President’s Message
MASBO News
From the Executive Director
Announcing the New MASBO Associate Leaders Award
Update From the Legislative Committee
Update from the Communications and Engagement Committee
Nominations Now Being Accepted
P-Card Use for Hotel Reservations
Member Spotlight: Pam Harrington
Have You Changed Our Address Yet?
MINNESOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT
LIQUID ASSET FUND PLUS
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January 4, 2010
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2009-10 Board of Directors
Earl Athman
President
320-468-6458 ext. 1204
Colleen Mertesdorf
President Elect
507-333-6059
Jeff Solomon
Vice President
651-423-7713
Kim Josephson
Director
218-879-6721
Bruce Lamprecht
Director
507-929-2603
Margo Nash
Director
952-226-0041
Donna Luhring
Past President
320-234-2615
Connie Nordquist
Executive Director
651-999-8424
MASBO Newsletter
Published monthly by the Minnesota Association of School Business Officials – MASBO.
Mission Statement – MASBO is committed to advancing the knowledge and abilities of School Business Professionals and providing a voice and forum for the Profession.
Publication Policy – The ideas and opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the beliefs or policies of MASBO or its members. The editorial policy for Associate Members has been to avoid anything that is self promotional. Articles should be generic, avoiding the tone of promotion or advertisement. Articles should address and create an awareness of new information or issues relevant to members’ job responsibilities. The length of the article can be anywhere from a paragraph to a page in length. The author’s name/company name will be credited to the article that serves as promotion. Articles may be reprinted in the publications of ASBO affiliates if credit is given to MASBO.
MASBO Newsletter articles, information items, job openings, retirements, career recognitions, promotions, etc. may be submitted by the first of each month to:
Connie Nordquist
cnordquist@mnasbo.org
Phone: 651-999-8424
For general information on MASBO, contact:
Connie Nordquist
Executive Director, MASBO
Phone: 651-999-8424
E-mail: cnordquist@mnasbo.org
Website: www.mnasbo.org
By Earl V. Athman
I hope all of you had a happy holiday season. I spent most of the holiday break dealing with teacher negotiations resulting in a tentative settlement. Yeah!!! I wish all of you who are still at the bargaining table the best as the January 15th teacher negotiations deadline approaches.
As I’m sure most of you know Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s unallotment procedure was challenged in the courts and the resulting ruling wasn’t favorable to him. This has prompted Gov. Pawlenty to suggest that a special legislative session be called before the regular legislature convenes in February. Gov. Pawlenty has asked House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller if they would be interested in returning early for the special session to ratify his $1.7 billion school payment deferral plan. My understanding is that there would also be a repayment mechanism put into place too. It was reported that the two lawmakers are a bit skeptical of the plan because the Governor hasn’t determined where the money will come from to pay school districts back. I will be asking our Legislative Committee Chair, Barb Anderson and Valerie Dosland, MASBO’S Legislative consultant, to monitor this issue and keep all of us informed should there be a need for us to act during a special session.
Certainly this upcoming legislative session will be a very difficult one for everyone concerned. As one legislator told me with the shortfall being between $7-8 billion including the “shift” payback “You can’t tax that much, cut that much and the economy won’t grow that much.” Let’s hope that they come out of this session with a solution to the problem instead of another “band aid” approach to this dilemma.
One way you can assist your legislator in making an educated decision is by communicating with them often and providing him or her a copy of MASBO’S Legislative Platform. Let them know you are available to answer questions they may have or comment on how proposed legislation will affect your district. It has been my experience that they appreciate constructive feedback, so don’t hesitate to call on them.
February looks to be a busy month for MASBO members. There is the Certification Class, the Winter Conference and the Business Manager Institute for members to participate in. Some of you will also be attending ASBO’s Leadership Conference in Orlando. Please take advantage of these learning opportunities as much as your busy schedules may allow. I am sure you won’t be disappointed no matter which program you choose to attend.
2010 will definitely be a challenging year for everyone in education no matter if you are sitting in a student chair, a desk chair or a legislative chair. Let’s all work together to be part of the solution to this economic crisis. Our students deserve at least that much from us.
Take care and I look forward to seeing you in the very near future at an upcoming MASBO function.
Earl V. Athman
President
By Connie Nordquist
At a recent meeting, I noticed a poster on the wall with the saying “Warning…Dates On Calendar Are Closer Than They Appear.” How true! Maybe it is just a sign of getting older, but these months and years seem to fly by.
