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Governance Options and Enrollment Projection
April 2008

Find out why and how other districts/supervisory unions are studying governance change options. Learn more about projecting future student enrollment trends. The video DVD is available for the workshop by visiting http://www.vtvsba.org/develop/dvd.html

Passing the School Budget Workshop
January 2008

As your school budget nears completion and you begin to see the immense impact that rising fuel costs, special education, and health insurance will have on 2008-09 school operations, it’s time to prepare your budget passage strategies for the annual school district meeting.

Discussion Topis:

• Key Assumptions
• Education Funding
• Cost Drivers
• New in FY09
• Data
• Special Education
• Income Sensitivity
• The Presentation

The video DVD is available for the workshop by visiting http://www.vtvsba.org/develop/dvd.html

Conducting Board Hearings Workshop
December 2007

It seems that school boards are having to perform their quasi-judicial role responding to major student suspension/expulsion or teacher non-renewal hearings. More than ever before, questions often arise, like when the board should hire an attorney. Should the superintendent also employ a different attorney? Many times the student and family or teacher will have their own attorney. What is the role of the board chair orchestrating this complex legal proceeding? How can hearings provide the legal balance between due process rights and maintain the fiduciary viability of the district?

Learn mechanics and strategies for running effective school board hearings, including student discipline, employee grievance, and employee dismissal hearings. Experienced board members, a superintendent and attorney will provide their prospective on this important board function.

Discussion Topis:

• What are Hearings?
• Due Process
• Preparing
• Mechanics
• Roles
• Evidence & Testimony
• Executive Session
• Conflict of Interest
• The Role of Policy

The video DVD is available for the workshop by visiting http://www.vtvsba.org/develop/dvd.html

School Finance
October 2007

This may be one of the toughest budget development seasons ever, given soaring energy and health care costs. Join school leaders from around Vermont to refine your knowledge and skills in school budget development. Dr. Brent Kay, Superintendent, Orange Southwest Supervisory Union and Brad James, School Finance Manager, Vermont Department of Education, will help guide school leaders on the mechanics of budget development and budget management under the complexity of Act 68.

Discussions includes:

• School Organization
• Cost Drivers
• Analyzing Data
• Act 68
• Per Pupil Spending
• Equalized Pupils
• Anticipated Enrollment
• Excess Spending Threshold
• Property Tax

The video DVD is available for the workshop by visiting http://www.vtvsba.org/develop/dvd.html

School Board Chairs: The Key Ingredient for Leadership Team Success
May 2007

The board chair role is critical to the effectiveness of the board and the overall leadership team. The board chair must be well organized, run crisp meetings, develop a strong collaborative relationship with the superintendent, and be able to read the pulse of the school and community. If you’re a new board chair or just want to increase your board leadership skills, then plan to participate

Discussions includes:

• Board Packet
• Meeting Types
• Code of Conduct
• Effective Meetings
• Communication
• Complaints
• Assumptions, Goals & Action Plans
• Self Assessment
• The Law
• Media Relations
• Policy Governance
• Education Philosophy & Resources

The video DVD is available for the workshop by visiting http://www.vtvsba.org/develop/dvd.html

VSBA Governance Studies & Initiatives
2005
Mission and steps boards are undertaking to respond to declining enrollment and increasing costs per pupil

Dealing with Complaints
2002
Process for responding to complaints and following the chain of command.

Key Work of the School Board
2001
National School Boards Association - 8 key work components for school boards. (The complete book is available through the VSBA.)

NCLBA
2002
Federal No Child Left Behind Components. This workshop was part of the 2002 VSBA Regional meetings.

Robert's Rules of Order for Small Boards
2002
Parliamentary procedures for running less formal board meetings.

Roles, Responsibilities & Relationships of School Boards
2002
Roles for the school board, principal, and superintendent.

Running Paperless Board Meetings
2005
Presentation on using technology to post meeting agendas, minutes, and board packet materials; systems for making policies and procedures available on the district web site.

Working with Emotional Intelligence
2000
Dr. Daniel Goleman's research on Emotional IQ.

Collaborative Negotiations
2002
Strategies to prepare for and carry out collaborative negotiations.

Negotiations-Nuts & Bolts
2002
Basic steps for conducting standard collective bargaining.

Bullying
2006
Preventing bullying and school crisis

Dealing with Harassment
2000
Harassment and bullying prevention resources.

Difficult Behavior
2006
Resources and strategies for preventing and responding to conflict and crisis.

School Bomb Searches
2000
Techniques for school volunteers to search the school following a bomb threat.

School Crisis Guide
2005
School crisis plan, policy, and procedures

Threat Assessment Resources
2001
School violence and crisis prevention research completed by the U.S. Secret Service.

VSBA School Board Code
2008
Agreed upon principles/standards for effective board operation

Policies & Procedures
2002
Steps for maintaining effective policies & procedures

VSBA Resource Directory
2008-2011
Resource directory VSBA prepares annually with information that new and experienced board members need to know to operate effective school boards. This book is available through the VSBA for $15.00 plus shipping. To order complete the order form. (121 pages)

Act 117 Part 1
2003
Strategies and resources educators use to support students with special needs before identifying more expensive special education services.

Act 117 Part 2
2003
Second part to above workshop.

The Board's Role in Special Education
2003
School boards policy and support role under federal IDEA.

VSBA Planning Services
2005
Steps for preparing for and conducting a strategic planning process.

Superintendent Evaluation Process and Evaluation Form
2007
This document contains the process and evaluation form for a superintendent evaluation.

A video DVD is available for this topic by visiting http://www.vtvsba.org/develop/dvd.html

The AASA Superintendent Standards
2002
American Association for Secondary School Administrators Standards.

Standards for School Leaders
2005
Interstate School Leader Licensure Consortium standards for licensure.

Superintendent & Principal Duties
2005
Roles and responsibilities of superintendents and principals.

Superintendent & Principal Legal Duties
2005
This is a listing of the legal references to the duties of superintendents and principals.

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