2023 Spring New Board Member Orientation

Tuesday, February 14 - Wednesday, February 15, 2023

8:30am-4:00pm

GSBA is pleased to offer New Board Member Orientation training in-person only on February 14 and 15. State law and state board rules require school board members to obtain board governance training each year. First-year board members are required to secure fifteen total hours of training. New board members will hear from expert special guests from the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia School Superintendents Association, and the Georgia School Boards Association.

The first day consists of 6 hours of training credit focused on financial governance for new public school board members and new charter school board members, provided by the Georgia Department of Education (DOE). On the second day, new school board members will secure an additional 6 hours of training credits emphasizing multiple topics such as legal issues, roles and responsibilities, parliamentary procedure, and the Georgia Standards for Effective Governance. 

Breakfast and lunch are included on both days.

REGISTRATION INFO:

The cost to attend this workshop is $350. Cancellations must be submitted in writing to Leigh Crow, lcrow@gsba.com no later than 5 business days (Tuesday, February 7) before the event and will assess a $70 fee per individual. No refunds will be provided after this date.

NOTE: The first 3 hours of the first day meet the requirement for 3 hours of Finance Training for Charter Schools Local Boards, as it's provided by the Georgia DOE. This does not apply to Local School Boards whose school systems are Charter Systems. The price for Charter School board members to attend the 3-hour training is $100.

LOCATION:

New Board Member Orientation will be held at the Bibb County Schools Professional Learning Center, 2007 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA 31204. When you pull into the parking lot, the building will be on your right.

HOTEL INFORMATION:

Rooms are blocked at the following hotel. Please utilize the reservation link below or call the hotel direct and indicate you are part of the Georgia School Boards Association. 

 Hotel Name: Courtyard Marriott Macon

Hotel Address: 3990 Sheraton Dr, Macon, GA 31210

Hotel Phone Number: 478.477.8899

Group Name: GSBA Room Block Feb2023 

Check-in: Monday, February 13, 2023      

Check-out: Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Reservation Link: https://tinyurl.com/ybm7jxek

Cutoff Date for Reservations: January 16, 2023

New Board Member Orientation Agenda

*Agenda is subject to change

New Board Member Orientation: Day 1

8:30 AM       Registration & Breakfast

8:50 AM                  Welcome & Overview
                              Valarie Wilson, Executive Director, GSBA
                              Dr. Samuel King, Director of Board Development & Superintendent Search Services, GSBA
                              Amy Rowell, Director, Financial Review & Grants Accounting, GADOE

Georgia DOE Finance Training

9:00 – 9:15 AM        Fiscal Responsibilities of Board Members
                              Amy Rowell

9:15 – 10:00 AM      Federal Funds and Program Management
                              Dr. Ken Banter, Senior Program Manager, Title I, GADOE

10:00 – 10:15 AM    Break

10:15 – 11:15 AM    Facilities and Transportation
                              Michael Sanders, Director of Facilities & Transportation

11:15 – 12:00 PM    How Schools Are Funded in Georgia, QBE Overview
                              Jon Cooper, Budget Director

12:00 – 1:00 PM      Lunch

1:00 – 1:45 PM        Budgeting; Financial Reporting and Fund Accounting
                              Amy Rowell

1:45 – 2:15 PM        Risk, Internal Controls, and Audits
                               Amy Rowell

Sara McLeod, Deputy Director, Georgia Department of Audits & Accounts
2:15 – 2:30 PM        Break

2:30 – 4:00 PM        Audit Report Overview

New Board Member Orientation: Day 2

8:30 AM        Registration & Breakfast

9:00 AM                   Welcome & Overview
                               Valarie Wilson, Executive Director, GSBA
                               Dr. Samuel King, Director of Board Development & Superintendent Search Services, GSBA

9:15 – 10:45 AM       School Law for Board Members
                               Phil Hartley, Pereira, Kirby, Kinsinger & Nguyen, LLP & GSBA Legal Counsel

 
10:45 – 11:00 AM     Break

 
11:00 – 12:00 PM     Key Items of Importance for New School Board Members:
                                Roles and Responsibilities/Governance Standards
                               Zenda Bowie, Consultant, GSBA
                               Dr. Joseph Barrow, Deputy Director, Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA)

 
12:00 – 1:00 PM       Lunch

 
1:00 – 2:30 PM         Key Items of Importance for New School Board Members:
                                Governance Team Domains
                               Dr. Samuel King
                               Dr. Donna Hinton, Senior Board Development Specialist, GSBA

 
2:30 – 2:45 PM         Break

2:45 – 3:45 PM         GSBA Tools & Resources for Governance Teams
                                Mark Willis, Assistant Executive Director, GSBA

Julie Rhame, Director of Member Engagement, GSBA                   

3:45 PM                   Wrap up & Evaluations