February 11, 2025 | 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Keeping Your Eye on the Prize - Best practices and strategies for superintendents to insure budgets are on track and working to support the priorities of the district.

Integrated Guidance 101 - This session provides a high-level, 101 overview of the Integrated Guidance. Participants will explore key principles, tools, and methodologies that promote collaboration, data integration, and strategic alignment for all programs administered under the guidance.

Sexual Conduct Investigations: Perspective from Three Oregon Agencies - Join staff from three agencies to learn about how their mandates and processes work with your district to keep students safe. Objectives: So that participants may learn • Foundations of the different agency mandates • Process, communication and timelines of investigation and reporting. • Collaboration and working with other agencies during an investigation

Local Budget Law - Join the Oregon Department of Revenue to review a high level overview of the budget process including required components: property taxes, budget committee process, the budget hearing, and adopting the budget.

Small Districts Big Bonds! - Ideas and strategies for getting smaller communities on board to support facility improvements. What happens when you haven't passed a bond in 30 years?

Demystifying School Finance: The Power of Plain Language for Clear Communication - An experienced school district CFO will guide business managers in simplifying complex financial information for clear, effective communication. Participants will learn strategies to present key data in plain language, fostering better understanding with school boards, staff, and other stakeholders.

Public Meeting Laws and the New Grievance Process - Unsure what to do when your public body receives a complaint that they have violated Public Meetings Law? Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC), will share the new grievance process for Public Meetings Law. This includes the steps the public must take before filing a complaint with OGEC and the steps the public body must take when they receive a grievance. We'll also cover administrative rules for Public Meetings Law, upcoming dates for public comment, the public hearing, and when you can expect OGEC to start offering training.

PERS: Back to Basics - PERS is once again in the news, wreaking havoc with upcoming school district budgets. Why is this happening? Going back to basics will help clarify what's going on, including: why the costs associated with the pension program are so high and why they only seem to increase; what Side Accounts are, why jurisdictions have set them up, and what the deal is with those that are scheduled to expire in December 2027 (or earlier); why robust payroll growth in recent years is making costs increase even more; and what the implications for school district budgets going forward. These questions and more will be answered in as clear a way as the topic of PERS allows! Note: Attendance at this session should be considered a prerequisite for the Pension Bonds: What's Next workshop.

 

February 11, 2025 | 2:15 PM to 3:15 PM

The Missing Link: Implementing Transformative SEL with Fidelity - In this session, Wayfinder will be co-presenting with a group of district administrators ranging from small to large districts across the state. We will discuss the impact of SEL on student success and leave attendees with tangible takeaways for implementing Oregon's Transformative SEL standards with fidelity.

Oregon Strong: Building Unity and Advancing Public Education - This session explores the Oregon Strong campaign, a statewide initiative uniting school leaders, educators, and communities to champion the transformative power of public education. Learn how this movement amplifies positive narratives, builds awareness, and mobilizes support for equitable education policies. Discover inspiring success stories, from early literacy achievements to innovative community partnerships, and gain practical strategies to elevate public education in your own district. With a focus on collaboration, advocacy, and shared purpose, this presentation empowers attendees to engage in honest dialogue and collective action to create a brighter future for every student in Oregon.

Integrated Plan and Budget Workshop: Collaborative Planning with ODE Support - Join us for an interactive workshop where conference attendees can collaborate with ODE staff to refine and strengthen their integrated plans and budgets. This session is designed to provide hands-on technical assistance for participants in developing comprehensive, actionable plans that align with funding priorities and meet state and federal requirements. ODE staff will be on hand to guide you through the process, offering suggestions on best practices for integration, budgeting, and compliance. Bring your current plan and budget drafts, and leave with a refined roadmap, enhanced understanding, and valuable feedback to move forward with confidence. This is a unique opportunity to access direct technical assistance and ensure your plan is fully aligned with state expectations and funding opportunities. We encourage you to attend as a whole team, bringing program staff and finance staff together for this workshop experience!

Projecting General Fund Revenue - Join us to learn about estimating and budgeting resources such as SSF, property taxes, High Cost Disability Fund, grant funds, and fund balances. This will include best practices, tools, practical solutions, and lessons learned along the way not only during budget development, but also within the course of the year while reviewing and updating estimates.

