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Make plans now to attend the KASS Summer Institute.
Online registration is now closed. Registration will be available onsite beginning 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
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June 3 thru June 5, KASS will convene our summer institute at the Lexington Radisson Hotel. This is an excellent opportunity to get together with other superintendents and enjoy the fellowship of your contemporaries, thank those who are leaving us through retirement and welcome those joining our ranks.
The institute will offer a variety of focused events for aspiring to retiring superintendents with options in the program provided through pre-conference sessions, breakouts and roundtables.
Lodging arrangements can be made by calling the Radisson Hotel (800) 333-3333. To receive the KASS rate of $114 per night, make reservations by May 12, 2008.
It is very important for every district to be represented at the KASS institute. If you cannot attend, I encourage you to send an assistant superintendent, central office staff member or aspiring superintendent. Again this year, a staff member can attend at the regular rate without paying the KASS membership fee if the superintendent is a KASS member. If you are transitioning out of the superintendency in your district, please pass this information along to the incoming superintendent and encourage him/her to attend. This is also encouraged for aspiring superintendents as we will have 20-25 superintendents transitioning this year.
While we'll finalize the schedule in the next few weeks, a preview of the tentative program follows:
Tuesday, June 3rd:
- 20th Annual Golf Tournament at the University Club Golf Course from 8-noon, sponsored by Benefit Communicators (Mary Maddox). Transportation will be provided by the hotel for those wishing to take advantage of a shuttle service.
- For all new Superintendents, the Training & Testing and Assessment Orientation will take place from 8-3 (with a focus on Superintendent School Board Relations);
- Pre-Conference Sessions will take place between 1-3 pm on: (A). Applying for Superintendent:Successful Strategies (Mike Oder/KSBA); (B). Retirement Planning/Annuity Associates, (C). Managing the Media (Brenda McLain) and (D). Designing, Financing and Operating High Performance Schools (Pam Proctor).
- The opening General Session will include recognition (and comments) of retiring superintendents, superintendent mentors, the presentation of a Distinguished Service Award, comments from Secretary of Education Helen Mountjoy and reflections by Deputy Commissioner Kevin Noland. Brenda McLain will give a talk about the Media and Community Engagement. A reception follows the session with dinner on your own.
Wednesday, June 4th:
- Breakfast in the exhibit hall.
- General session featuring Commissioner Jon Draud speaking to the charge of the Assessment and Accountability Task Force work, Low Performing School interventions, the challenges we face in 2008-09 and beyond as well as any budget impact on KDE services.
- Agency updates from Infinite Campus (Implementation Update/Status of Product Development/Timelines); Center for School Safety (Funding & Service Update); EPSB (KTIP & KPIP Update regarding responsibilities for school districts); KTRS (Pension Reform); and the IRS (Compliance Audits).
- Group Breakout sessions include elementary, middle and high school staff presentations from high performing schools with high percentages of at-risk kids as well as central office strategies.
- Luncheon keynote will be Dr. Sam Stringfield, formerly of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore City School Board member and current editor of the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR). His topic will be "High Reliability Organizations".
- Governor Beshear has also been invited but we will not know until about two weeks before the event whether he will be able to attend. I've asked him to address how we can move the elementary and secondary agenda forward.
- After lunch, multiple breakouts, vendor sessions and an expanded opportunity to visit the exhibit hall is followed by a reception and dinner on your own.
Thursday, June 5th:
- Buffet breakfast in the exhibit hall.
- KASS Business meeting including elections of officers for the 2008-09 year.
- General session, which we anticipate will include KDE Roundtable discussions on Assessment & Accountability, Finance, Professional Development, Technology, Facilities, Finance and ECE. This session will provide rotations of about 15 minutes each with an opportunity to be in small group discussions with KDE staff on issues.
- The Gatton Academy (Julia Roberts) will present a "Report card" of their first year results and a preview of next year and beyond.
- Commissioner Brigid DeVries and KHSAA staff and Board members will provide an update, provide feedback on the schedule reduction endorsement and discuss issues with the membership.
The KASS program should adjourn about 11 a.m. with a meeting of the Council for Better Education and update from CBE to follow.
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