Topic Sessions I 9

TASPA Fall Conference For School Support Personnel

Description of Topic Sessions for Monday, September 22, 2008

Session 1....... Session Cancelled

Session 2....... Downloading Certification and Testing Information from SBEC

This will be a step-by-step tutorial on downloading certification and/or testing information for up to 250 educators at a time from SBEC's secure Entity User's site. Once downloaded, participants will be shown how to open these text or tilde-delimited files into ExCEL, sort, and filter for use in staffing, reports, and many other purposes.

Presenter: Myra Klinksiek, Irving ISD/NCTASPA Retired Educator & Former Personnel Administrator

Room: DeWitt

Session 3....... The Americans With Disabilities (ADA) and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Update

Enjoy a fast-paced and user-friendly legal update regarding two of your favorite laws regarding employee accommodations and leave that combines a presentation of recent case law and proposed legislation with recommendations for implementation in the school setting.

Presenter: Wesley Johnson, Escamilla & Poneck, Inc. Attorney

Room: DeZavala

Session 4....... Certification Update

This certification update will focus on assignments for persons who hold the new TExES-based certificates, standard certificate renewal, and examination procedures for 2008-09.

Presenters: Melva Cardenas, Texas Education Agency /State Board for Educator Certification Director of Credentialing and Ruth Smith, Texas Education Agency /State Board for Educator Certification Credentialing Service Manager

Room: Dover’s

Session 5....... Personnel Law 101

It all begins with the basics. Whether you’re an experienced personnel administrator or new to your position, this session will cover the fundamental legal issues that commonly arise. The arsenal of essential personnel practices shared in this session will be your best friend in your day-to-day operation.

Presenter: Holly Wardell, Schwartz & Eichelbaum, P.C. Shareholder

Room: Phoenix North

Session 6....... FLSA and You

Update your knowledge of overtime rules, exempt vs. non-exempt employees, pay discrimination, compensatory time, lunch breaks, volunteering your time, etc. The Fair Labor Standards Act was created to ensure fair and equitable employment practices for non-exempt employees, and a lack of knowledge of FLSA could be very costly to your school district!

Presenter: Neil Dugger, Irving ISD Assistant Superintendent for Personnel & Administration

Room: Robertson

Session 7....... The Platinum Rule: A Valuable Tool for Working with People

We all know the Golden Rule, but do you know about the Platinum Rule? Come to this session and learn some skills that will help you work with people different from yourself, from your spouse to the parents of the children we serve. Understanding differences and diversity will help you be more successful in your interactions with others, and will help you maximize the benefits those differences bring to your work, family, and other groups.

Presenter: Yvette Gale Scott, TASB Division Director, Communication Services

Room: 4th Floor Capital

Session 8A..... The Substitute Challenge

This interactive session will explore solutions to numerous challenges facing school administrators in regards to the entire substitute placement process. Please bring your success stories from procedures that have been successful in your district. Subjects to be discussed: Substitute recruitment, retention, placement, and payroll integration.

Presenter: Jeremy Buckley, AESOP/Frontline Placement Technologies Account Manager

Room: 5th Floor Boardroom

Session 8B..... The 21^st-Century Personnel Department

When designing a 21^st-century HR department, technology isn’t the whole answer – it requires the willingness to use it, the leadership to re-engineer processes, and the resolution to change how the department operates. Working with other forward–thinking personnel administrators in their district, an HR department partnered with a single vendor to link its On-line Applications, Document Imaging, Substitute Management and Human Resource Finances systems together to streamline every process and optimize its workflow. The result: a fully-integrated, multi-product solution that features the best of each product, while improving services, increasing accountability, and reducing workloads. The session will feature a brief presentation and then discussion regarding the issues, decisions, and implementation projects that made the project a success.

Presenter: Paul Montgomery, CCR, Inc. (WinOcular) Director of Marketing, Sales and Special Projects

Room: 5th Floor Boardroom

Topic Sessions II 10:50-11:50 a.m.

Session 9....... A Review of the Fingerprinting Process for Non-Certified Employees

This workshop will include information on the fingerprinting process for non-certified school district employees hired after 1/1/2008(including the upload process in SBEC Online).