Fostering Engaging Learning Environments: State Guidance on Restricting Cell Phones in Schools - Explore Oregon's guidance on cell phone policies, highlighting research on the risks inherent with cell phones and social media, approaches to cell phone restrictions, and lessons learned since publication to support focused learning, well-being, and positive school culture.

Reporting Financial Information to Your School Board - Preparing financial reports for your school board can be daunting. Join us to dig into what should be reported on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis in a clear and concise way. Examples of reports will be provided.

Budgeting for Special Education Costs - With the constant changes in special education, how do you plan ahead for a balanced budget. Join us for tips on budgeting for special education services and impacts to Maintenance of Effort (MOE). This workshop will also cover how to estimate for High Cost Disability.

Pension Bonds: What’s Next - In certain market environments, there may be opportunities for districts to lower their PERS costs by doing a pension bond and using the proceeds to create a Side Account. However, such borrowings carry substantial risks, and therefore the process of entering into such a bond transaction requires gaining a thorough understanding of how they work. The upcoming expiration of many Side Accounts may be an incentive to consider funding new ones, but is in itself an insufficient rationale for doing so. This session will provide a detailed review of how pension bonds work, what the risks and potential rewards might be, the role of an economic consultant in assessing the probability of success through the issuance of such bonds, and the process of getting them sold and closed. Note: Those interested in this session should consider the PERS: Back to Basics workshop as a prerequisite.

 

February 12, 2025 | 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM

Liability Game Show presented by PACE - Test your knowledge of liability exposures from the superintendent's office to the classroom and discover how these risks can impact your district or school. Bring your smart device and join us for an interactive game, where you can answer questions and compete for exciting prizes!

Leadership Matters - In this session, we will explore the profound impact of effective leadership in K-12 education and beyond. Discover how strong leadership drives student success, fosters a positive school culture, and inspires educators to reach their full potential. Whether you are an aspiring leader or a seasoned administrator, this discussion will provide actionable insights on how leadership shapes the future of our schools. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for cultivating leadership skills, enhancing school-wide collaboration, and making a lasting difference in the lives of students and staff. Join us to understand why leadership truly matters in education!

Superintendent Contracts: What You Need To Know - The presenters will provide an overview of superintendent contract language, including specific information that provides guidance to help support the superintendent. Presenters will also speak to key language seen in some contracts that can be useful to include through future contract amendments.

Strategic Solutions: Maximizing Employee Benefits on a Budget - Discover the latest employee benefit trends and innovative tools to help differentiate your business. This session will guide you in crafting long-term benefits strategies that align with your organization's goals. Learn from real-world case studies shared by industry peers, offering actionable insights into effective benefits programs. Gain access to a wealth of resources designed to simplify the benefits experience for both you and your employees. Empower your workforce with clear, accessible benefits that drive engagement and retention while supporting their well-being. This is your opportunity to stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of employee benefits.

Navigating Challenges: Collaborative Solutions for Common Issues in Mid-Size School Districts - Join us for a discussion on how mid-size school district superintendents can support one another. During the session we will identify areas of learning and support and next steps to achieve these goals.

A Communication Plan for a Successful Budget Development Process - The key to a successful budget is communication. From training your budget committee, creating a budget message, to presenting the budget, your communication matters! Join us to learn ways to improve communication throughout the budget development process.

Cash Flow Management - Discover how robust cash flow management can transform your organization's financial health. Learn best practices to develop accurate cash flow forecasts and optimize liquidity to achieve stability and growth. This presentation will provide you with the tools and knowledge to master cash flow and increase district financial security.

Budgeting During Uncertain Times - Staffing and benefits are the largest part of any budget. Learn how to develop a balanced budget without negotiated contracts - through layoffs - all while meeting the legal requirements of local budget law.

 

February 12, 2025 | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Financial Health Best Practices - Join us to hear best practices for monthly, quarterly, and annual data review to check the financial health of your district. Useful strategies and tools will be shared to help measure cash, appropriations, and the need for supplemental budgets or resolutions.

