Deadline Extended. MASB is calling for proposals from school districts, school board members and other organizations for high-quality breakout sessions that focus on topics of critical interest to school board members. MASB offers this unique opportunity to share your great ideas, knowledge and experience. Submit a program topic or idea for consideration for the 2012 Fall Conference and help your colleagues learn from your best practices. Help promote all of the good things happening in our public schools. These sessions should focus on the tools and skills to help school board members govern and lead more effectively in the fast-moving world of K-12 education. All proposals MUST be in alignment with school board members' responsibility to set education policy for the district, including fiscal management.

If you're interested in having a program or presentation from your
school district or organization considered for the
MASB Fall Conference, Nov. 9-10, 2012, Detroit Marriott Renaissance
please read the guidelines carefully and submit online by Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Presenter Guidelines and Requirements

• School districts submitting proposals must be members of MASB.
• Please limit the number of presenters to four. Don’t list individuals as secondary presenters unless you have a definite commitment that they will present. If you're invited to present, you'll have an opportunity to add or change presenter names.
  
• We will schedule sessions throughout the Annual Conference on Friday, Nov. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10. Please don’t submit a proposal unless you can present your session any time during the conference. We will attempt to make accommodations for religious considerations or other scheduling conflicts if they’re communicated upon acceptance of our invitation to present.
  
• Only two presenter conference registration fees will be complimentary; MASB will handle registrations for complimentary attendance. Presenters are responsible for their own costs, including travel and accommodations.
  
• MASB doesn’t pay an honorarium or expenses for presenting breakout sessions at the Annual Conference. We hope that the intangible benefits of being a part of our educational programming make the effort worthwhile.

ALL PowerPoint presentations must be e-mailed to MASB by Oct. 19, 2012. MASB is green; all presentations will be posted on the MASB website prior to the conference; MASB won't provide handouts at the conference.

Note: Presenters will have use of the following audio-visual equipment at no cost: LCD computer projection device, computer, one large screen, microphone (if large room). Internet access in presentation rooms is limited.

• Bargaining in Tough Financial Times
• Board/Superintendent Relations
• Collaboration and/or Resource Sharing
• Emerging Trends in Education
  
• Increasing High School Graduation Rates
  
• National Standards and/or National Assessments
• Supporting Effective Teachers: Strategies to Ensure High Quality Educators
  
• Surviving the Financial Crisis
• Transforming Low-Performing Schools
  
• 21st Century Skills (As defined by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills)
  
• Using Data to Improve Student Achievement
  

Evaluation Process
Submissions received by the deadline will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Is the role of the school board clearly articulated?
• Is the topic of high interest and relevance to today's school board members?
• Does the title clearly describe exactly what the session will be about?
• Does the description give a clear, concise picture of what the presentation will include?
• Are the objectives clear and can they be met realistically in the time allowed?
• Has the program been in existence for at least one year?
• Is the program's positive impact clearly described?
• Will the presentation provide solid, practical, how-to information?
• Can the program be replicated in a wide variety of school systems?
• Does this topic have the ability to engage board members in developing solutions to education challenges?

Each district or organization may submit up to two (2) proposals.

Click here to complete the online call for presentations application form.