By Jim Westrum

March Greetings!

MASBO members can be certain that the planning for the annual spring conference is just wrapping up, and that exceptional professional development opportunities, as well as networking opportunities, will be plentiful this spring at the Breezy Point Resort. So, mark your calendars for April 30- May 2 and be prepared to register for this annual event shortly!

On the national level, I am pleased that Minnesota is well-represented in ASBO International.

Last month, President- Elect Donna Luhring participated in planning for ASBO's national conference, which will be held in Denver Colorado next October. Several Minnesota ASBO members were also in attendance at ASBO's leadership conference, making sure that ASBO's conference in Denver will provide relevant content for Minnesota members. In addition to Sue Crockett, I would like to thank Jeff Solomon, Earl Athman, and Debbie Grant for taking time out of their districts and away from their families to spend a weekend in the "mile high city." Their commitment of time and expertise allowed Minnesota to have a positive influence on the planning for ASBO's professional development offerings.

In addition to having an opportunity to network with other leaders in ASBO's state affiliates, your Minnesota delegation to Denver was also able to gain a national perspective on the challenges and emerging issues that each of our state's professional associations are encountering.

It is surprising how similar our issues are.

For instance, nation-wide, the U.S. workforce is about to enter a period in which nearly 80 million baby boomers begin to retire or become poised to retire in the upcoming years. With only about half (or 40 million) Generation X'ers in the U.S. workforce waiting to succeed them, succession planning will certainly be an emerging issue.

While it is not unique to our profession, I believe that MASBO can take a leading role in assisting Minnesota school districts as they address this emerging reality and challenge: "How do we replace long-time, dedicated school business official who have served us so well?"

Reflecting upon MASBO members' roles in our school districts and the contributions that they make to the communities that they serve, MASBO's core competencies and its purpose for existing appear to be ideal to assist our school districts as they face these challenges.

As MASBO's board and its committees continue to explore the role MASBO can play in attracting new members to the profession and preparing current members for more expanded roles, the time is right for your feedback. I would like to invite you to contact me if you have comments regarding the emerging issues of succession planning in our profession. The MASBO board would like to develop a team of MASBO members to look at this issue as well, and we would welcome your involvement.

Feel free to contact me at jwestr@district16.org or (763)785-5505. I look forward to hearing your ideas and feedback!

Enjoy your spring!

By Sue Crockett

I know you are anxiously awaiting the program and registration for the Spring Annual Conference on April 30-May 2, 2008 at Breezy Point Resort in Brainerd (Breezy Point) Minnesota. Materials will be posted on the website by the end of March.

While you are looking over the great educational sessions and opportunities to network, take a moment to think about joining a Resource Committee. MASBO has 4 standing committees; School Finance, Communication and Engagement, Legislative and Membership. The Resource Committees will be meeting during the conference and this will be an excellent opportunity for you to get involved in the work of the association! School Finance will be meeting on Thursday at 8:00 am and the other committees will be meeting on Friday at 8:00 am. Locations will be posted in the printed program at the conference. I have listed below the mission statements of each of the committees.

School Finance
To provide a resource network and development opportunities for budgeting and accounting.

Communication and Engagement
The mission of the Communications and Engagement Committee is to increase communications to and among members as well as provide up to date information and resources about our association. We will strive to engage members and potential members through personal and professional growth opportunities designed to increase members’ knowledge and understanding of school business.

Legislative
The mission of the Legislative Committee is to promote the adoption of legislation that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of school district fiscal practices and operations. To accomplish this mission, the Legislative Committee will develop MASBO's legislative agenda for ratification by the membership, communicate with policy makers and members on matters relating to education funding and fiscal management, represent MASBO on legislative matters as appropriate, and conduct an annual legislative conference.

Membership
The mission statement of the Membership Committee is to grow and engage MASBO and ASBO membership throughout our great State of Minnesota.

Avoiding the phrase “I don’t have time…”, will soon help you to realize that you do have the time needed for just about anything you choose to accomplish in life.
-Bo Bennett, "Year to Success"

Teamwork is essential. It allows you to blame someone else.
-Proverb

Retirees Honored at Annual Conference

New Members

Communication & Engagement Committee News
Submitted by Kristin Hanson and Jodie Zesbaugh, MASBO Communications and Engagement Committee

ASBO’s Pinnacle Awards Program – Nominations/Applications Due May 1, 2008

Please submit an application for or nominate a school business official for the 2008 Pinnacle Awards. The Pinnacle Awards Program recognizes outstanding practices and new ideas that result in significant contributions to school entities and the profession of school business management. Through the support of Virco Inc., this award is a celebration of the best that school business has to offer. Each year, four Pinnacle awards are presented.

