B03 – HVAC’s Impact on Coronavirus and Beyond

Over the course of the last two years schools have been inundated with Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) “solutions” designed to improve indoor air in the battle against Coronavirus. Learn where things stand now regarding HVAC’s impact on the spread of the virus and how various equipment approaches performed. Discover basic HVAC principles and how it impacts Indoor Air Quality, Coronavirus or not.

Presenter(s): Gregory Adamczyk and Jonathan Rumohr, IGNYTE design

 

B04 – The Future of Domestic Water Heaters

Learn about newer technologies being applied to domestic water heating systems that are changing the landscape for providing hot water to building occupants. These new systems use less energy and also reduce footprints in mechanical spaces. You will also learn about other interesting features. Learn how building codes are changing regarding domestic hot water and how these codes may affect your buildings.

Presenter(s): Mark Fine, R.L. Deppman Co.

 

B05 – Accounting and Auditing Update

Understand the recent and upcoming changes in accounting standards and audit requirements relevant to your school district, including new GASB impacts and much more. Learn what to expect from your auditors for the upcoming audit season so your school district can avoid audit findings.

Presenter(s): Michael Evrard and Kristi Krafft-Bellsky, Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants

 

B06 – Understanding Bank Technology & What You’re Really Earning on Deposits

New banking technologies offer school districts tools to improve fiscal controls, operate more efficiently and gain timely access to information on cash positions. Learn new technologies and understand what you earn on bank deposits, which in many cases is less than stated earnings rates.

Presenter(s): Brian K. Quinn, MILAF+/PFM Asset Management, LLC

 

B07 – Budget Timelines for ISDs

Did you know that budgeting for ISDs is different than at a local district? Timelines, communication, and complying with Michigan laws come in to play. Learn best practices.

Presenter(s): Jason Helsen, Muskegon Area ISD

 

B08 – How to Explain Additional Funding to Your Board, Staff and Community

Explaining your local budget as it compares to the state budget can be challenging. With the most recent revenue estimates and federal fund allocations, things are looking up, right? Learn how you can help your stakeholders understand the connection between the state and district budgets, in good times and bad.

Presenter(s): Jim English, Kalamazoo Public Schools

 

B09 – Enhancement Millages: Success Stories, Challenges, and Planning for the Future

Hear from districts that have successfully passed countywide enhancement millages. You will learn the structure and advantages of an enhancement millage and learn lessons from examples that will be provided.

Presenter(s): Mike Cuneo, Rockford Public Schools and Kevin D. Philipps, Kent ISD

 

B10 – Special Education State Aid and Federal Information and Updates

Learn about the current state aid cost report review processes, common errors, and how to calculate the Direct Charge Operation and Maintenance. Understand the Special Education Flowthrough grant processes in the new NexSys grant and cash management system, including a comprehensive overview and status update on Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Maintenance of Effort and Excess Cost requirements. Other current information and updates will be provided.

Presenter(s): John Andrejack and Cindy Keller, MDE

 

B11 – School Bond Election Planning & Strategies

Planning a successful bond election requires an understanding of all steps in the process, including the initial financial analysis and basic legal steps involved. Learn strategies and concepts in drafting ballot language. Learn factors impacting voter approval, addressing opposition and how to reach the right demographics including parents and absentee voters to ensure a successful bond campaign.

Presenter(s): Christopher J. Iamarino, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

 

B12 – Indirect Costs

Learn how to properly receive allowable reimbursements for your district programs. Find out how preliminary indirect cost rates are derived and what you use the final indirect rates for.

Presenter(s): Jessica Beagle and Philip Boone, MDE

 

B13 – State School Aid Fund Sources 101

To understand how schools are funded you need to start at the state level. Gain an understanding of the individual fund sources that feed the School Aid Fund and how that trickles down to the local school district. The interplay between state and local taxes, General Fund, and School Aid Fund will be discussed.

Presenter(s): Robert K. Dwan, MSBO

 

B14 – Bulletin 1022 Accounting Manual for New Business Managers

Learn the basics of the Bulletin 1022 public school accounting manual. Get an overview of the state requirements and how following the standard chart of accounts can help you better manage your district budget, accounting, and year-end reporting.

