construction Career Academy — A Report Card (Room 203C)

At the 2006 State Education Convention, attendees had the opportunity to hear about an initiative called “Construction Career Academies.” In the past four years, the program has grown from its roots at Burlington High School to schools in Marshfield and Fond du Lac, engaging hundreds of students and is graduating its inaugural class in 2008. Learn from the teachers and the students about the challenges encountered and the successes experienced.
Scherrer Construction Co., Inc.

Connecting Differentiated Professional Development and PI 34 to Student Achievement:
Thinking Outside of the Box (Room 203D)

How do districts implement PI-34 expectations that are aligned to strategic goals? Learn how staff using best practices/research work individually or in teams to design classroom-based activities focused on student achievement. Policy language, PI-34 assistance and the application for alternative credit will be provided.
Whitewater Unified School District

Thursday, Jan. 22
Midwest Airlines Center
3:45-5:00 pm

How to Build Creative Community Connections (Room 101A)

“Creativity is the new literacy.” Learn how Ken Robinson’s quote is changing the landscape in the River
Valley School District. Through a unique partnership with a local community organization and the
district, a great deal of money has been raised to fund a position whose focus is bringing creative and innovative practices to staff and students, while involving the community in new and exciting ways.
River Valley School District

Ask the Lawyers (Room 101B)

This is your opportunity to ask your school law questions. Listen to the discussion or come with questions.
Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Wisconsin School Attorneys Association

Utilizing IT Resources to Provide 21st Century Learning (Room 101C)

Our students have grown up immersed in technology. However, most traditional learning environments provide limited access to information and technology resources. Learn about a variety of strategies and technological resources that can change the learning environment to meet the needs of the digitized generation.
School District of Rhinelander

Bargaining Strategies with Teachers (Room 102B)

Learn about the bargaining strategies districts around the state have used successfully. Discuss salary schedules, health insurance, retirement benefits and contract language.
Wisconsin Association of School Boards Employment and Labor Law Services

How the Market Affects Your District (Room 102D)
Repeat from Wednesday

Community Collaborations for Early Learning Success (Room 103B)

The research is clear: Early learning opportunities dramatically improve future student outcomes. Learn how to successfully partner with the community to provide enhanced access to quality early learning experiences. Engage key community advocates in the work of bringing a 4-year-old kindergarten program to a school district.
Oshkosh Area School District

Interesting Insights: Merging Transitioning Student 'Perceptions Data' with Data from your
Student Information System (Room 201A)

What lessons would you learn if you could analyze the thoughts and concerns of your transitioning middle
schools students with the information contained within your student information system? This method allows you to easily draw correlations between WKCE scores, demographic data, special education status and student perceptions data.
School Perceptions South, Milwaukee School District

Board's Role in Student Expulsion: Using the Process to Facilitate Student Success (Room 201B)

Learn about the board’s role in expulsion hearings and how school boards can make policy changes to reduce the number of expulsions and promote positive student behavior. Through a review of policies and pre-expulsion and expulsion processes, panelists will show how discipline can be meted out while
also exploring the underlying cause of the behavior, and developing a plan to facilitate student success.
Wisconsin Association of School Boards Policy Services, Oregon and Stoughton school board members

Ensuring Teacher Quality: Creating and Implementing a Process for Supervision
and Evaluation (Room 201C)

Learn how one district engaged a broad range of committed stakeholders to develop and implement
supervision and evaluation grounded in research and best practices designed for non-probationary
staff. A group of stakeholders will describe the importance of the hiring process, probationary period,
and phases of supervision and evaluation.
Marshall School District

Wages and Benefits: More than the Sum of the Parts (Room 202A)

What do employees and retirees really want and need? What can the district afford? Are there delivery
efficiencies? You are not alone if you have these questions. Come to this session and learn about some best practices.
Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials, National Insurance Services

Agendas of the State Education Committees (Room 202B)

The Senate and Assembly Education Committees directly impact K-12 education policy throughout the
state of Wisconsin. Hear directly from members of the committees about their plans for K-12 education
policy and their agendas for improving student achievement during the next two years.
Wisconsin Association of School Boards Government Relations and Wisconsin Senate and Assembly Education Committee Members

Does it Take More Green to go Green? An Education in Sustainable Schools (Room 202C)

This eye-opening session will examine the commonly held belief that green schools cost more to design and construct. Urban legend or actual fact? We’ll detail the benefits of going green and share two recent Wisconsin success stories that prove it doesn’t have to cost more to provide a healthy, environmentally friendly school for our children.
Hoffman, LLC

How's Your ID IQ? Understanding and Implementing the Revised Gifted and Talented
Administrative Rule (Room 202D)

The revised Administrative Rule for Gifted and Talented Education, along with related state statutes,
guide school districts in designing their G/T plans. Learn about the identification aspect of these documents
and get an overview of the statutes and rule. Review commonly used measures for identification and
assess your own district’s progress and practice.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Take Your Athletics to the Next Level (Room 202E)

Hear from two experienced athletic administrators talk about how you can help your athletic director set
your district up for success. Learn about the latest opportunities available for athletic administrators. Find
out how establishing a working relationship with your athletics director can help improve not only your athletic teams but also your district’s success.
Kenosha Unified School District, West DePere School District

Building 3-D Benefits (Room 203B)

The world and workforce are evolving. Today’s workers have different demographics, needs and objectives than those of the 1940s when the health insurance industry was established. But now, both
employer and employee roles and expectations are changing. This session focuses on critical factors
and trends that affect health benefits and discusses the reasons why employers need to establish an
overall benefit strategy that addresses both present and future needs of the organization and its
workers.
WPS Health Insurance

Investment of School District Funds (Room 203C)

School districts invest their operating funds, debt service trust funds, building project funds and OPEB funds on a regular basis. This session will review potential policies and procedures that school boards and school administrators may wish to consider. We will also discuss strategies to safe guard public monies in relationship to the investment goals of the district.
Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials; Elmbrook School District; Holmen School District; PMA Financial Network

Leading With Trust: The Elk Mound School District's Journey in Board Development
NSBA 2008 Magna Award Winner (Room 203D)

In March 2008, the Elk Mound Area School District's board and superintendent team were awarded a first-place Magna Award for their efforts in board development. Superintendent Ronald J. Walsh will give his perspective on why he nominated his board for this award. Board President and WASB President Timothy Sivertson, will highlight his journey as a board member and how and why he began to infuse board development into the district's planning process. Other members of the Elk Mound School Board who are present will give their perspectives as well.
Elk Mound School District

Top