Conference Program
8:15-8:45 Registration and Light Breakfast
8:45-9:00 Welcome
9:00-10:30 General Session -Betwixt Scylla and Charybdis: Navigating the Seas of High Uncertainty and Low Return
Presenter: G. Scott Clemons, CFA – Managing Director at Brown Brothers Harriman, New York
More than three years after the official end of the Great Recession, we are still confronted with the twin challenges of anemic economic growth and volatile financial markets. A close race for the White House only heightens the uncertainty and challenges facing anyone trying to save, invest, spend and plan for the future. During the course of this presentation we'll review the current state of the global economy, how policy has responded to the economic environment, implications of the US election and, ultimately, how to position investment portfolios for institutions and individuals.
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-12:00 General Session - Rethinking the Independent School Financial Model – a Practical and Legal Perspective
Presenters: Marc Levinson, Executive Director, MISBO and Sara Goldsmith Schwartz, President and Managing Partner, Schwartz Hannum PC
Some believe that a school's finances are the wrong focus for strategic change—instead, revising the entire structure of teaching itself, and the technology used to do it, will create financially sustainable "schools of the future." Changing the structure of teaching may indeed be the key to redefining the financial model. This session will analyze two case studies that will help guide our conversation and hopefully help your schools answer some of the difficult decisions to be made in the coming years. First, we will talk about a situation where staffing changes must be made to ensure your school has the “right people on the bus” (Jim Collins – Good to Great). Culturally, staffing reductions and changes are very difficult for our schools. Then we will shift the focus to technology. As “Disrupting Class” suggests, technology is the disruptive innovation that will allow our schools and our education models to change. In addition to the costs, professional development, and other challenges, there are significant legal issues that must be considered. We will get this conversation started with a case study exploring some of the legal issues that must be evaluated as you consider a BYOD (bring your own device) scenario. This will focus on the student side of BYOD. (Please note that Sara will be presenting a breakout session following this general session which will focus on the faculty / staff issues of BYOD).
12:00-1:00 Buffet Lunch
1:15-2:15 Concurrent Sessions (choose one)
1) Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Challenges and Solutions
Presenter: Sara Goldsmith Schwartz, President and Managing Partner, Schwartz Hannum PC
This interactive presentation will focus on best practices for BYOD policies, procedures and agreements related to employees. We will discuss solutions to practical and legal difficulties that arise when employees use their own devices on and off campus and/or to access the school's network. We will use data security breach and sexual abuse case studies to address issues that often arise in the BYOD context. Attendees will receive useful checklists to help establish sound BYOD policies and procedures for employees.
2) Data, Data Everywhere…But what to do with it?
Presenter: Genevieve Madigan, Director, Research and Online Resources, NBOA (National Association of Business Officers)
From demographics, surveys, budgets, and audits we are all overwhelmed with data points. Come attend this roundup of the most useful current data available. We will review the data available, but more importantly we will discuss what these points tell you, and how can you use them to help shape the future decisions at your school.
3) Federal Health Care Reform (ACA) A Strategic Update – An eye towards post-election compliance, open enrollment, and the future impact of implementation
Presenter: David Shore, VP, Group Employee Benefits Practice Leader, Borislow Insurance
As a result of federal health care reform there is an acute need to understand the financial, total rewards, workforce and administrative issues facing independent schools. Dave will provide an informed and timely review of health care reform and identify what's in store for employer-sponsored group health plans as we move toward (and past) 2014. Looking through the prism of a balanced political perspective we will review the ACA implementation timeline, focus on strategy development, and identify direct and indirect challenges and opportunities - best positioning you and your school for the future. This presentation will identify and discuss the impact of health reform, affordability, shifting care delivery, new technologies, workforce productivity, and employee engagement upon the employer health plan.
2:15-2:30 Break
2:30-3:45 General Session - New Normal or Business as Usual? Will you just tell me what I am supposed to do!
Presenter: Sarah Daignault, Consultant - Specializing in School Governance, Operations and Sustainability
Independent education is a luxury. Only a small percent of the families in the US can afford to pay the tuitions we charge. Our price has been escalating geometrically. 2008 has not turned out to be a game changer we all thought it would be. Most schools have just gone back to business as usual. Lack of consumer confidence is leading to more tuition discounts and new pricing strategies. We have to think about pricing and budgets differently. You will spend the morning and early afternoon examining various elements of this puzzle. In this session we will pull all of these pieces together and explore how business officers can help their schools find their solutions to the questions of financial sustainability.
Program concludes at 3:45
Corporate Sponsors
AISNE wishes to thank the following Corporate Subscribers
for generously sponsoring these events.
Breakfast - Schwartz Hannum PC
Opening Speaker – Brown Brothers Harriman
Lunch – Windover Construction, Inc. and Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
Closing Speaker – George K. Baum & Company
Click on "More Information" below to download the program and registration form.
More Information PDF 30kb