For more information and to submit a proposal, visit our website and click on Request to Present Proposals and complete the online form. Submissions are due no later than November 25, 2015.

 Important take-a-ways from Kevin's keynote presentation "Think Differently"

November 6th was a great ASBO kind of day at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute as we convened our 64th Annual Fall Conference with 234 attendees and 41 of our valued exhibitors. The day started at 7:30 with a continental breakfast and the opportunity to network and visit the exhibits. After a short business meeting (visit asbo.org to learn about the Fay Miller Education Leadership Eagle Institute Award and the Paul B. Bell Award), the first set of nine education sessions began with topics ranging from The Ripple Effect: Inspiring and Leading Transformational Change taught by our dynamic Keynote Speaker, Dr. Kevin Snyder, to Procuring Local Food for School Meals, to Increasing Transparency with Simple Online Budget Dashboards – the entire program is available at our website. Following another networking and exhibit opportunity, the second block of education sessions started. These included A Guide to Inspecting and Maintaining Various Roofing Systems, How One School System is Meeting the School Bus Driver Shortage, and Are You Prepared – the Auditors Are Coming to Town. Following lunch, the General Session reconvened and the 2015 winner of the Brice and Shirley Phillips Best Practice Award was announced – Stephen Starmer, Frederick County Public Schools, was selected for developing a strategic plan to best manage printing and copying requirements across the school system, using project management.  As the winner, Steve receives free Spring Conference registration; an oceanfront hotel room at the new Conference Hotel, the 67th Street Holiday Inn in Ocean City; and $1,500 to be used for ASBO professional development activities.

Dr. Snyder, our Keynote Speaker, then presented, "Think Differently – Viewing Change as a Catalyst for Growth" an engaging and moving (literally) tour de force. He had everyone on their feet and challenged us to think positively and creatively about change. The conference then adjourned and everyone was invited to attend B.I.G (Best Idea Group) discussions to continue what they had just learned and experienced. A very full day of education, new ideas, and engagement. Dr. Snyder has generously offered to give ASBO members a digital version of his new book, "Empower Your Employees". To get yours, just text the word KevinCSnyder to #22828! The book is delivered once you input your email. Or email Kevin directly kevin@kevincsnyder.com. The PowerPoint presentations from the education sessions are also available there (located at the bottom of the page), so even if you were unable to attend, you can read them and talk with your colleagues who were fortunate enough to be there in person. You can also download a copy of the program, schedule, or sessions by going to our website at asbo.org. The 64th Annual Spring Conference will be held in Ocean City from May 22-25, 2016. Mark it on your calendars – it will be a great one, with some surprises. We’ll be announcing education sessions in January so you can plan early.

Best Ideas Group (B.I.G.) Sessions are another opportunity to get together in an informal setting with colleagues in your particular area of school business to talk about solutions to nagging problems that you may be having, discuss new legislation and regulations and how you’ll be complying with them, develop new contacts throughout ASBO MD&DC, and generally learn about how colleagues are meeting the challenges that all of you face as you support the teachers and students in the classroom.

There is no set agenda. There will be several ‘warm up’ questions that you have suggested prior to the meeting, but the direction of the rest of the conversation is up to you.The B.I.G. Forums (free to members, by the way) will all be held from 9:00-Noon in the Board Room at the Anne Arundel County Board of Education at 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401. Coffee, tea, and water will be provided

Click here for the B.I.G. Schedule on our website at asbo.org

A long sought-after goal of many individuals in the field of school business management has been the attainment of professionalism not only in the acquired knowledge and experience, but in the recognition by peers in the school business field, in other facets of education, and in other professions. Our Professional Certification Program offers both acknowledgment and recognition for professionals in all levels of school business management.

UPDATE: All sessions start at 9:00 AM 

Schedule of Foundations Sessions 

Congratulations to Jim Jewell, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Harford County Public Schools, retired effective July 3, 2015.

 Congratulations Steve!

ASBO congratulates the following Baltimore County members on their promotions! Melanie Webster has been promoted to Fiscal Supervisor – Procurement Jenny Howard promoted to – Fiscal Supervisor - Accounting

Beth Wilson of Dorchester County Public Schools, has been promoted from Administrative Assistant for the Assistant Superintendent for Administration, to Assistant Human Resources Administrator. Previously Beth worked as Payroll Specialist for the Board. She is currently working on her Degree in Human Resources at Wilmington University. Beth is looking forward to being able to have a positive impact on our school system in her new position.

Baltimore County Public Schools is pleased to welcome Whit Tantleff as the new manager of the Office of Budget and Reporting. Whit previously served as Budget Director for Baltimore City Schools. Before transitioning to the government sector, Whit served as a naval officer and then a finance manager with a Fortune 100 company. Most recently, he was CFO for the Baltimore City Health Department.