Presenter: Jeanie Tomasek, Texas Education Agency Fingerprinting Manager

Room: Austin

Session 10..... Beyond SBEC: Other State Licensing Boards

Some licenses required for positions in a school district are not governed by SBEC (State Board for Educator Certification). This session is designed to give the certification officer or personnel clerk the information needed to contact the appropriate board governing the license for the individual, to access rules and regulations on their websites, and, if available, to search online for current license information.

Presenter: Myra Klinksiek, Irving ISD/NCTASPA Retired Educator & Former Personnel Administrator

Room: DeWitt

Session 11..... The Americans With Disabilities (ADA) and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Update

Presenter: Wesley Johnson, Escamilla & Poneck, Inc. Attorney

Room: DeZavala

Session 12..... Documentation for unemployment, workers compensation and other benefits claims

This will be a basic course in documentation with emphasis on benefits claims with real examples of unemployment claim responses that could have been improved, and on the need for documentation and a basic documentation system.

Presenter: Roger Hepworth, Henslee Schwartz, LLP Partner

Room: Dover’s

Session 13..... Personnel Law 101

Presenter: Holly Wardell, Schwartz & Eichelbaum, P.C. Shareholder

Room: Phoenix North

Session 14..... Records, Records, Records

What to do? What to keep? What's public? What's private? Is it legal to withhold this record? Help me, help me, is the cry.

Presenter: Debbie Kopetsky, Leander ISD Coordinator of Resolution & Records

Room: Robertson

Session 15..... How To Simplify the Alternative Certification Process for Teachers, Districts, and Programs

This panel discussion with Quality ACT program officers and Irving ISD HR staff will discuss tips on how to simplify the process of certification in order to make a seamless transition for the new intern as well as for districts working with alternative programs. Time will be allowed for questions and answers.

Presenters: Rosemary Robbins, Quality Act ACP Executive Director/Quality ACT ACP; Carleen Douget, Quality Act ACP Office Manager; Dr. Neil Dugger, Irving ISD Assistant Superintendent for HR; and Kay Riggs, Irving ISD Certification Specialist.

Room: 4th Floor Capital

Session 16..... From Paper to Electronic Employee Handbook

The process to set up an electronic employee handbook will be discussed as well as how to monitor electronically the receipt of the handbook. A demonstration of the electronic handbook will be provided.

Presenter: Marcia Daniels, El Paso ISD Executive Director

Room: 5th Floor Boardroom

Topic Sessions III 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Session 17..... A Review of the Fingerprinting Process for Non-Certified Employees

This workshop will include information on the fingerprinting process for non-certified school district employees hired after 1/1/2008 (including the upload process in SBEC Online).

Presenter: Jeanie Tomasek, Texas Education Agency Fingerprinting Manager

Room: Austin

Session 18..... Downloading Certification and Testing Information from SBEC

Presenter: Myra Klinksiek, Irving ISD/NCTASPA Retired Educator & Former Personnel Administrator

Room: DeWitt

Session 19..... SB-9 Fingerprinting: They're Coming - What Do I Do?

Implementing a plan for the SB-9 fingerprinting process can be a daunting task no matter the size of the district. Districts must create a process that allows for the dissemination of appropriate information and instructions, that calms the fears and concerns of employees, and yet provides accurate accountability to the State Board of Educator Certification. Discussion will include suggestions for the development of timelines and procedures to include helpful commentary on surviving the process.

Presenter: Karen Dooley, Georgetown ISD Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, and Susan Brown, Round Rock ISD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resource Services.

Room: DeZavala

Session 20..... Highly-Qualified Teacher Program Update (NCLB)

This session will outline the highly-qualified (NCLB) 2008-2009 timeline, including a detailed look at the 2008-2009 Highly-Qualified Teacher Compliance Report and Highly-Qualified Teacher Plan Process. Title I paraprofessional reporting has been moved to this report beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. We will also look at critical determination issues for this hiring season.

