WSSDA 2024 Annual Conference

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