NYSASBO's 64th Annual Meeting & Exhibits

Charting a Course for the Future

June 3-6, 2012

Saratoga Springs City Center & Saratoga Hilton, Saratoga Springs, New York

Registrations for the Annual Conference are available for purchase in the NYSASBO Online Store!

To view the full Annual Conference Announcement, click here.

Exhibit Hall is Sold Out!
For Exhibitors - Set up is Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the Trade Show starts at 3:30 p.m. with the Opening Reception. Breakdown will be Tuesday after 2:00 p.m.

Super Sessions (see descriptions on page 3)

Managing a Capital Project From Voter Approval to Completion
(Institute Hours: 2.5, Facility Management / CPE: 3.5)
This workshop will cover the steps in the capital project process from voter approval to completion: budget development, aidability, design development process, construction document development process, SED review, bidding and award of contracts, financing plan and obtaining financing, managing construction, certified payrolls, project close-out, Final Building Project Report, Post-Issuance Compliance and the IRS
Presenters: Jim King, King & King Architects; Garry Herbert, Lend Lease; Mark Vislosky, Fiscal Advisors & Marketing; Ted Trespasz, Trespasz & Marquardt, LLP; Joseph Shields, Ferrara Fiorenza Larrison Barrett & Reitz
Moderator: Michael A. Shusda, Fiscal Advisors & Marketing, Inc.

District Technology Options - IT Should Not Be A Budget Burden
(Institute Hours: 2.5, Information Management)
Forget doing more with less, we need to figure out how to do less with less. Join us to learn how to better connect the dots between IT and your budget. Learn how to better evaluate the IT priorities in your district and consider alternatives to meeting the current demand from teachers, administrators, and students. Sal DeAngelo, Chief Technology Officer at Bethlehem CSD, along with a panel of experts will introduce you to innovative ways to use technology and cut spending. Topics include: security considerations, consolidating printing services or using MPS (Managed Print Services), strategically outsourcing aspects of IT, hosted services (email, VoIP communications), levering eRate funding, energy management, server and desktop virtualization, and strategic purchasing. A brief presentation will be followed by facilitated discussion between the audience and a panel of experts to include: Dawn Abbuhl, President, Repeat Business Systems (print consolidation and managed print services); Brian Hogan, President, New England Systems and Software (eRate funding consultants, virtualization and other network/system integration solutions); Brent Jones, Sales Representative, Annese and Associates (energy management, virtualization and other network/system solutions); Reg Harnish, Chief Security Strategist, Grey Castle Security (network and information security).
Presenters: Sal DeAngelo, MBA, SDL, Chief Techonology Officer, Bethlehem CSD; Panel listed above

Extended Session 1

Lessons Learned from Year One of the NYS Tax Levy Cap Law
(Institute Hours: 1.5, Financial Resources Management, CPE: 1.5)
This session will take a look at what worked and what didn't from the fiscal and communications perspectives as well as what we have learned as we move forward to
year two.
Presenters: Michele Levings, Director, State Aid and Financial Planning Service, Questar III;
Deborah Bush Suflita, Senior Communications Manager, Capital Region BOCES Communications Service

Extended Session 2

Legal Update
(Institute Hours: 1.5, Educational Enterprise / CPE: 1.5)
The school business official maintains responsibility for compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Each year, the courts hear cases that further interpret laws and regulations, challenge administrative judgment, and set a future course from compliance. This session will present a summary of judicial activity within the 2011-2012 school year, inclusive of updates on cases brought forth in previous years.
Presenter: Eric J. Wilson, Esq. Ferrara, Fiorenza, Larrison, Barrett & Reitz

Negotiating in Tough Economic Times
(Institute Hours: 1.5, Humam Resource Management)
With reductions in state and federal resources, rising health insurance and pension costs and a newly enacted property tax levy cap, well planned and executed collective bargaining agreements are critical to the continuation of school programs and services. Drew Cullen, an experienced data analyst, will present strategies for analyzing and using data for effective negotiations during these difficult economic times.
Presenter: Drew Cullen, Coordinator, Labor Relations/Data Analysis, Capital Region BOCES

Regular Session 1

APPR and Common Core: How These Are Affecting Members Of Your District Administration Team
(Institute Hours: 1, Human Resource Management / CPE: 1)
Just as the business office is faced with planning budgets with the reality of decreased state aid and the 2% tax levy cap, our fellow instructional administrators are facing their own challenges. In these times of economic hardships and changes to education it is essential to a district to have an effective administration team. This seminar will provide you with an overview of the new APPR and common core requirements and what it means to your fellow administrators.
Presenter: Anita Murphy, Associate Commissioner, NYS Education Department

Credit Rating Implications
(Institute Hours: 1, Financial Resource Management / CPE: 1)
Robert Weber from Moody's and Richard Tortora from Capital Markets Advisors will speak about school district credit ratings. This will include how the new tax levy limits may affect these ratings and how this could affect future borrowing.
Presenter: Robert Weber, Moody's & Richard Tortora, Capital Markets Advisors, LLC

Exhibitor Spotlight Sessions

Planning to Lead with Diminishing Resources and Community Support
Turner Construction Company

Comprehensive Building Projects Can Cut Energy Costs 20-30%
Trane

Financing Options To Stretch Your Budget
Municipal Leasing Consultants

Paperless Business Office b
Weidenhammer

Exhibitor Spotlight Sessions

Cyber Liability Exposures and Insurance Protection
School Insurance Group

Planning for your District’s Future Energy Demands
CSArch Architecture | Engineering | Construction Management

Analyze Your Transportation for Cost Savings 
Transfinder

Fleet Replacement Planning
Leonard Bus Sales, Inc.

