Program

In a time where, where multiple storms have coincided with the larger COVID pandemic storm, people continue to struggle with a myriad of challenges and ongoing uncertainty that touches all areas of one’s life. This presentation offers insight into recognizing that adversity affects us all and if we can offer a little hope, inspiration and support to others, why wouldn’t we do that whether it be for our own team members or those from the broader community. In the end, it reminds us that the thread which binds us all together is that we are human, and we need each other especially in times of challenge and adversity, this presentation provides insight into how we can weather challenging storms, together.

Find what your colleagues across the Commonwealth are doing with any question you have (no question to big or small).

It’s one thing to have established security practices. It’s another to have staff members who follow those practices. This interactive presentation will address effective ways to promote a culture of safety and motivate individuals to make personal investments. Attendees will benefit from practical strategies and helpful security and emergency preparedness resources.

Building re-tuning is a systematic process to identify and correct building operational problems that lead to energy waste. The goal is to identify measures that can be implemented at no or low cost other than the labor required to perform the re-tuning process.

Principles and techniques of Commercial Building Retuning have the potential to save between 5% and 25% of all energy used in a commercial building.

Participants will gain insight into the following areas: understanding the purpose and benefit of building re-tuning, as well as techniques and tools necessary for conducting an effective building walk down to identify low/no cost energy saving opportunities.

With the ESSER funding ending this calendar year, it is expected that many school entities in Pennsylvania will be facing the prospect of considering furloughs and layoffs of staff. The presentation will highlight the legal procedures that must be followed in the case of suspending or furloughing professional and non-professional staff in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and some practical advice for districts engaging in this process so that legal liability can be limited to the extent possible.

Explore collective leadership strategies at both the school and district level to improve the recruitment and retention of teachers of color. Research shows that students benefit when they have access to diverse teachers, yet teachers of color leave schools at a higher rate than white teachers. In this session we highlight educator demographic data for the state of Pennsylvania, share research-based best practices and recommendations, and highlight the lessons learned from districts who have collaboratively designed and implemented strategies for improving the recruitment and retention of teachers of color.

This session will provide an introduction and overview of the ESSER grants and ESSER monitoring as well as present the Top Observation risks encountered through the previous and present Monitoring Cycles and how to overcome them.

This session will clarify what Late Liquidation is, the LEA’s responsibilities and the rules around the requesting Late Liquidation. Also, may ESSER, GEER, or EANS-funded activities continue after the obligation and liquidation period?

This session will highlight educational entities’ innovative uses of ESSER funding that include well executed planning, strong outcomes, collaborations, and sustainability planning. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of sustainability planning with limited-term funding, how sustainability planning should go hand in hand with grant program development, evaluating the program’s return on investment to gauge its effectiveness and formulating plans in advance for sustainability.

School food authorities can adopt "special provisions" -- such as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 -- that streamline school meal operations for schools and districts, reduce the paperwork burden on households and districts, and increase food and benefits access for students and their families. How do these provisions work? What are the costs and benefits of adopting one of these provisions? Join this session to get a crash course on special provisions, an understanding of the provisions' potential impacts both inside and outside of the school environment, and tools to determine if these provisions are right for your school or district.

This session will focus on PSERS and VOYA reporting including best practices to help prevent and correct errors.

There are no shortages of obstacles and challenges to balancing the budget as we move past the pandemic. Inflation, staff shortages, incentives, additional support services, loss of ESSER funds, and benefit increases are all leading to a fiscal cliff of monumental proportions. Navigating these challenges will require a multi-pronged approach to successfully prevail. Communication, data driven decision-making and strong financial projections and analysis will be critical. Learn how you can effectively manage these intensified challenges.

Hear 2024 staffing trends, learn tips to increase your number of applications, discover how important retention is, and walk away excited to try specific food service strategies for staffing!

Did you know there are tracking systems for buses that allow parents to track their children through an app on their smartphones or computers? That’s right. Just imagine, no more “lost” students on the way to or from school each day. Join us for this session to learn more about how these systems can provide peace of mind for both Districts and parents.

FLSA for the Payroll Professional. Take a more in-depth look at issues impacting FLSA and how employees are paid. We'll look at Blended Rates, Stipends, Student Workers, Comp Time and Hours Worked vs Hours Paid for OT.

This session will focus on understanding the following payroll taxes: Federal, State, Local, State Unemployment Insurance, and Local Services Tax.

FMLA isn’t just a Human Resources thing. Join us for an insightful session covering all things FMLA that you as a School Business Official need to know.

This dynamic keynote inspires participants to step up in a new way to overcome resistance and reach higher than ever by cultivating Exponential Commitment in themselves and those around them. Participants will learn essential Vertical Lessons for deepening their commitment, building momentum, and achieving breakthroughs in even the most challenging circumstances.