2021 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE PREVIEW

PIVOT!

We Heard You, Loud and Clear … PIVOT! MSBA planning three-day virtual Leadership Conference in January 2021 based on member survey

By Kirk Schneidawind, MSBA Executive Director

Kirk Schneidawind MSBA gathered your feedback in August, when a survey was sent to the entire membership, and your message was loud and clear. While you want to attend the MSBA Leadership Conference in-person, due to a variety of health and safety reasons, more than half of you do not feel an in-person 2021 MSBA Leadership Conference is a viable option. “It is all about optics and preventing further spread of transmission. This will help us keep kids in school.” – MSBA member Your MSBA is working with our hotel and convention center partners to come to a reasonable agreement and to identify solutions for the 2021 Leadership Conference. The health and safety of the membership, staff, exhibitors, and your communities are what is most important. So, this year we are going to “PIVOT!” We are working on plans to provide valuable information and learning opportunities to you, no matter your choice of location. Some of you may choose an option to attend virtually as a school board, others

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will choose their back office, living room, desk, kitchen table, or even their couch. No matter the format or location, you will experience keynote speakers, round tables, workshops, skills sessions, local school district student talent, and social opportunities, as well. Nothing can replace being in-person, learning with and from one another. Like you, we are adapting, we are being creative, and we are excited for this opportunity to “PIVOT!” and explore all the options. The survey also told us you value evenings and weekends with your families and away from technology. When we asked what day and time you would like to attend virtually, again the membership was very clear on their preference: Thursday mornings. We will hold the conference in a virtual setting from 9 a.m. to noon on January 14, January 21, and January 28, 2021, on three consecutive Thursday mornings. We are also exploring whether we will be able to record sessions and make them available the weekend following the presentation. Final details will soon be posted to our website and communicated to you in numerous ways. “Thank you for continuing to figure out ways to provide content to member districts through this odd time.” – MSBA member

This is an “odd time,” indeed! The MSBA Leadership Conference 2021 will look different, but our goal of delivering an outstanding and high-quality learning experience has not changed. Who knows what conferences will look like in 2022? Our hopes and plans for future Leadership Conferences are to bring the event back in-person – and better than ever!

Kirk Schneidawind is the MSBA Executive Director. Contact Kirk at kschneidawind@mnmsba.org.