Presenters: Scott Lewis, Texas Education Agency Highly-Qualified (NCLB) Program Director and Jo Bland Texas Education Agency Highly-Qualified (NCLB) Team Leader

Room: Dover’s

Session 21..... Personnel Issues and Service Credit

This session will address the state laws, rules, and practices on how years of service are considered for salary increment purposes as mandated by the Commissioner's Rules on Creditable Years of Service. Also, the following topics will be addressed during this session: 1) The new changes concerning teacher aide experience; 2) The new requirements concerning international teaching experience; 3) The Retire/Rehire Program; 4) Military experience; and 5) Some other school district personnel issues as mandated by the Texas Education Agency, Texas Education Code, and the Government Code.

Presenter: Joseph Mezher, Texas Education Agency Program Director

Room: Phoenix North

Session 22..... Why do you act that way? GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE WORKPLACE

Ever wonder why some employees want to work alone while others just crave the interaction of a team environment? Have you found yourself all alone finishing a job because others choose to just go home? What makes you want to work? What do those who work around you value? What motivates them? You'll be surprised to find out! Join us to see how the differences in generations and in their beliefs can make or break the atmosphere of your office and contribute to a positive or negative workplace. See how you can use what you learn to work with fellow employees and make a difference in your job.

Presenters: KarieLynn McSpadden, Leander ISD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Carolyn Mabarak, Leander ISD Director of Staffing and Recruitment

Room: Robertson

Session 23..... Making sure you have an IRS-compliant 403 (b) plan

The who, what, where, when and how of 403(b) plan compliance. The short course to meet the target date for adopting a 403(b) written plan by January 1, 2009.

Presenter: Cecile Russell, Cecile Russell, Consulting General Principal

Room: 4th Floor Capital

Session 24..... Assisting With Retirement Preparation

Based on the belief that retirement preparation is an important part of careers, this is an exploration of the assistance which the Texas Retired Teachers Association offers Texas public schools. This offering includes collaborative conduction of retirement information workshops and the provision of descriptive information about annuity and health care funding for retirees. The goal is to assist human resource administrators in developing this knowledge among all active public school educators.

Presenter: Aubrey Cherry, Texas Retired Teachers Association Immediate Past-President

Room: 5th Floor Boardroom

Topic Sessions IV 2:40-3:40 p.m.

Session 25..... Keep Your Records Straight

This session will address the latest issues in personnel records management, including confidentiality of Social Security numbers, retention of e-mail, and recent legislation impacting the Public Information Act. An overview of strategies for managing personnel records will be provided. Topics covered include content, location, confidentiality, and retention.

Presenter: April Mabry, TASB Senior HR Consultant

Room: Austin

Session 26..... Beyond SBEC: Other State Licensing Boards

Some licenses required for positions in a school district are not governed by SBEC (State Board for Educator Certification). This session is designed to give the certification officer or personnel clerk the information needed to contact the appropriate board governing the license for the individual, access rules and regulations on their websites, and, if available, search online for current license information.

Presenter: Myra Klinksiek, Irving ISD/NCTASPA Retired Educator & Former Personnel Administrator

Room: DeWitt

Session 27..... SB-9 Fingerprinting: They're Coming - What Do I Do?

Presenter: Karen Dooley, Georgetown ISD Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, and Susan Brown, Round Rock ISD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resource Services.

Room: DeZavala

Session 28..... Highly-Qualified Teacher Program Update (NCLB)

Presenters: Scott Lewis, Texas Education Agency Highly-Qualified (NCLB) Program Director and Ms. Jo Bland Texas Education Agency Highly-Qualified (NCLB) Team Leader

Room: Dover’s

Session 29..... Personnel Issues and Service Credit

Presenter: Joseph Mezher, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Program Director

Room: Phoenix North

Session 30..... Session Cancelled

Session 31..... Making sure you have an IRS-compliant 403 (b) plan

The who, what, where, when and how of 403(b) plan compliance. The short course to meet the target date for adopting a 403(b) written plan by January 1, 2009.

Presenter: Cecile Russell, Cecile Russell, Consulting General Principal

Room: 4th Floor Capital

Session 32..... Speech in the Workplace

Primer on free speech rights in the workplace, defamation law, and dealing with the media.

Presenter: Stephan Rogers, Henslee Schwartz LLP Partner

Room: 5th Floor Boardroom