How to Use Energy Performance Contracting to Mitigate the Financial Crisis
ECG Engineering, P.C.

Regular Session 2

Bond Counsel Update: The IRS, the Tax Levy Limit, and Tax Increment Financing
(Institute Hours: 1, Financial Resource Management / CPE: 1)
Learn about the stepped up pace of IRS audits of school borrowings in New York and what you can do to get ready; the consequences of selling or leasing school buildings if bonds remain outstanding; the tax levy limit and how it affects school borrowings; and the new law allowing school districts to participate in tax increment financing for economic develop projects.
Presenters: Martin Geiger, Dan Birmingham, & Bill Jackson, Attorneys, Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP

How to Prepare an Effective MD&A
(Institute Hours: 1, Financial Resource Management / CPE: 1)
Management's Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) can be a powerful tool to assist the School Business Official in the communication process. However, it is a tool that is often underutilized, or not utilized properly. In this presentation, Brian R. DuMond, CPA will discuss what is required to be in the district's MD&A, identify common mistakes and problems to avoid, and offer some best practices and considerations so your district can use this tool to its fullest potential.
Presenter: Brian R. DuMond, CPA, Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC

Regular Session 3

Future of Public Education
(Institute Hours: 1, Educational Enterprise)
Public education is clearly at a crossroads. Bob will reflect on the economy and recent public policy changes affecting school districts and offer his insights into the fundamental questions school district administrators will face over the next few years.
Presenter: Robert Lowry, Deputy Director, NYSCOSS

Strategies for Managing Employee Benefits & Insurance
(Institute Hours: 1, Human Resource Management / CPE: 1)
This session will feature a panel of our Business Associates knowledgeable in new and innovative employee benefit plans. As districts struggle with state aid cuts and tax cap implications, the panel will provide snapshots of cost effective plans available for current and retired employees. The facilitator will lead the workshop attendees in a discussion of other cost saving strategies.
Panel of Business Associates: James Stanis of J.J. Stanis & Co. Inc.; Michael Grinnell of Haylor, Freyer & Coon, Inc.; Augusta Martin, MVP Healthcare

SBO Leadership Academy Session
(Institute Hours: 1, Educational Enterprise)
This session will engage previous Academy graduates in a discussion of how principles learned in the Academy have helped School Business Officials deal successfully with the leadership challenges of the job.
Presenter: Dr. Robert McClure, Superintendent-in-Residence, NYS Council of School Superintendents

Regular Session 4

Staffing Size Analysis
(Institute Hours: 1, Human Resource Management)
This session will address how to analyze staff within your district as a whole and within specific departments to determine if your district is staffed properly. It will examine 'best practices' in schools by using industry data information for comparative purposes. The session will also examine alternative staffing configurations and possible cost saving strategies.
Presenter: Dr. Joseph Natale, Interim Business Official, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk CSD

Strategies on Using a School District's Internal Audit Function in Tough Economic Times
(Institute Hours: 1, Financial Resource Management / CPE:1)
This session will focus on how a School District can better utilize the Internal Auditor, by exploring operational areas that may be inefficient or can be done in a less costly manner, and areas where the Internal Audit could help identify how additonal revenues can be generated and expenditures reduced. The session will also examine best practices.
Presenter: Marianne Van Duyne, CPA, R.S. Abrams & Co. LLP

School Business Administrator’s Contract
(Institute Hours: 1, Educational Enterprise)
This workshop will examine the contractual relationship between the school business administrator and the board of education from the time of probationary appointment to the granting of tenure and beyond.
Presenters: Attorneys of Tabner, Ryan, and Keniry, LLP

Regular Session 5

Regionalization & Consolidations
(Institute Hours: 1, Educational Enterprise)
Sharing, Restructuring and Reorganization: Will cover various sharing opportunities (administrators, facilities, etc), recent findings on regional high schools and the merger process.
Presenter: Alan Pole, Associate, Castallo & Silky

Best Practices in School Financial Management: Be Pro-active in Managing Your School
(Institute Hours: 1, Financial Resource Management / CPE: 1)
This session will cover school district financial management best practices, culminated from OSC audit findings and recommendations.
Presenter: Nathaalie N. Carey, Assistant Comptroller, Office of the State Comptroller

Annual Meeting and General Session

The Future of New York State Revenues and the Impact on School Aid
(Institute Hours: 1, Financial Resource Management / CPE: 1.5)
With the recent school district property tax levy cap and the limits on school aid formulas, many school districts are struggling to maintain services. At this session, Robert Megna, Director of the State Division of the Budget will detail the state's revenue projections and discuss what this may mean for school district long-term planning
Presenter: Robert Megna, Director, State Division of the Budget

Super Session 2

The Tech Savvy SBO - A Hands On Approach
(Institute Hours: 2.5, Information Management)
How do you organize and keep up-to-date with all the information you need? How do you manage the projects and tasks you and your staff need to complete? How do you collaborate and network with your colleagues? Thanks to the Web, these old questions have new solutions you may have never considered. Don't run the risk of falling behind. There's still time to learn about current trends in personal productivity on the Web. This session will introduce you to and provide a hands on instructrion to some of the most popular productivity tools available.
Presenters: Dr. Jennifer Bolton Carls, Deputy Superintendent, Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES;
Matthew Cardinale, Director of Membership & Operations, NYSASBO