Webinar - Consolidation: Pros, Cons, Pressures!

The governance of the State of California remains dysfunctional. Each year school districts are asked to do more with less. Legislators, public leaders and even grand juries have entered into the fray with recommendations that one way to solve fiscal problems within small districts is to consolidate them, reduce administrators and stretch those dollars!

SSDA is neither a proponent or opponent of consolidation. We believe in districts combining services but also strongly believe that consolidation of small districts must be a local decision and not mandated from a legislative body.

To help keep districts informed on Consolidation issues, SSDA will sponsor a Webinar on Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Presenters at the Webinar will be Dr. Terence McAteer - Superintendent, Inyo County Office of Education and Ray Odom - Superintendent of Hamilton Unified School District.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank our Webinar Sponsor:

On-line registration is available by: clicking here.

SSDA 27th ANNUAL CONFERENCE – APRIL 14-16, 2010

Early Bird Registration Ends February 19, 2010

“Students Need Every Single One of Us!”

SSDA Annual Conference Chairman, Dr. David Hutt, Superintendent of San Bruno Park Elementary School District, is pleased to invite all representatives of small districts to attend the 27^th Annual Conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento on April 14-16, 2010.

During these difficult times one must be well educated with current legislation, the budget, and creative options for guiding our districts. The place to find this information and engage in stimulating conversation will be at the SSDA 27th Annual Conference.

A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE of events is now available. The Conference begins on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. with Keynote Speaker, John Vandenburgh, "The Power of Relations in Education!" followed by an excellent trade show and refreshments. A full day of Workshops is scheduled for Thursday, April 15, 2010. David Walrath will provide his insights at breakfast on Friday, April 16, 2010 followed by two hour workshops presented by the five most highly rated presenters form the 2009 Conference. Please click here for the TENTATIVE SCHEDULE.

For a listing of our "Workshops"...see below..

Click here for a listing of our "Tentative Workshops" being held on Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (latest update 01/26/10)

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010 SPECIAL:

YOU WANTED MORE, WE LISTENED!

Your evaluations regarding the 2009 Annual Conference indicated several workshops to be outstanding and in need of more time.

Conference Chair, Dr. David Hutt, with support of the Executive Committee restructured the Annual Conference and added two-hour workshops after David Walrath’s presentation on Friday, April 16, 2010, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Those popular workshops and presenters are listed below.

Click here for a listing of our "2-hour Workshops" being held on Friday, April 16, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Click here for a printable registration form (District/COE)

Click here to register on-line (District/COE)

Keynote speakers for the event have been selected and confirmed:

John Vandenburgh – an ever popular and nationally recognized speaker, program developer, and trainer on violence prevention and youth development approaches to education, will return.

Gary Zelesky – One word that encapsulates Gary Zelesky: PASSION. Gary’s exciting, enthusiastic energy and explosive humor are definitely memorable, but it is his PASSION for life and the audience and his ability to connect with them in a way few do that makes Gary such a demanded speaker.

Matt Spathas – a passionate presenter, will speak on transforming the 150-year-old educational delivery system, to engage students and prepare them for the 21^st century.

David Walrath – SSDA’s highly respected and informative Legislative Advocate, will present his views on current legislation and fiscal issues impacting small districts.

The Executive Committee changed the format from Thursday-Friday-Saturday to Wednesday-Thursday-Friday. In addition, the five most popular workshops from last year’s successful conference have been invited back. Each will present two hour workshops on Friday, April 16, 2010, after David Walrath’s presentation.

Trustees and Superintendents should register early to receive the “Early Bird” benefit of a reduced cost of registration (click here to register online). Special room rates have been negotiated with the Doubletree Hotel. Online room reservations at The Doubletree Hotel are available click here.

Associates with questions regarding Trade Show information and booth availability click here or you may call SSDA at (916) 444-9335, and direct your questions to Executive Assistant, Shelly Tillery (shelly@ssda.org) or Executive Director, Al Sandrini (al@ssda.org).

Charlie Binderup Award for an Outstanding Superintendent

About the Award

Established in 1990, the $500.00 award recognizes an individual member superintendent of the Small School Districts’ Association who has, over a significant period of time, made an outstanding contribution to small school district leadership and management. Nominations may be made by SSDA members and other members of the public. The award is made in the name of Charlie Binderup, an outstanding small school district superintendent in California.

The purpose of the SSDA Charlie Binderup Award is:

To honor a small school district superintendent who through individual leadership and sustained effort has made worthy contributions to the operation of a small school district and to advancing the role of small school district superintendents in the educational arena and in the community.

To recognize the responsible and influential role of a small school district leader in developing successful school environments.

To stimulate the replication of small school district best practices and programs.

Eligibility

Small School District Superintendents currently in administrative office, directly responsible for a small school district (less the 5,000 ADA).

A District must be a current SSDA member. Current members of the Executive Committee are not eligible to be nominated.

Please click here for the nomination form. Once completed, please fax to (916) 441-4851 (deadline for submittal is Friday, February 26, 2010).