October 27, 2015 - Facility Maintenance Decisions magazine awarded Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) their Facility Maintenance Achievement Award for Personnel Management.  This competitive award recognizes successful operation of institutional and commercial facilities, as determined by online voting, a panel of judges, and the magazine's editors.  FCPS’ submittals earned finalist status in the Personnel Management and Sustainability award categories.  As such, FCPS is the first organization in the award's history to be named a finalist in two categories. 

In the end, the magazine bestowed the award in recognition of our professional development program.

November 2, 2015 – Security Magazine released its 2015 Security 500 Rankings in eighteen sectors, including Education (K-12).  For 2015, Frederick County Public Schools ranked 6th (moving up a notch from 7th in 2014).  For more information, please visit:  www.securitymagazine.com/articles/86732-security-500-rankings.

Mr. Dwayne Abt, is the Assistant Superintendent of Administration for Dorchester County Public Schools....and he is at the wheel assisting as a substitute bus driver. Mr. Abt acquired his School Bus endorsement for his Maryland License at the start of the 2015-2016 school year. He has always held a CDL license and has driven all size trucks for his Father-in-Law’s large farming operation. When the Transportation Office finds itself shorthanded for drivers, if his hectic schedule allows, Mr. Abt is quick to jump on the bus and help out where he can.

Congratulations to Deborah Judd who is the new Assistant Superintendent for Business Services for Harford County. Eric Clark was promoted to the Director of Budget, and to Melanie Wernig who is moving from the Risk Management Office to accept a similar position with Baltimore County Public Schools.

"These articles originally appeared in the October 2015 School Business Affairs magazine and are reprinted with permission of the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBOI). The text herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of ASBO International, and use of this imprint does not imply any endorsement or recognition by ASBO International and its officers or affiliates."

LEADERSHIP:: Effective leaders understand the importance of staff engagement and commitment. Gain insight into how effective leaders build an effective team in this article by By Stan H. Wisler in the October 2015 issue of School Business Affairs magazine.

LEADERSHIP::Anyone who is in a role deemed "leader" should understand some of the practical issues related to what is and is not "leading."Understanding the differences between leading and managing is important for success. By Alan E. Nelson, Ed.D in the October 2015 issue of School Business Affairs

LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE ISSUES:October 2015 issue of School Business Daily, Charles J. Russo, J.D., Ed.D. writes, "In an increasingly litigious society wherein parents and their children file a broad spectrum of claims against school systems, it is essential that education leaders have at least a basic understanding of school law".

LEADERSHIP::In the October issue of SBA, Jeff Feyerer was able to discuss with new board members the elements of school business, and the six aspects of school business that school business officials should share with the school board.

LEADERSHIP::Effective change models are important elements of successful leadership in a changing world.                         By David Dolph, Ph.D.

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS:: Since the economic meltdown in 2009, school district have been forced to decrease or even eliminate budget increases across the board, despite being required to implement government mandates without the benefit of more government funding. A school in Woodbridge, Connecticut rallied the entire staff to find cost savings and efficiencies. by Jack B. Levine, November issue SBA.

LEADERSHIP:: Job sharing in district leadership positions offers a wide range of benefits. by Karen Starr, Ph.D, November Issue SBA

LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE ISSUES:: Education leaders should understand their responsibilities when it comes to reporting suspected child abuse. By Charles J. Russo, J.D., Ed.D., November Issue SBA

FACILITIES:: A 30-year master plan is helping Rice University achieve a net-zero carbon campus By John Carlson, PE, and Abbe Bjorklund, PE, November Issue SBA

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS:: This five-step, data-based CIP development process documents needs and helps secure funding. By John Hutchison, CPA, MBA, SFO

On October 2, after more than 7 years years as U.S. Education Secretary,  Arne Duncan announced plans to step down from his Cabinet position by the end of December, 2015, leaving the Obama administration more than a year before the president’s term will end. Duncan, 50, has been one of the longest-serving education secretaries and, by some accounts, the most influential.

Duncan was able to influence states to adopt his favored policies by taking advantage of two powerful devices: competitive federal grants known as Race to the Top and waivers that excused states from the requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, a federal law widely disliked by states. In order to compete for a grant under Race to the Top, or to receive a waiver under No Child Left Behind, states adopted Duncan’s policies. Today, more than 40 states hold such waivers.  Read more about Arne Duncan by visiting the White House.gov

   Named the city's 2015 Teacher of the Year, Ryan Kaiser, a social studies teacher at The Mount Washington      School, brings learning to life for students and shares his passion and practices with teachers in Baltimore  a      and across the nation. City schools pointed to Kaiser's contributions in and out of the classroom as the              reason he was chosen for  the top title.

State education officials say new standardized tests last year saved the state more than $2.5 million, compared to previous state assessments.

The state Board of Education received an overview of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing, which was first used in Maryland during the 2014-2015 school year.Statewide, 1.3 million tests were completed during the school year. More than 80 percent of students took the assessments online.

Read more about PARCC testing