WSSDA 2024 Annual Conference

If you are attending a pre-conference workshop, please stop by registration to pick up your conference materials. Regular Conference registration will open at 12:00 PM for those not registered for a pre-conference workshop.

Find thought-provoking books for education leaders and everyday reading, as well as a nice selection of children’s books for holiday gifts and for the WSSDA book drive.

A 20% discount will be given on all books donated to the book drive as well as on the purchase of 3 or more picture books. Discount does not apply to other titles.

Board Boot Camp is the perfect place for new board members to start their journey. You’ll hear from trainers with extensive school board experience as they cover the basics of board service, serving your district's students and families, and best practices for effective school board leadership. You’ll also connect with new board members from around the state while exploring scenarios you’re likely to encounter as a school director. A panel discussion called “What your board president and superintendent would love to tell you…but probably won’t” is a favorite of many attendees. Superintendents and veteran school directors are encouraged to attend with their new board members for the best experience.

*Requires pre-registration

Engage with experienced school law attorneys on the pressing legal issues facing public school districts in the 2024-25 school year. Learn about today’s legal landscape, including newly developing concerns and issues on the horizon. Speakers will help you identify pitfalls and minimize the risk of investigations and costly litigation in your district. The content of Law Conference changes according to the important topics that emerge each year. This is a can’t-miss learning opportunity tailored specifically to K-12 leaders.

*Requires pre-registration

Agenda:
9:00 – 9:10 AM – Welcome
9:10 – 10:10 AM – Kelli Schmidt Advance Law Office PLLC 
Title IX’s 2024 Regulations: What School Boards Need to Know
New Title IX regulations went into effect on August 1, 2024 (the 2024 regulations). This informative session will help veteran and new board members understand and better navigate this seismic shift in the Title IX landscape. Topics include: (1) federal litigation and injunctions that impact individual schools; (2) differences between the 2020 and 2024 regulations, including investigation and other requirements; (3) the important role of Title IX Coordinators; and (4) training requirements for Title IX appeals to the school board.
10:10 – 10:20 AM – 10-minute coffee break.
10:20 – 11:20 AM – 2^nd Speaker, Garret Williams and Ida Donohue, Stevens Clay PS
Athletics and Transgender Students in Washington.
This training session will provide school directors and administrators with essential knowledge and strategies for supporting transgender students in athletics within Washington, including recent amendments proposed to the WIAA, and a review of the quickly changing landscape of State and Federal laws.”
11:25 – 11:55 AM – Lunch break – buffet lunch in main room
11:55 AM – 12:00 PM – Mid-Conference Comments
12:00 – 12:55 PM – 3^rd Speaker, Nate Schmutz, Vandeberg, Johnson, Grandara, PS 
Teachers’ Rights Post-Kennedy: Examining School District Policy Changes Re Employee Speech and Expression.
This is a two-part session covering law and policy related to employee speech and religious expression as it pertains to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The first part examines case law related to Establishment Clause jurisprudence, and the impact of the Kennedy v. Bremerton Supreme Court decision in 2022 on this precedent. The second part discusses board policy implications, including a deep dive into policy modifications from school districts across the United States.
1:00 – 1:55 PM – 4^th Speaker, Alexander Fern, Kutak Rock LLC 
Trending Legal Topics for 2024 and Beyond
This presentation will focus on recent legal developments and their future impacts on school districts in Washington State, including the Parent Bill of Rights, new OSPI emergency rules, the 9^th Circuit’s new decision in Meinecke v. City of Seattle, and other recent legal changes that may require districts to reassess how certain costs should be budgeted.
1:55 – 2 PM - Closing comments

A key role for school board members and additional education leaders is influencing others by advocating for their students, school districts, and K-12 public education. As you learn about the systems that support and drive state policymaking, this workshop will help you build comfort and confidence as an advocate. Join this engaging and educational session to practice techniques for effective advocacy and leave equipped with skills and goals for the next legislative cycle.

*Requires pre-registration

Be sure to visit our sponsors and exhibitors in the first and second floor lobbies and in the exhibit hall on the first floor. Coffee and tea will be available in 111 A all day.

Registration is open for all Annual Conference attendees. Please stop by to pick up your conference materials.

Untangle the complexity of state funding, which is the primary financial support for Washington’s K-12 schools. Explore the primary categories of general apportionment funding, expand your knowledge about funding of the six Basic Education programs, and gain an overview of the four Basic Education categorical programs. The knowledge you gain will be immediately applicable to your work in guiding, approving, and reviewing district budgets.

All OnBoard sessions are first come, first served; no pre-registration required.

Explore the crucial role of diverse perspectives in the educational bond planning process. Co-presented with David VanderYacht, superintendent of Lynden School District, this session delves into strategies for fostering a culture of engagement and civil discourse within school communities. Through real-life examples from the Lynden School District, participants will learn how authentic engagement and communication strategies can effectively build trust and consensus across varied stakeholder groups.

Learn all about the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs) - Credits students need to accumulate by the time of high school graduation to be able to pursue admissions into any of our six 4-year baccalaureate institutions in WA. Potentially engage with a panel of experts from higher education, K-12 sectors and students to discuss the impact of CADRs, its alignment with high school graduation requirements, how you as a board member can leverage this policy at the school district level and can also inform this policy at the state level.

Recent surveys of Washington state students reveal a growing population of LGBTQ students. The 2023 Healthy Youth Survey suggests that upwards of 25% of 10th graders are LGBTQ or questioning. Yet few school staff or school directors and administrators are aware of Gender Inclusive School laws and policies, much less their strong connection to the top protective factors for LGBTQ students. In this interactive workshop that includes students’ perspectives, you will learn about GIS laws, their connection to improving outcomes for LGBTQ students, and school climate overall. We will wrap up with a conversation about how you can help to connect this important work to your district's mission and values.

School board members and district leaders will have an opportunity to conduct a deep dive into the Human-Centered AI (Artificial Intelligence) Guidance for K-12 public schools from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Explore how leveraging AI responsibly can enhance student learning outcomes and operational efficiency while also addressing important concerns around privacy, equity, and transparency. Participants will be actively involved during this hands-on presentation.

Inflation and basic costs are up, enrollment is down, and billions in federal pandemic relief has ended. Learn proactive and reactive strategies to lead through unprecedented state fiscal challenges and combat local union action to erode public confidence in school board and superintendent leadership.

Learn about the critical relationships and roles in school governance. Understand how board members govern, the superintendent leads, and the CFO manages the budget. Discover how to balance these roles, navigate budget cycles, ensure transparency, and adapt to enrollment changes for effective decision-making.

Experience the transformative power of student voice in service of systemic coherence toward equitable strategic growth through a justice-centered partnership between Orting School District’s Board of Directors and its diverse Student Advisory.

Open Government is an important principle in Washington State with two important and powerful tools enabling the people to inform themselves about their government - the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and the Public Records Act (PRA). The OPMA requires that covered agency leaders take action and conduct deliberations openly. It establishes the public’s right to observe their government in action. The PRA provides broad access to agency records.

This session qualifies for the legislative requirement for Open Government training for all school directors within 90 days of taking office and refresher training every four years thereafter.

Culture is to people what water is to fish. We tend not to think about culture because it surrounds us all the time. In this learning experience, participants will explore culture within the context of a school district and its impact on students, staff, and families. By considering the opportunities and benefits of cultivating cultural proficiency throughout a school district, school directors will be equipped to promote cultural proficiency within the unique context of their own districts.

All OnBoard sessions are first come, first served; no pre-registration required. This session qualifies for the legislative requirement for educational equity training for all school directors.

This is a strategic meeting for the Board of Directors for the WA School Administrators' Association (WASA).

This is a strategic meeting of the nine WA Educational Service Districts (ESDs).

Students are in a mental health crisis and schools no longer have the capacity to meet the needs alone. Learn how this unique, yet replicable, partnership called the Renton Referral Hub, is helping us to build systems that equitably address the needs through a community hub.

What are the consequences of constant leadership turnover? Besides financial costs, the impacts on culture, systems, and learning for both students and adults can have lasting negative effects. If highly effective school leaders are the number one influence on student achievement, then supporting leadership should be top priority for every district.

Six years ago, Battle Ground Public Schools embarked on a journey to eliminate initiative overload and fragmentation. They found a way to focus their direction, increase collaboration, deepen learning, and secure accountability while at the same time improving district culture and climate and strengthening community support. They will share their story and their process so that you can do it too.

Join us for a comprehensive presentation focused on the indispensable roles and responsibilities of school district board members in ensuring sound financial oversight of Washington state schools. In this session, we will delve into the essential principles, practices, and strategies that empower school boards to effectively manage fiscal resources and promote financial transparency and accountability within their districts.

As influential leaders in the educational system, school board directors play a crucial role in ensuring that the curriculum reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the students it serves. This session will empower public school board directors to champion and support the creation and utilization of culturally responsive curricula that fosters an inclusive and engaging educational environment.

Discover how educational leaders across the Northwest use creative approaches including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) to engage and inspire students. This session will demonstrate how students research, learn, and experience a variety of concepts and the associated career pathways in STEM, health science, advanced manufacturing, agri-science, transportation and more.  Based on this exploration, students are able to develop plans for post-secondary study and/or earn valuable certifications.

Engage with the State Board of Health’s development of new school environmental health and safety rules. The board is working in collaboration with interested parties to develop draft minimum health and safety standards for all schools in Washington and is seeking your feedback and input on the proposed rules.

The Arlington school board team is utilizing layers of student, staff, family, and community perspectives and voices to make better decisions, increase partner involvement, and foster educational equity to support student learning and achievement. You will hear from our student advisors and board members about the valuable understanding gained as a board team, the actions being taken, and the positive impacts.

WSSDA members are invited to join this caucus to learn and share best practices in educational equity and equity policy development.

Join us in the Davenport Grand Ballroom Lobby to network with colleagues before the President's Dinner. A cash bar will be available.

Join fellow student representatives for dinner and be part of building community, mapping out your plans for the conference, and dreaming big about the future of K-12 education!

Kick off the 2024 conference with a celebration of leadership at the President's Dinner! Highlights include a no-host bar and beautiful music from the Odyssey String Ensemble, plus:
• Honoring Outgoing President, Sandy Hayes
• 2024 Boards of Distinction recognition
• Recognition of WSSDA committees and members
• Washington School Boards' Educational Foundation
• Leadership WSSDA Graduation