Leadership to Address the Fiscal Challenges of Special Education (online)

Magnum Trainings:  Fiscal Workshop

 

Leadership to Address the Fiscal
Challenges of Special Education (online)

 

Schedule, Registration, and Payment [HERE]
Two 3-hour sessions, on non-consecutive days, via ZOOM with video ON

This is an advanced issues online workshop, with an emphasis on fiscal strategies and structural options to analyze and manage your special education programs….

Audience
This online workshop is for Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, School Business Officials, Special Education Administrators, and other leaders with an interest in administration of special education programs. Districts may want leadership teams to participate.

About This Workshop
    This powerful interactive workshop provides school district administrators with direct strategies to address the fiscal impacts of special education services. Unaddressed, these impacts may have long-term negative impacts on the overall financial health and budget stability of their school district. Participants will review the fiscal structures of special education programs and how they work as part of their school district budget.
Dr. McLeod and Ms. Blackman will identify key pressure points and decisions, and offer specific fiscal strategies to address program costs, while ensuring student needs are addressed. Using cost-benefit analysis the workshop activities will provide participants the opportunity to analyze their district’s fiscal histories and leadership structures, address areas of fiscal challenge, optimize expenditures, and implement cost controls. This workshop is designed to help superintendents, business officials, and special education administrators address specific financial concerns in the rising and challenging costs of providing special education services.

Faculty
Suzanne McLeod, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools (retired) and Assistant Professor

Dr. Suzanne McLeod served as Superintendent of the Union Endicott Central Schools for eleven years (2008-2019). Immediately prior to her superintendency, Suzanne served as an Assistant Superintendent for Business, and again prior, as a Curriculum Director. These administrative experiences provided her with insights into special education program budgeting and the cost control strategies available to decision makers. Combining her observations and discussions with fellow superintendents and business officials, she has formulated strategies to address the fiscal challenges of special education. During these difficult budgeting times these strategies are of high value to special education program managers.
Dr. McLeod is currently an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Educational Leadership Program at Bingham University (SUNY). In her career Suzanne has taught a variety of subjects and different grade levels in both elementary and secondary schools in Michigan, Massachusetts, and New York. Her college teaching includes education courses at Hofstra University, Broome Community College, SUNY Oswego, and Binghamton University. Dr. McLeod has authored professional articles on trust, home schooling, and bullying. She wrote A Principal’s Guide to No Child Left Behind, and teaches workshops to aspiring leaders.
     Kathryn Blackman, CPA, Central Business Office Controller
Kathryn Blackman has 35 years’ experience in New York public school finance. She is currently the Controller of the Broome Tioga BOCES Central Business Office (2013 to present), Immediately prior to her Controller position Kathryn worked 19 years as the School Business Official in Chenango Forks Central Schools (1995-2013), and again prior, ten years as an external auditor. The BOCES CBO oversees the finances of 14 component school districts. This unique background and perspective has given her insights how different districts structure special education budgets and cost control special education programs for savings.
Ms. Blackman is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership Program at SUNY Binghamton. Ms. Blackman presents fiscal issues and considerations to regional Boards of Education. She regularly conducts training sessions for administrators on school finance, expenditure control, program budgeting.

Administrator
Dr. Jim Merrins is Executive Program Administrator of Educational Support Services. He administers numerous statewide fiscal workshops for superintendents and experienced school administrators, including Fiscal Navigation for Superintendents, The School District Negotiator,and Claims Auditor Training. Jim has more than 40 years experience in school administration, including 16 years as a Superintendent in Fredonia and Honeoye, New York. Dr. Merrins is NYS certified as a School District Administrator and School Business Administrator. Dr. Merrins taught school finance and school law at SUNY colleges for several years.

Costs
The cost of this workshop is $275 for the first participant, plus $245 for the second participant, plus $225 each for the third and subsequent participants from the same school district or firm.

Materials
Each workshop participant will receive workshop-related materials.

Hosted and administered by ESS
James M. Merrins, Ed.D., Executive Program Administrator

ESS Policies, Terms, and Conditions [HERE]
Method of Payment Information
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Contact James Merrins, Ed.D.
Comments, corrections, source documents, and questions welcome
Educational Support Services
42 Rosalyn Court, Fredonia, New York 14063
(716) 672-5473, FAX (716) 672-5472, jmerrins@cecomet.net