TASPA Colleagues,

While fully aware of the responsibility of the leadership role with which you have entrusted me, I am eagerly anticipating the challenges ahead.  In a legislative year, there is much information that TASPA must sort through, and there are several areas on which TASPA must remain focused, as they most heavily impact our school districts in the area of personnel and staffing.

The organization, with the leadership of our Executive Director, Alex Martin, has really become a “presence” in Austin.  Dr. Martin works closely with all stakeholders and works many long hours to keep us informed during this time.  Her staff assumes substantial additional work and provides valuable support to enable her to focus on the legislature.

I want to thank Gary Reeves (Chair of the TASPA Legislative Committee) and his committee for their diligent work in assisting in this effort.  I also want to thank Susan Kent for chairing the SBEC Committee at a time when there are serious issues facing all school districts in the state of Texas.  Susan did an excellent job of testifying before the SBEC Board on January 12.

I also want to comment on the location for the 2008 conferences.  The Board is working closely with Dr. Martin in evaluating our current location for the conferences.  There are many factors to consider, but your input has not gone without notice.  We will provide an update at the July conference at the Doubletree.  The Board also received very good input on speakers and sessions.  Your input will allow us to make a good conference great.  The half-day Personnel Law Conference that has been added to the summer conference and co-sponsored by the law firm of Schwartz & Eichelbaum, P.C., was a huge success this year, and we plan to continue this relationship based on input from the members. 

Please share concerns, comments, kudos, news items, etc., with your District representative.  They are your voice in the association.  You will find the district representatives, along with their contact information, in this newsletter. 

I look forward to serving you, and I am committed to excellence in our organization.