Spring 2012 Programs
April 3
“Current Issues and Challenges for Our Public Schools”
Tom Gentzel, Executive Director, PSBA
April 10
"Tecnology, Schools and the Law: Updates and Current Issues"
Dotti Bollinger
April 18
“Exemplary Program Presentations and Awards Luncheon”
April 24
“Financing the Core Mission of Our Public Schools”
“Current Issues and Challenges for Our Public Schools”
April 3, 2012
Tuscarora Room, Reisner Hall
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Lunch included.
Tom Gentzel, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, will discuss the challenges facing school administrators and school board members and the pending legislation, with which they may have to deal. He will also offer his views about the increasingly complex and changing realities of school leadership and what it means in a time when public education appears to be under attack. Please feel free to invite your school board members to this program.
“Technology, Schools and the Law: Updates and Current Issues”
April 10, 2012
Tuscarora Room, Reisner Hall
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM, Lunch Included
Dorothy M. Bollinger, a well-known attorney and former public school superintendent, with expertise in school law and the ramifications of new technology as it affects the schools, will discuss how to relieve some of the headaches facings schools in this new world-wide web environment. Dotti is the Pennsylvania representative to the International Technology Law Association (iTechLaw) and serves as an adjunct professor at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. This program should be beneficial to technology directors and human resources administrators as well as superintendents.
“Exemplary Programs Presentations and Recognition Luncheon”
April 18, 2012
Ceddia Union Building, Multi-purpose Rooms A & B
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Outstanding and innovative programs of member institutions are selected annually by the Exemplary Program Selection Committee of the Shippensburg University School Study Council. In addition to the recognition of each program selected, there will be display space for each program and an opportunity for interaction between school teams and guests.. Several schools will be invited to present their programs to the membership of the School Study Council and to students and faculty of the College of Education and Human Services.
“Financing the Core Mission of our Public Schools”
April 24, 2012
Tuscarora Room, Reisner Hall
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
We’ll continue our focus on reviewing the emerging changes and challenges in the finance of public education. From the earliest days in the history of public education (1834) financing has been an issue; -in fact the early reliance on property taxes almost aborted attempts to educate all children. After the State Legislature adopted the Common School Act, they received over thirty thousand signatures questioning their sanity and requesting that they repeal the statute. The good news is that supported by then Governor Wolf and prominent legislator, Thaddeas Stevens, the legislature prevailed and public education has become the means by which over 84% of our young people are prepared for their futures. We’ll revisit the State Budget, with a look ahead to 2013-14, alternative sources of revenue and creative ways which school districts are finding to keep the ship afloat. Our team of Financial Directors / Business Managers will guide the discussion.
Fall 2011 Programs
September 21
"25th Anniversary Breakfast of the SUSSC"
September 28
"Legal Issues of School Law"
October4
"Utilizing the School Budget to Maintain the Educational Core"
October 13
"Outstanding Teacher Luncheon"
October 20
"Legislative Breakfast"
November 10
"Understanding the New Teacher Evaluation Process-POE"
The 2011-12.-General Operating Budget and ancillary legislation set the tone for a new era in the support for public education in Pennsylvania. Many school districts had to make difficult cuts to their staffs and educational programs,leaving them in an ever precarious position regarding their core. Our October 4 program will examine how to assure that districts are still financially supporting those core programs and services for which schools exist,as well as previewing the 2012-13 budget, which may even be worse for some districts. The Corbett administration has also made more accountability for teachers and administrators part of their mantra. We will take a look at the progress of the new evaluation instrument for teachers.
"The 25th Anniversary Breakfast of the SUSSC"
September 21, 2011 (Reisner Hall,Tuscarora Room)
9:00 - 11:30 AM
Prior to the establishment of the Shippensburg University School Study Council in 1986 area super intendents met regularly with Harris Sokoloff of the University of Pennsylvania Study Council in Carlisle at the Embers Restaurant. The focus of those meetings dealt with issues affecting the responsibilities and roles of the superintendent.Through the efforts of several superintendents who were teaching at the Shippensburg University as adjuncts, a task force, under the leadership of Dr. Anthony F. Ceddia, was put together to study the feasibility of establishing a more local"study council". The result was the establishment of the Shippensburg University School Study Council. The founders felt it very impor tant to add the component of the recognition of outstanding teachers and programs to the initial foci of the Study Council. The anniversary program will include brunch and reminiscences of the develop ment of the Study Council.
"Legal Aspects of School Law"
September 28,2010 (Reisner Hall, Tuscarora Room)
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Lunch
A panel,including Dr. Jerry Fowler, a professor and instructor of School Law at SU,John Friend, the Superintendent of the Carlisle Area School District and Sean Fields, Esquire, an Associate of the Penn sylvania School Boards Association,will discuss various aspects of PA School Law including new inter pretations of existing and new legislation. There will be ample time for interaction with panel members and others.
."Utilizing the School Budget to Maintain the Educational Core"
October 4, 2011 (Reisner Hatl, Tuscarora Room)
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Lunch
Although the 2011-12 General Operating Budget was passed on time by the Legislature,its content left little for school districts to celebrate. Most districts reduced staff by not replacing retirements and/or borrowed from their fund balances. Small rural districts received a disproportionate subsidy and suffered the most. As districts face an even tighter budget in 2012-13,the question is how to we make sure that those items which have been eliminated are not affecting our core mission. There may be a disconnect between providing programs which we know work and a lack of financial support from revenue sources. Early childhood education is a case in point. A reduction in state subsidy has led to an elimination of full day and extended day Kindergarten in many districts,an event which may have dire effects down the road.
Outstanding Teachers' Luncheon
October 13, 2011 (Reisner Hall, Tuscarora Room)
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Outstanding teachers are nominated by each member institution of the Shippensburg University School Study Council in recognition of their exemplary service to their respective school districts. Of the persons selected as outstanding teachers, ten are identified as guest lecturers,and will have the opportunity to work with faculty from Shippensburg University. All nominees are honored at a lun cheon held at Shippensburg University.
Legislative Breakfast
October 20, 2011 (Reisner Hall, Tuscarora Room)
8:00- 11:00 AM
As we face increasing difficult times in public education,it is imperative that school system lead ers and legislators continue to dialogue about the best means of educating students and evaluating programs which hold the most promise to make our students successful. While school administrators have to face more fiscal accountability and resource shortages,it's important that legislators know what the ramifications are,if programs like early childhood education among others are eliminated. Legislators and administrators also need to discuss the use of scarce resources in offering new solu tions which benefit only a few students at the expense of the many.
Understanding the New Teacher Evaluation Process-POE
November 10,2011 (Reisner Hall, Tuscarora Room)
8:30AM- 1:00 PM, Lunch
As part of the new wave of school district accountability,the Pennsylvania Department of Education will be rolling out new evaluation processes for both teachers and administrators. During the 2011-12 school year,districts across the Commonwealth will be piloting the new instrument targeted for teach ers. Dr. Caroyln Dumaresq,Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education will take us through the process. As the pilot schools are announced we will also hope to have member schools sharing their insights into the process.