As we turn the calendar to 2010, there are several upcoming MASBO events on the horizon. The next session of the MASBO Leadership Academy will be held on January 27, at the offices of Ehlers & Associates in Roseville. The MASBO Winter Conference will be held February 18-19 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park, with a Certification Course on February 17. The 23rd Annual MASBO Institute will be held February 22-25 at TIES—an announcement was sent out last week and more information can be found on our web site. Then, there will be a short break before the annual conference at Breezy Point. And for those of your who like to plan far ahead (and are already looking forward to summer!), the SBOSF Golf Event will be held on May 24.
Right now, we are starting to plan the dates and locations for our 2010-11 workshops and conferences. The School Finance Committee will soon be emailing a survey to all members, to get your suggestions, regarding dates, places and session topics. This information will be critical to planning for the upcoming year, and I encourage you to share your opinions! Many of you have provided comments on the completed evaluations from past conferences, and we hope you continue to share your opinions to help us continually improve our programs.
Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeing you often this year!
Connie Nordquist
Executive Director
Announcing the New MASBO Associate Leaders Award
Submitted by Liz Olson, Membership Committee
The MASBO Membership Committee has created the Associate Leaders Award (ALA) to recognize an individual associate member who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the school business profession. It is MASBO’s highest honor for individuals who work in the industries that support school business management and who have demonstrated exemplary support to MASBO and the school business community.
Active MASBO members should make the nomination on the MASBO Associate Leaders Award Information & Guidelines/Nomination Form by January 19th, 2010, and forward a copy to Connie Nordquist . The Associate Member will then be notified to fill out the MASBO Associate Leaders Award Information Form, returning that document to Connie by February 9th, 2010. The Award will be presented at the MASBO Annual Conference. Active MASBO Members - make sure that you fill out a Nomination Form on or before the January 19th deadline to honor a MASBO Associate Member.
Update From the Legislative Committee
Submitted by Barb Anderson, MASBO Legislative Committee
The MASBO Legislative Platform for 2010 has been completed, and is now on the MASBO website. Since 2010 is not a funding year, and the attention of the legislature is expected to focus on dealing with the deficit, our consultant Valerie Dosland suggested that MASBO limit its platform to the issues that are most likely to garner legislative attention this session. Those issues are:
•School Finance Reform (The New Minnesota Miracle)
•Shared Services
•Mandate Reform and Reduction
•Medical Insurance
•State Aid Payment Shift and Property Tax Shift.
The platform was developed collaboratively by the members of the MASBO Legislative Committee, which also received input from the MASBO board. Their experience and expertise has resulted in a document that addresses the critical issues anticipated this session. We continued a format that thoroughly discusses the impact of current law and offers solutions that we believe will benefit all school districts. It is our intention that our platform be a document that most of our members can fully support. I thank the committee members for the gifts of their time, judgment and expertise in developing the platform.
Copies of the platform will be sent to House and Senate leadership and committees, as well as to other education associations. We hope you familiarize yourself with this document, and urge you to print a copy of it and share it with your local representatives. Lawmakers are more likely to respond to individuals who live in their districts than to organizations, so your active participation is key to the successful advancement of our platform.
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Update from the Communications and Engagement Committee
Submitted by Kristin Hanson and Jodie Zesbaugh, MASBO Communications and Engagement Committee
Reminder: MASBO Leadership Academy Sponsorships
The next MASBO Leadership Academy session will be held on January 27, 2010 at the offices of Ehlers & Associates in Roseville. Sponsorship opportunities are available at the following levels:
•The “Achiever” Level - $500
•The “Team Work” Level - $300
•The “Committed Leader” Level - $100
Sponsors of the Academy are recognized not only during the Academy sessions but through other MASBO Communications as well. For more information, or to reserve your place as a sponsor, please email Connie Nordquist, MASBO Executive Director, or call 651-999-8424.
Upcoming MASBO Certification Program Courses
The following courses will be offered on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, prior to MASBO’s Winter Workshop and Meeting (which take place on February 18th and 19th):
•Accounting & Auditing – topics include year-end timelines & reports, review financial statements, and internal controls
•Legal & Personnel Responsibilities – topics include labor relations, contract administration, job descriptions and pay equity report
MASBO 2010 Institute
MASBO’s 2010 Institute will be held on February 22 - 25, 2010 at the TIES building. The MASBO Institute is a prerequisite to the Certification Program (see information regarding upcoming Certification Program courses above). For registration information, please click here.
