By Dena Mayer, CPA, CFO, MSBO Board President, Director of Finance and Human Resources, Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD
There are still snowflakes in the air in the Upper Peninsula – but below the bridge it is a different world… Most of the time! Spring is about transitions. Transitions in nature, transitions in schools, and for many of us, transitions in our personal lives. Buds are showing up on trees and we hear the geese as they move north again. Spring also heralds transitions in our school districts. In the next couple of months, school districts will begin preparing for graduating seniors, and the retirement of honored school personnel.
MSBO also has its own “graduation” in the spring with certification wrap-up. Each year members conclude their three-year voluntary certification programs. It is an accomplishment! We have more than 220 members who are going through wrap-up this week prior to the conference. And those initials after your name do mean something. It means that you are dedicated to the profession and no surprise here – many districts are requiring their employees to be certified because they believe certification matters. The program is endorsed by MASA and MASB, and since 1998, more than 3,200 members have earned an MSBO Voluntary Certification award.
Part of the certification wrap-up focuses on MSBO’s Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics reminds members what it means to be part of MSBO. Getting your certification is a direct application of this section of that code: MSBO members shall be responsible for maintaining their own competence, for enhancing the competence of their colleagues, and for providing encouragement to those seeking to enter the field of public schools.
Congratulations to all of you who have achieved certification!
Another spring transition is the MSBO Board election and the seating of new board members at the annual conference. This spring also means a transition for me as Board President.
I feel fortunate that I will be able to preside over the transferring of the gavel to the next MSBO Board President at this year’s conference. Julie Omer steps into this position and I become Immediate Past President. Tom Armstrong didn’t have that opportunity to pass the gavel because the 2020 Conference was cancelled and Bill Chatfield presided over the virtual 2021 Conference. If you remember – he handed me the gavel “virtually.” They both faced the challenge of navigating through the pandemic. I want to thank both Tom and Bill for their service to MSBO, the Board, and the MSBO membership.
I also want to thank the MSBO membership for the honor of serving this great organization. It has been a great honor to preside as president this past year and I am forever grateful for the words of encouragement and support from so many across our great state, especially my team in the EUP. As I transition into my next role as Immediate Past President, I want to encourage all of you to continue your dedication and commitment to our organization, your position, your district(s), and most of all, yourself.
Other Articles in this Newsletter
- Business Manager/CPA Workshop
- Dynamic Budget – Budgeting and Forecasting at Your Fingertips
- Financial Statement Preparation Workshop
- Memoirs of a COVID Presidency – Bill Chatfield
- MSBO Annual Conference Week Coming Up!
- MSBO Members Approve Bylaws Amendments & Restated Articles of Incorporation
- MSBO Update – David Martell
- Passing of the Gavel and Welcoming a New Board Member
- Welcome New Members