Schools as Civic Spaces: Building Bridges in a Divided World - Schools are vital civic spaces where students and communities can engage in dialogue, cultivate empathy, and bridge divides. With the introduction of new social science standards and upcoming curriculum adoptions, this session offers administrators an overview of research-backed approaches and practical strategies to support educators in embedding civics education across all grade levels. Through collaborative discussions, administrators will walk away with actionable tools to guide their schools in fostering a community that prioritizes civic engagement, critical thinking, and development of skills needed to navigate complex societal issues.

The Essential Toolkit: Responding to Discrimination Complaints - This presentation equips you with the knowledge and tools to effectively respond to discrimination complaints. Explore bias, the process and impacts of an investigation, and best practices for ensuring timely resolutions with the purpose of fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all.

Dollars and Sense: Teaming Up for Financial Success - Great things happen when superintendents and business managers put their heads together! This session is all about building on your district’s strengths, finding creative solutions, and keeping finances steady with a healthy dose of collaboration. Together, we’ll explore practical tips, share success stories, and uncover fresh ways to ensure fiscal stability while having a little fun along the way.

Superintendent Evaluation: A Tool for Collaboration and Support - Hiring and evaluating a superintendent is one of the most important jobs a board has and can be a great opportunity to collaborate as a leadership team. Come learn about OSBA's tool and process (developed with COSA) to incorporate standards, check-ins, goals, and meaningful feedback into a supportive process between the superintendent and board built throughout the year.

Using AI to Assist with Budget Development - We all know about AI, but how can we use it to help build a budget? This will be a hands on lab learning to use AI as a tool to help with everything from analysis to writing a budget message.

Aligning the Budget to Organizational Priorities - A budget is one of the most important policy documents produced by a district because it describes how resources are being allocated to address the areas of greatest need. Come learn about tools and strategies that can be implemented into the budget process to help identify challenges, articulate priorities, inform decision making, and communicate how the spending plan will support improved student outcomes.

Bargaining Basics: Building a Strong Foundation for Negotiations - New to bargaining or need a refresher? This session will break down the essential elements of the bargaining process, including preparation, key terminology, and strategies for successful negotiations. Learn how to approach discussions with confidence, foster collaborative relationships, and achieve outcomes that support both organizational goals and staff needs.

 

February 12, 2025 | 1:15 PM to 2:15 PM

Top 10 Superintendent Strategies for a Healthy District Finance System - Discover the top strategies successful superintendents use to build and maintain a strong, sustainable district finance system. This session will provide actionable insights on budget alignment, revenue optimization, and proactive financial planning to support long-term district health.

Overview of the Budget process in School ERP Pro - Tyler Technologies staff will be on site to provide hands-on training and answer your questions, ensuring you learn how to maximize the software’s capabilities for efficient and effective budgeting. Attend to gain a better understanding of the budgeting process within School ERP Pro.

Campus Chronicles: A Journey Through Funding our School Facilities - The Office of School Facilities will be talking about programs and grants to assist districts with funds for their school facilities. The SSEM Team will talk about the new team and how they can help your district better prepare for any sort of hazard and threat. The Statewide Facility Assessment is up and rolling. Come learn why you should be a part of this and what you get out of it. The OSCIM Program and TAP grants will also be discussed. Come learn how these grants can make significant improvements to your facilities. Finally, come learn about a new grant available to help districts remediate fixtures that have high levels of lead in them.

Projecting Expenditures - Projecting general fund expenditures is a critical component for having a transparent and sustainable budget. Learn some effective ways to project expenditures as well as lessons learned from a district.

Implementing Oregon's Newest Diploma Requirements (SB 3) - Starting with the Class of 2027, all students receiving a diploma in Oregon will be required to complete a .5 credit in Personal Financial Education and a .5 credit in Higher Education and Career Path Skills. Join this session, facilitated by ODE, to learn more about the new requirements, timeline, and tools for implementation. This session will include an opportunity to hear from districts on their implementation and ask questions.

Managing Financial Risk - Managing risk is key to the financial success of a district. Have you completed a financial risk assessment? Join us to learn best practices in managing risk to protect your assets. Examples include safety committees, SAIF audits, and MORE!

Medicaid: Maximize Educational Development Integrating Care And Innovation Daily - One county's journey to utilizing Medicaid to support the needs of students.