The recipient honored with the Pinnacle of Excellence Award receives a $5,000 check, $5,000 of Virco school furniture for their school entity, an all-expenses-paid trip for them and their guest to the ASBO International Annual Meeting, recognition in news and trade media, and a crystal Pinnacle of Excellence Award.

The three recipients honored with the Pinnacle of Achievement Awards each receive a check for $1,000, recognition in news and trade media, and a crystal Pinnacle of Achievement Award.

For additional information regarding ASBO’s Pinnacle Awards Program, including eligibility, application and nomination forms, and information regarding the 2007 Pinnacle Award winners, please go to the following webpage: http://asbointl.org/index.asp?bid=75

ASBO’s Eagle Awards Program – Applications Due June 2, 2008
It’s also time to think about submitting an application for ASBO’s Eagle Awards for Outstanding School Business Official. Through the generous support of AXA Equitable, the Eagle Awards are the highest honor ASBO International can bestow upon its members. The awards are not just a measure of extraordinary deeds or a lengthy career, they are recognition of school business officials who are models in the school business management profession and demonstrate outstanding leadership. Each year, four Eagle Awards are presented to candidates during ASBO’s Annual Meeting & Exhibits.

The International Eagle Award recipient receives a $5,000 scholarship to be presented to a high school student, recognition in the news and trade media, an invitation to attend ASBO’s Eagle Institute, and a magnificent crystal eagle statue.

The Distinguished Professional Eagle Award honors three other individuals who receive a $2,500 scholarship to be presented to a high school student, recognition in the news and trade media, an invitation to attend ASBO’s Eagle Institute, and a crystal eagle mantelpiece.

For additional information regarding ASBO’s Eagle Awards Program, including eligibility, application form, and information regarding the 2007 Eagle Award winners, please go to the following webpage: http://asbointl.org/index.asp?bid=74

If you have any comments or questions for the MASBO Communications and Engagement Committee, please feel free to contact our Chairperson, Tina Burkholder at tburkholder@buffalo.k12.mn.us.

School Readiness Plan Deadline
April 1 is fast approaching and with it the deadline for submitting the biennial School Readiness Plan for districts with a Plan due date of 2008. A district must have an approved biennial Plan to receive School Readiness aid. School Readiness Program Coordinators are typically responsible for preparing the Plan.
Half of districts submit Plans in even-numbered years, half are due in odd-numbered years. Plan submission due dates by school district, the Plan form and instructions can be found on at the bottom of the page located by following this pathway on the MDE home page: Learning Support: Early Learning Services: Coordinator Resources: Annual Reports & Plans
If you have questions, please contact Eileen M Nelson in MDE’S Division of Early Learning Services, 1500 Highway 36 West Roseville, MN 55113-4266, E: Eileen.Nelson@state.mn.us T: 651-582-8464 F: 651-582-8494

Legislative Committee News

The 2008 Minnesota Legislative Session was called to order on February 12. A group of MASBO representatives was working on legislative issues even before the start of the 2008 legislative session.

• MASBO President Jim Westrum, along with Executive Director Sue Crockett, Legislative Committee Co-Chairs Mike Burlager and Barb Anderson, and our legislative advisor Valerie Dosland, met with Senate and House leaders to discuss the MASBO platform and offer the advice of our membership. Legislators with whom we met were Representative Mindy Greiling, chair of K-12 Finance, Representative Carlos Mariani, chair of E-12 Education (Policy), and Senator Chuck Wiger, chair of Education (Policy). These legislators each gave us about a half-hour of their valuable time, listened to our concerns and asked questions about the platform and the needs of Minnesota’s school districts from the perspective of business managers.

• A House Working Group on School Construction led by Representative Tim Faust held a hearing on school construction issues in Mora, Minnesota on January 22. MASBO members Carol Peterson from Princeton, and Gary Olsen from Ehlers & Associates, presented a case for changes to funding for capital projects based on the legislative platform developed by the MASBO Legislative Committee.

• The MASBO Legislative Committee has also been asked to serve as a sounding board to the Minnesota Department of Finance as it analyzes the impact of proposed legislation during the session.

We expect that as the session continues, we will have opportunities to respond to education finance and policy issues. We plan to recruit both committee members and MASBO members at large to testify as needed. We hope you will be open to respond if you are asked to do so.

If you have questions about the MASBO platform, which can be found on the MASBO website, please contact either Mike Burlager or Barb Anderson, co-chairs of the MASBO Legislative Committee.

