Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association

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THE WESTCHESTER PUTNAM SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION (WPSBA) HAS WORKED TO EARN A SOLID REPUTATION AS A REGIONAL LEADER ON ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE. OUR STRONG MEMBERSHIP RECORD (100% OF AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE MEMBERS) STANDS AS AN INDICATOR OF THE HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE AND RESOURCE SUPPORT WE PROVIDE. THE WPSBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS REGULARLY CALLED UPON TO PROMOTE EDUCATION ISSUES AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ON PANELS, ROUNDTABLES, AND OTHER PUBLIC FORUMS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE PRIMARILY SUPPORTED THROUGH MEMBERSHIP DUES, AS PROGRAMS ARE EITHER PROVIDED FREE TO MEMBERS OR THERE IS A NOMINAL FEE. MOST OF OUR PROGRAMS WERE PROVIDED ON A VIRTUAL PLATFORM THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID-19. KEY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE WPSBA MISSION STATEMENT INCLUDE:1. PROMOTING EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD SERVICE BY PROVIDING TRAINING, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS: A. THREE PROGRAMS ON GOVERNANCE AND CURRENT ISSUES FOR SCHOOL BOARDS. - 108 TOTAL ATTENDEES. B. THREE TRAINING SESSIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE AND NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, AS WELL AS A YEAR-LONG MENTOR PROGRAM FOR NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. - 117 TOTAL ATTENDEES C. TWO DISTRICT CLERK WORKSHOPS ON ISSUES RELATED TO THEIR BOARD OF EDUCATION DUTIES. - 105 TOTAL ATTENDEES2. PROVIDING A FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG BOARD MEMBERS AND FACILITATING COMMUNICATION AND LEARNING AMONG SCHOOL BOARDS AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS: A. ORGANIZE TWO NETWORKING SESSIONS FOR SHARING INFORMATION AND PERSPECTIVES. - 100 TOTAL ATTENDEES B. IMPLEMENT WEEKLY (FEBRUARY THROUGH MAY) SCHOOL DISTRICT SURVEY ON PROPOSED SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET AND DISTRIBUTE WEEKLY UPDATED RESULTS TO BOARDS AND ADMINISTRATORS. C. COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES; DISTRIBUTE STATE, REGIONAL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT DATA, AS WELL AS ITEMS OF INTEREST TO SCHOOL BOARDS AT MEETINGS, ELECTRONICALLY AND THROUGH POSTING ON THE ASSOCIATION'S WEBSITE.3. SERVING AS A RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, SHARING INFORMATION RELATED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AGENCIES, LEGISLATORS AND THE PRESS, AND ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ISSUES. A. SERVE AS REGIONAL VOICE AND A CONDUIT FOR PROVIDING DATA AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LEGISLATORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE PRESS ON SCHOOL GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ISSUES. REGIONAL DATA AND RELATED INFORMATION ARE DISTRIBUTED AT MEETINGS AND ELECTRONICALLY AND IS POSTED ON WEBSITE. B. GATHER INFORMATION ON THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL AND STATE REQUIREMENTS ON SCHOOL BUDGETS AND OPERATIONS, AND ADVOCATE ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT PUBLIC EDUCATION. REGIONAL DATA AND RELATED INFORMATION ARE DISTRIBUTED AT MEETINGS AND ELECTRONICALLY AND IS POSTED ON WEBSITE. LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE HELD PERIODICALLY TO DISCUSS REGIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION ISSUES AND ADVOCACY. LOCAL MEETINGS AND NY LEGISLATOR FORUM (72 ATTENDEES PLUS LEGISLATORS) ON REGIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION ISSUES. C. PUBLISH ANNUAL "FACTS & FIGURE$" BOOK OF MEMBER SCHOOL DISTRICT DATA AND PROFILES. ADVERTISING REVENUE OF $10,500, BOOK SALES OF $37, AND HARD COST EXPENDITURE FOR PUBLICATION AND MAILING OF $2,682. 800 BOOKS WERE PUBLISHED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO BOARD MEMBERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, LEGISLATORS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS/MEMBERS. THE PUBLICATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE.