Brown-bag Teleconference Seminars
Join the dialogue and engage the experts
The worlds that shape the requirements of accountability reporting are vast — politics, policy, education, research, advocacy, and government affairs. Sharpen your knowledge of current issues through one hour seminars with experts in the field. This service is free for all School Wise Press clients. If you are not a School Wise Press client, space may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. (You can also listen to past seminars.)
December 2009
Joel Montero
Chief Executive Officer,
Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team
Building Community Confidence
in Your Financial Savvy
Wednesday, December 9
12 noon to 1 p.m.
All district leaders share the strain of California’s economic downturn. But almost everyone could use a little help explaining what the revenue declines and budget cutbacks really mean for students, parents, and local communities.
When community confidence is the key to your district’s well being, plain talk helps you persuade parents and taxpayers to take the action you’ll need. Building community confidence can pay off in more active parent involvement or increased contributions to your education foundation. It can also result in active voter support for bond measures or parcel tax elections.
How do leaders succeed (and fail) at talking intelligently, clearly, and persuasively about money? Joel Montero, CEO of FCMAT, will share his observations of what brings about success or failure in these critical conversations.
January 2010
Jan Keating
Director of Pupil Services,
Walnut Valley Unified School District
Parent Choice in Public Education:
SB 680 Puts this Option on the Table
Wednesday, January 20
12 noon to 1 p.m.
In 1994, Walnut Valley Unified School District opted to participate in a little known parent choice option, District of Choice.
It was the vision of former superintendent, Dr. Ron Hockwalt, to provide any child an opportunity to attend schools in the district. Although controversial, the district has stood by the belief that all parents should be able to decide where they want their children to go to school. There is no denying that the district has benefited financially from this decision.
Jan Keating, Director of Pupil Services at Walnut Valley USD, will share her district’s story. Find out what they’ve done to stay the course, and how the program has benefited transfer students at all academic and socioeconomic levels.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS
As CEO for the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), Joel Montero is responsible for oversight of FCMAT operations including AB 1200/management assistance, professional development, California School Information Services (CSIS), the Educational Data Web site, teleconferencing, and product development. Mr. Montero has 35 years of service in public sector institutions in a variety of roles. His past experience includes superintendent of a medium-sized unified school district; assistant superintendent in business, personnel, and curriculum and instruction departments; principal; assistant principal; and classroom teacher.
Jan Keating is Director of Pupil Services at Walnut Valley USD, a district of about 15,500 students in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County, there are only three districts participating in the District of Choice program: Walnut Valley USD, Hacienda-La Puente USD, and Gorman ESD.