Presenter(s): Christopher May, MDE and Rhonda Potts, Battle Creek Public Schools

 

B15 – Critical Food Service Budget Metrics

Running a successful school food service operation is very much like running a successful business. There are many metrics to guide you in order to keep a program self-supporting. How should labor costs compare to food costs? How many meals per labor hour should be expected? Whether you are a food service director or a business manager with oversight responsibilities, it’s important for you to understand these data points, along with how to influence them positively for a financially successful program.

Presenter(s): Mary Darnton, Jennison Public Schools and Hudsonville Public Schools, and Carolyn Thomas, Macomb ISD

 

B16 – Getting the Most Out of Your ERP System

Get an overview of the landscape of Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) systems in Michigan K-12 districts, as well as best practices for districts to consider in order to optimize and maximize the performance of their ERP systems.

Presenter(s): Christopher Carr and Marv Sauer, Plante Moran

 

B17 – Legal Update

Learn significant legal developments that impact school districts. Hear an overview of state and federal legislation, attorney general opinions, court decisions, as well as other guidance covering a broad range of school law subjects — including finance, employment and labor law, student rights, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and Open Meetings Act (OMA).

Presenter(s): Daniel R. Martin and Ryan J. Nicholson Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

 

B18 – Public School Procurements: Navigating Federal Regulations

Public schools are using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to pay for various services, supplies, materials, equipment and construction projects.  Utilization of such federal funds, however, requires compliance with a series of federal laws and regulations.  Learn the nuances of public school procurements and requirements to comply with federal laws and regulations affecting these procurements.

Presenter(s): Dana L. Abrahams and Jeremy S. Motz, Clark Hill PLC

 

B19 – Collective Bargaining: Innovations and Advanced Strategies

Learn more advanced negotiation collective bargaining strategies.  Bargaining delays, tensions, public pressure, and other “roadblocks” are common in the collective bargaining process. Understand proven strategies for reaching a resolution when negotiations become difficult.

Presenter(s): Timothy T. Gardner, Jr., Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

 

B20 – Understanding and Reconciling ORS Payments

Learn new strategies for managing and oversight of ORS payments. Understand ORS changes and best practices for reconciling each pay period.

Presenter(s): Kathleen Hamilton, Muskegon Area ISD, Mason County Central Schools, and Ravenna Public Schools

B21 – Pupil Accounting Fundamentals

The pupil accounting rules and regulations can be a complex maze for both new and seasoned business officials. Learn the basic rules and regulations surrounding pupil accounting along with strategies for the 2021-22 school year.

Presenter(s): Jennifer K. Starlin, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

 

B22 – The Fundamentals of Contracts and Competitive Bidding

Every school business official needs a fundamental understanding of contracts and competitive bidding. Every contract a school district enters should be scrutinized for unfavorable and unlawful terms to prevent future headaches. Learn what needs to be competitively bid and what does not along with tips for updating your school district’s current competitive bidding and purchasing policies.

Presenter(s): Fredric G. Heidemann, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

B23 – Budgets for IT: A New Perspective

Using cost per pupil as a metric for IT funding is a new way of looking at budgeting. Learn the challenges and opportunities of developing a technology budget using total cost of ownership and lifecycle management. Understand ways to be proactive in collaborating with your business manager in prioritizing your technology expenditures.

Presenter(s): Susan Case, Forest Hills Public Schools and Matthew Lindner, Plante Moran

 

B24 – Ransomware — The Threat is Real and It Happened to Us!

Security protocols must be in place to protect school districts from ransomware attacks. The threat is real and several districts in Michigan have been struck in the last year. What happens if you are attacked, and your data is compromised? Learn best practices in security data and how the risk to school districts can be minimized.

Presenter(s): Kelly Holubeck-Gotts, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools and Steve Privasky, SET SEG

 

B25 – Managing Transportation Risks

Risk in transportation should be about a lot more than accidents and insurance. Learn to identify the operational risks that exist in a transportation department, establishing a mechanism to evaluate the severity of the risk, and developing mitigation strategies. Key areas of concern include drivers, policies and procedures, technology, contracts, and assets.

Presenter(s): Tim Ammon, Center for Effective School Operations

 

10:20 – 10:40 am

Break/Passing Time

C03 – Developing Security Priorities

Following a school tragedy, districts are often overwhelmed with how to prioritize and allocate resources for security and safety. Learn from an ISD security specialist, and from your peers, in an interactive discussion format on how schools can reduce the fear and make decisions based on sound and proven strategies.

Presenter(s): Presenter(s): Sean Burns, Kent ISD

 

C04 – Water Testing Protocols

Most districts have students back in the buildings again, but still may have extended breaks of inactivity. Water quality remains an area of concern. Learn proper drinking water management and testing in your district. Review best practices for flushing and testing systems after extended breaks, along with suggested mitigation, if there are issues. Learn more about an emphasis on lead testing at vulnerable schools and childcare facilities, along with what grant dollars are available to help defray costs.

Presenter(s): Holly Gohlke, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy

 

C05 – SKE w/ District-Wide Financials

Understanding district-wide financial statements and the difference from the fund statements. Learn what is required for you to show you have the SKE (Skills, Knowledge, and Experience) to approve and explain your district-wide financial statements.

Presenter(s): Jennifer Watkins, Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants

 

C06 – Healthy Ways to Attract and Retain Staff

Attracting and retaining staff can be a challenge. Learn how a district can navigate the change in culture, while creating cost-saving strategies that can be implemented to retain and attract employees. Behavioral health is a component of employee care that is impacting many schools. Learn methods for evaluating data, which will provide positive impacts to both your staff and district.

Presenter(s): Scott Fritz, National Insurance Services and Julie Williams-Muz, Huron ISD

 

C07 – Balanced Calendar: Balancing the Wants and Needs of All Stakeholders

Learn from one school district who has successfully implemented a Balanced Calendar on what it is and what it is not. Learn the methods of communication used to obtain community buy-in and support as well as the unique issues addressed by the business office during implementation. Review the metrics on student discipline, absenteeism (staff and student), and employee morale improvements after implementation.

Presenter(s): Diane Foster, Akron-Fairgrove Schools and Stacey Viers, Huron ISD

 

C08 – The Bond Passed: Now What About Construction Contracts?

Many school districts are embarking on building improvement projects costing millions of dollars. While you’re paying a great deal of attention to building design and site planning, don’t forget the negotiation of construction contracts. Learn how to take every measure necessary to protect your district’s financial interest in the building project before the first board is cut!

Presenter(s): Christopher J. Iamarino, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

 

C09 – Enrollment Projections Done Right!

Understand the process and analysis behind enrollment projections. Learn how to calculate the projection and explain the impact of the data to stakeholders.

Presenter(s): Paul Wills, Plante Moran CRESA

 

C10 – School Aid Budget Status

Understand the details concerning the School Aid Fund and General Fund budget priorities. Learn about the major differences between the Governor’s budget and those of the House and Senate. Get the information you need to prepare your district for the home stretch on budget preparation for FY 2022-23.

Presenter(s): Robert K. Dwan, MSBO and Chris Glass, Education Advocates of West Michigan

 

C11 – Special Education Finance

Understanding special education program costs and how they impact the budget is a must for the school business official. The IEP process, benchmarks for staffing, allowable costs, and the electronic reporting process will be discussed.

Presenter(s): John G. Cloft, Retired and Sean McLaughlin, Wayne RESA

 

C12 – CTE Reporting and Spending Cancelled

 

C13 – State Aid Status Report

Understand the monthly state aid status report and the annual state aid cycles. Identify and understand the different variables and how to perform a monthly reconciliation. Learn when to expect certain changes and how to evaluate prior year adjustments. The MDE state aid update reports will also be discussed.

Presenter(s): Philip Boone, MDE

 

C14 – Bond Issuance 101

How do you sell bonds? Why? Who needs to be involved and how long does the process take? Learn the basics of the bond issuance process, including participants, ratings, and markets.

Presenter(s): Fredric G. Heidemann, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.; Max G. Hotchkin, Huntingon Securities, Inc.; Jeffrey Malloch, West Ottawa Public Schools; and Nate Watson, PFM Financial Advisors, LLC

 

C15 – Procurement Ethics in Food Service

Don’t get caught in “sticky situations” when it comes to procurement. Understand how bid protests occur, how to prevent them, and what MDE’s “approval” really means.