Recorded Sessions from ASBO’s Annual Meeting in Chicago & Other Past ASBO Workshops/Conferences
Check out more than 75 hours of recorded sessions in ASBO’s Live Learning Center! As a 2009 conference attendee, you can access the Live Learning Centerfree of charge to re-experience all the recorded sessions, even those you didn't attend. If you weren’t able to attend the Annual Meeting, you can purchase access to individual recorded sessions for only $25 or the full set for $299 for members (nonmember fees are $35 per session or $399 for the full set).
For links to browse program listings, schedules, and speaker bios from other past workshops and conferences, please click here.
Other Career Development Opportunities: ASBO International's Webcast Resources
Perfect for your busy schedule, Webcast Resources features thought-provoking presentations from ASBO International conferences that you can view anytime. Watch sessions over your lunch hour, listen on your commute, or call a meeting with your team.
These Webcasts are free! ASBO International's monthly Webcast series is sponsored by the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA). For a listing of the webcasts, please click here.
If you have any comments or questions for the MASBO Communications and Engagement Committee, please feel free to contact our Chairperson, Tina Burkholder at tburkholder@buffalo.k12.mn.us.
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Nominations Now Being Accepted
The Nominations Committee is accepting written nominations for a Director to serve on the MASBO Board of Directors. Please submit your written recommendations for MASBO Director to Donna Luhring, Past President, by February 19, 2010. The term of office is three years at which time the person may elect to serve an additional 4 years on the executive committee of the Board (Vice-President, President-Elect, President and Past-President). Nomination forms are available on the web site.
P-Card Use for Hotel Reservations
Using the P-Card to pay for your MASBO online event registration is quick and easy—just follow the instructions on the registration page. The card can also be used to pay for your hotel accommodations for MASBO events as well.
If the P-Card has your name printed on it, it can be used as any other credit card for your hotel expenses. If it does not have your name printed on it (for instance, if it has your Superintendent’s name on it) a hotel may require a credit card authorization form to be completed. This is a standard policy for most hotels, and is done to protect them against unauthorized charges. For all future MASBO events where a block of rooms have been reserved, our announcement will include details on hotel credit card policies, and links to authorizations forms, whenever possible.
Ordering additional cards is another option--you may wish to consider ordering one additional P-card each of your travelers. If you decide to do this, PFM's Patrick Brennan can walk you through the process using Harris Bank's website. Contact Patrick at brennanp@pfm.com or call 312-977-1570 ext. 226.
Member Spotlight: Pam Harrington
Following is an article that is reprinted from the December 17 ASBO Accents Online Newsletter. Congrats, Pam!
When it comes to school business, the size of a district isn’t necessarily the most important factor. No matter how big or small, all districts have needs that must be met. Just ask Pam Harrington, who serves as director of business and finance for Willmar Public Schools in Willmar, Minnesota, about two and a half hours west of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Willmar Public Schools serves 4,000 students in two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one alternative learning center. When Pam joined the district in September 2007, it had just applied for the Meritorious Budget Award. The district has now received the award for three consecutive years.
“I feel it’s very important to produce a high-quality budget,” Pam says. “It’s a great document for the community since it allows the public to learn about different aspects of the school district.”
In addition, Willmar has earned ASBO International’s Certificate of Excellence for many years, has been recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association, and received the Minnesota Department of Education school finance award. “All of these programs promote confidence,” Pam adds. “It’s more important than ever for school business officers to do all they can to better manage finances.”
Pam explains that Willmar is facing funding challenges that are similar to those in other districts. While they have been able to take advantage of ARRA funding, the state legislature’s $5 billion deficit has contributed to budget reductions that will likely continue. Therefore, the district has become creative in locating financial resources to support its unique academic programs, including the instruction of Mandarin Chinese by a native of China in tandem with an American teacher.
Pam notes that Willmar Senior High School is one of 10 high schools in the nation to have earned the opportunity to participate in the Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP), a competitive federal grant program that brings native Arabic and Chinese language teachers to serve in American schools. TCLP is run through the American Councils for International Education, a branch of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which is part of the United States Department of State.
In addition, the district is in the midst of a five-year grant program through the Confucius Institute. Both grants fund teacher salaries as well as supplies, cultural field trips, and more. These programs are great examples of how the district remains dedicated to maintaining a world-class education for its students.
Have You Changed Our Address Yet?
Effective December 31, the MASBO PO Box, where payments have been sent in the past, is closed. All future correspondence and registrations should be directed to the address below. In a past announcement, a typo was made in the zip code, so please verify that you have the correct address:
MASBO
1821 University Avenue West, #S256
St. Paul, MN 55104
Thanks!
