| Preconference Education |
| Michigan Council of School Attorneys 2015 Fall Conference Thursday, Oct. 22 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
The 2015 edition of the Michigan Council of School Attorneys Fall Conference includes two early bird sessions for MASB's Annual Leadership Conference that focus on the legal issues currently confronting school officials. MCSA President Catherine Brechtelsbauer invites you to attend this one-of-kind opportunity to learn from the school law experts about the latest updates and details on complying with school related laws and court decisions. School law experts from Clark Hill, Collins & Blaha, Lusk & Albertson, Thrun Law Firm and MASB will offer information, insight and guidance on a variety of topics while delivering the following presentations:
Whether you are an attorney, board member or school administrator, the sessions are designed for you if you are interested in the cutting edge legal issues that confront school districts. |
| Early Bird Workshop Thursday, Oct. 22 Noon - 3 p.m. Avoiding Fiscal Distress: Six Tenets of Sustainability Donald Sovey, CPA, President & CEO, School Municipal Advisory Services, P.C. and Debbie Stair, MASB Board Development Manager Good planning and communication can help strengthen your district financial picture. This session will be conducted as a dialogue with participants on how we can best work toward fiscal sustainability while meeting the objectives of the district strategic plan. Six Tenets of Sustainability will provide the basis for this presentation and you will be able to assess how your district measures up to the standards. |
| General Sessions |
| Friday, Oct. 23 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Michigan Ballroom |
 Kenneth Wesson |
|
In her book “What Is Going on in There,” neuroscientist Lise Eliot states, “We owe it to our children to help them grow the best brains possible.” The learning strategies deployed in STEM education today constitute the most effective instructional approach correlated to how the developing brain learns. The most effective learning (1) occurs over time, (2) is easy to remember and (3) is most likely to be applied in real-world contexts because the brain translates content connections into neural interconnections inside the brain. These become the essential building blocks of interdisciplinary understanding that sponsors the “ah-ha!” experiences that signal learner engagement at any age. This is why STEM learning works. More importantly, in this interactive presentation, you will see why STEM and ST2REAM models foster creative thinking, which is the engine that drives every successful economy in today’s world. Together, cognitive science and STEM will help us grow the best brains possible in the next generation. |
| Friday, Oct. 23 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Michigan Ballroom |
Michigan Education Leadership Panel Karen McPhee, Governor's New Senior Education Policy Adviser Brian Whiston, New State Superintendent Chris Wigent, New MASA Executive Director Don Wotruba, New MASB Executive Director |
| It’s an unprecedented time in Michigan with new leaders at the helm of MASA, MASB, the Department of Education and the Governor’s Education Advisory Team. Join them in what is sure to be a spirited discussion of what they see for the future of education in Michigan. |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 2 - 3 p.m. Governor's Hall |
 Jim Burgett |
| School boarding is not a science, nor is it a single player sport. It is, in fact, both an art and a team sport. And just like anything else, if you want to do it successfully you have to know what works and what doesn’t. Based on his book, "The Art of School Boarding," Jim’s presentation talks about avoiding the 10 most common issues, and also how to handle “customer” complaints in a way that leads to understanding and growth. To the point, fun and practical from start to finish. |