Presenter(s): Emily Ross and Jasmine C. Stinson, MDE

 

C16 – Succession Planning – A Critical Leadership Responsibility

A critical leadership responsibility is planning for your own replacement. Despite everyone intuitively knowing this, most organizations do little to nothing to actually plan for personnel replacements and even fewer organizations are actively thinking about how their needs might change.

Presenter(s): Tim Ammon, Center for Effective School Operations (CESO)

 

C17 – Title IX Update

Learn about Title IX requirements and how to keep your district in compliance.

Presenter(s): Brad Banasik, MASB

 

C18 – Insurance Benefits — Current Trends

We’re well past the implementation phase of PA 152 hard caps. As we enter the 2nd decade of hard caps, what has changed in school district insurance benefit offerings? What is the next new thing? Learn how to stay current with the market and use insurance as a recruiting and retainment tool.

Presenter(s): Douglas L. Derks, Gallagher and Abby Lloyd, Allegan Area ESA

 

C19 – Leveraging Your Compensation Systems to Attract AND Retain Great People

Gone are the days of basing compensation solely on longevity and education. Now that we are in the midst of the Great Resignation, school districts are competing not only with one another for employees but also with private employers. Join us to learn the importance of compensation strategies and how your compensation systems can help you attract and retain great people. Via our dashboard, we will demonstrate how you can embed into your compensation systems the things your district values.

Presenter(s): Dave Betz and Dan Kopp, Dinamico

 

C20 – Payroll Processing and Legal Compliance

Get a deeper dive on how your procedures for payroll processing intersect with legal compliance. Understand reporting, recordkeeping, tracking, timing, leave, and overtime rules and determination of employee vs. independent contractor.

Presenter(s): Raymond M. Davis, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

 

C21 – Top 10 Reasons Why Your District Loses FTE/Foundation Allowance Revenue

Full-time equivalents (FTE) are a school district’s primary revenue source and counting students is essential to foundation allowance revenues. Learn the top 10 reasons why your district is losing FTE and foundation allowance revenue. Get strategies to help you maximize your revenue from FTE and minimize your mistakes.

Presenter(s): Caitlin Hengesbach and Gloria J. Suggitt, MDE, and Leslie Shamel, Lapeer County ISD

 

C22 – Purchasing in Today’s Climate with Fewer Bidders

Finding companies to bid in today’s difficult market is becoming tougher and tougher.  Often, you are left with one quote for a product or project.  How do you meet audit and state purchasing requirements?

Presenter(s): Mackenzie D. Flynn and Kirk C. Herald, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

 

C23 – Construction Technology and How It Will Shape Your Next Project

Learn how leveraging the use of technology to enhance construction projects and maximize bond program resources. Discover how your district can benefit from digitalizing the bidding process, executing contracts faster and enhancing scheduling productivity.

Presenter (s): Ariel Castillo, Meg Gernaat, and Howard Williams, Miller-Davis Company and Dr. Jeff Thoenes, Comstock Public Schools

 

C24 – Data Driven Technology Planning with MICIP

The Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process (MICIP) is a pathway for districts to improve student outcomes by assessing whole child needs to develop plans and coordinate funding.  A team of state, ISD, and local technology, curriculum, and process experts came together to explore and design a framework for integrating technology into MICIP.  Learn how technology leaders can use the State’s Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process (MICIP) platform for technology planning.

Presenter(s): Kurt Rheaume, Wayne RESA

 

C25 – Getting the SE 4094 Right: It’s Important

Learn how the data driven by the transportation expenditure reporting (SE 4094) impacts your district and why it’s so important to be accurate. It is critical that the business office works closely with the transportation department to ensure all of the essentials are reported to ensure your district’s maximum benefit.

Presenter(s): Lori Richardson, LER Consulting

 

11:40 am – 12:00 pm

Break/Passing Time

Dr. Adolph Brown works with schools and corporations around the world to implement best practices that support peak performance and educational excellence. His honest, humorous and helpful keynotes and workshops have been commonly described as “delightfully different.” He has more than 30 years of experience working with issues of mental wellness, social justice, equity, education and diversity. Be prepared for an informational and inspirational journey in self-reflection. He will discuss self-learning and healing and how changing the world within us can change the world around us. He is a businessman, investor, author, urban and rural school educator, research-scientist, and life-long social justice advocate.

Presenter(s): Dr. Aldoph Brown, III