Bargaining Basics Beyond: Preparing for Successful Bargaining - Take your bargaining skills to the next level by mastering preparation strategies. This session will focus on analyzing data, setting priorities, understanding stakeholder interests, and developing a game plan. Learn how to anticipate challenges, strengthen your position, and ensure your team is ready to negotiate effectively and confidently.

 

February 12, 2025 | 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Strategic Planning: From Vision to Execution with Our Communities - Strategic plans outline a vision for the future of the school district that enables continuous improvement in areas that matter to the community. In this joint session, listen as three superintendents share their innovative and impactful approaches to various parts of this important process. To achieve active engagement in the Scappoose School District planning process, the district is administering a community survey to ask residents to weigh in on various topics. This feedback will provide guidance for a true school-community partnership. In the Sherwood School District, the planning process is organized around the question "How do we inspire a joyful community of learners?" Pursuing this question across the community is creating a powerful "Portrait of a Sherwood Graduate" that will be central to the district's strategic plan. In the Sheridan School District, an engaging planning process led to a powerful strategic plan, which now informs an actionable annual scorecard as the framework to implement the vision for Sheridan's schools and students.

Tips & Tricks using School ERP Pro Budgeting - Discover practical tips and tricks to enhance your budgeting process in School ERP Pro. Tyler Technologies staff will guide you through advanced features, shortcuts, and best practices to help you streamline tasks and improve efficiency. Bring your questions and learn how to unlock the full potential of School ERP Pro for your budgeting needs.

Integrated Plan and Budget Workshop: Collaborative Planning with ODE Support - Join us for an interactive workshop where conference attendees can collaborate with ODE staff to refine and strengthen their integrated plans and budgets. This session is designed to provide hands-on technical assistance for participants in developing comprehensive, actionable plans that align with funding priorities and meet state and federal requirements. ODE staff will be on hand to guide you through the process, offering suggestions on best practices for integration, budgeting, and compliance. Bring your current plan and budget drafts, and leave with a refined roadmap, enhanced understanding, and valuable feedback to move forward with confidence. This is a unique opportunity to access direct technical assistance and ensure your plan is fully aligned with state expectations and funding opportunities. We encourage you to attend as a whole team, bringing program staff and finance staff together for this workshop experience!

Budgeting for All Other Funds: Special Revenue, Capital Projects, Debt Service Payments, and More - Don't let your special revenue, debt service, and capital improvement funds be the afterthought of your budget. Join this session and learn how to be on top of your "budget game" when it comes to funds other than the general fund. We will talk about organization, resources, collaboration, carry-over, appropriation, and the dreaded student body funds. Take some of the stress out of your budget season by incorporating lessons learned from this session.

Transforming Leadership Efficiency: COSABot.Ai Unveiled - Get ready to elevate your leadership with COSABot.Ai, the latest innovation in administrative support. From streamlining administrator and teacher feedback to managing student behavior plans, this breakthrough tool is designed to free up your time and focus your energy where it matters most.

Developing Educator Systems of Support and Equitable Pathways Across Oregon - The 2016 Governor's Council proposed an "Oregon Professional Learning and Educator Support System" to create an "equitable, sustainable mechanism for distributing professional learning resources and educator support" accounting for local contexts and priorities while leveraging the expertise and leadership capacity of educators. In 2017, the Oregon Legislature codified this recommendation into law through Senate Bill 182, creating the Educator Advancement Council (EAC). Join the EAC team to learn about the mission and vision of the Council, its key initiatives (such as the ten Regional Educator Networks and Grow Your Own Partnerships) and how both initiatives are working to improve educator systems of support and pathways across the state of Oregon so every child in Oregon thrives and succeeds. There will be time throughout the presentation to build shared understanding, provide feedback and ask questions.

Mentorship Programs and the Impact on Budgets - Hiring new staff is time consuming and expensive. Learn how successful mentorship programs can reduce the cost of turnover and assist with managing budgets.

Bargaining in Focus: Hot Topics and Emerging Trends - Stay ahead of the curve with this deep dive into the latest trends and pressing issues in bargaining. From evolving labor dynamics to legal updates and innovative strategies, this session will explore what's shaping negotiations today. Gain insights to navigate current challenges and position your team for success in an ever-changing landscape.