For a look at legislative activity in general, view the latest edition of “Ewald at the Capitol”.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
MINNESOTA SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

This award was created to acknowledge the value and the need to recognize outstanding school business officials. Nominees will be evaluated based upon their contributions to their profession and to the Association, regardless of the size of their districts and their job titles. This award is meant to honor an individual whose accomplishments and contributions are current. It is not intended to be a capstone to the end of a career. Longevity will not be a significant factor in the nomination or selection process.

1. Any active MASBO member having at least three years of membership prior to nomination.
2. Nominees cannot be nominated for more than two consecutive years, but can be nominated again following a one-year break.
3. An individual can only receive the award one time.
4. Entries must be postmarked by March 29, 2008 or received by email to Sue Crockett at scrockett@mnasbo.org. Mailing address: 1805 3rd Avenue S, #302, Minneapolis, MN 55404.

Nominations should be submitted by the superintendent or immediate supervisor by March 29, 2008 to the MASBO Executive Director who will then forward them to a Review Panel. Please provide a narrative essay related to each of the following criteria.

• Describe an innovative project within the nominee’s district that he/she has initiated
• List community activities and other professional activities
• List current position in the school district, number of years of experience in school business, education and participation in MASBO and/or ASBO International
• List professional credentials including degrees held and dates received
• List continuing education course work done outside the college or university setting
• Provide a letter of reference. This letter should address the candidate’s character and professional ability

The application may also be found at: www.mnasbo.org – Awards and Scholarships

The winner of the MASBO School Business Official of the Year award will be selected by a panel of colleagues in the education field.

The award winner will be recognized at the MASBO Annual Spring Conference where he/she will receive a cash award of $500, a $2,000 scholarship to be awarded to a student in his/her district and a reception in his/her honor at the MASBO Annual Spring Conference. MASBO will provide the recipient a complimentary registration to the ASBO Eagle Institute.

The winner will be submitted, if eligible, for the ASBO International’s Eagle Award.

2007 – Patricia Magnuson, Executive Director of Business Services, Eden Prairie Schools
2006 – Carter Christie, Director of Business Services, Burnsville School District
2005 – Richard Lundeen, Business Manager, Detroit Lakes Public Schools
2004 - Debbie Grant, Director of Purchasing, St. Cloud Area Schools
2003 - Tom Berge, Executive Director of Finances & Operations, Minnetonka Schools
2002 - Jon Nygaard, Business Manager, West Central Area & Rothsay Schools
2001 - John Siffert, Director of Business Affairs, Buffalo Schools

PMA Financial Network, Inc.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASES STATUTORY OPERATING DEBT REPORT

Roseville - The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) released a report
showing that the number of school districts and charter schools in Statutory Operating
Debt (SOD) increased by two in Fiscal Year 2007.
Under state law, a school district is in SOD when it has a net negative unreserved general
fund balance exceeding 2.5 percent of Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 general fund expenditures.
When a district is in SOD, district officials are required to work with the Department of
Education to develop a plan to bring the district out of that designation.
The report released by the Department of Education found that the number of total
districts and charter schools in SOD is 24 (17 traditional school districts, one common
school district and six charter schools), up from 22 last year. That number was as high as
59 in 1994.
The Hopkins, Roseville, Kimball, Melrose and Glencoe-Silver Lake school districts
removed the condition of SOD at the end of FY 2007.
The complete report can be found HERE (PDF)

Minnesota Department of Education Reference Information
A listing of MDE dates and deadlines is available on the MDE website: http://education.state.mn.us/mde/index.html Click on the Data Submissions under the Data tab at the top of the home page.

MDE Contact Information
EDRS questions: Mike Matlock at mike.matlcok@stte.mn.us or (651) 582-8379 or
Mona Regan at mona.regan@state.mn.us or (651) 582-8638.
Tuition Invoice questions: George Holt at george.holt@state.mn.us or (651) 582-8889 or Jeanne Krile at jeanne.krile@state.mn.us or (651) 582-8637.
Aid Adjustment Calculation questions: Mike Landers at mike.landers@state.mn.us or (651)582-8810.
Q Comp application process questions: Kristie Anderson at (651) 582-8860 or kristie.anderson@state.mn.us .
ADM estimates for charters in their first three years, accessing EDRS, getting an EDRS account and/or obtaining your ADM and LEP Projections password can be addressed to Jeanne Krile at 651-582-8637 or Jeanne.krile@state.mn.us.
EDRS access, getting an EDRS account, updating an EDRS account and/or obtaining your ADM and LEP Projections password can be addressed to Lisa Stoffel at 651-582-8713 or Lisa.stoffel@state.mn.us.
ADM projections and/or entering data to EDRS can be addressed to Sharon Peck at 651-582-8811 or Sharon.peck@state.mn.us.