Balancing Budgets, School Finance, and Performance Standards

Balancing Budgets, School Finance, and Performance Standards - The 62nd Annual Summer Conference on Education focuses on the critical decisions school leaders are making in preparation for the 2010-11 school year. Sessions address a wide range of finance issues including performance-based budgeting, the foundation school program, balancing the budget, tax rate elections, federal program requirements, teacher retirement, and general expenditure strategies. Highlights include:

Sunday, June 27

Creating a New Vision for Public Education: Transforming Schools in a Time of Economic Stress--Superintendent Participants, TASA's Public Education Visioning Institute
Explores opportunities for implementing effective practices that reflect the work of the Visioning Institute to counterbalance the effects of statewide shortfalls and retrenchment. 

School Budgeting in Hard Times: Confronting Cutbacks and Critics--William K. Poston, Jr.
Offers insight into tools and procedures designed to enhance school system productivity within the prevailing context of limited resources and problematical decision-making in resource allocations.

Sunday Afternoon Sessions--Doug Karr, Larry Stavinoha, Larry Throm
Concentrate on strategies for balancing school district budgets and school finance to take full advantage of the state's foundation school program, tax rate elections, financial exigency, dealing with staff reductions, and general expenditure strategies.

Monday, June 28

U.S. Department of Education Update--Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana
Provides attendees with news, information and updates pertaining to the U.S. Secretary of Education's policies affecting elementary and secondary education.

TEA Update--Criss Cloudt, Anita Givens, Ann Smisko, Adam Jones
Offers a panel discussion by TEA leadership about current agency direction on the commissioner's rule review process, new curriculum and graduation requirements, data systems, assessment, and accountability and the effect of anticipated funding cuts on the TEA budget.

Monday Afternoon Sessions--School Finance Experts
Feature the latest changes in the accountability system, state funding, compliance with federal program requirements, teacher retirement, and UIL.

Tuesday, June 29

The Legislative Agenda: School Finance and the 2011 State Budget--Lynn Moak, David Thompson, Catherine Clark
Provides a perspective on school finance and what to expect in the 82nd Legislative session.

2010-11 School Finance Template and Budget Planning--Omar Garcia
Concentrates on the finer points of the 2010-11 school finance template and offers important information on budget planning for the upcoming school year.

Budget Planning for 2010-11 and Beyond: What Superintendents Need to Know and Do Now!--Superintendent Panel
Provides an action plan for addressing critical budget planning decisions in light of current school finance scenarios in preparation for the 2010-11 school year and beyond.

Superintendents, business officials, and other district-level administrators who are in the midst of the budget planning process won't want to miss this information-packed conference. Online registration and housing are now open. Register today!!

Housing
Rooms have been blocked at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. Room reservations should be made soon, as rooms tend to go quickly! Please call the hotel directly. Reservations must be guaranteed with a deposit or credit card. The hotel reservation deadline is Friday, June 4, 2010.

Renaissance Austin Hotel
9721 Arboretum Blvd.
$158 single/$168 double
$188 triple/quad

Call 512-343-2626; 800-468-3571