Thursday Sessions


Wednesday  |  Thursday  |  Friday

Connect to Sessions that Advance Your Profession

Illinois ASBO professional development committees are working hard to create relevant sessions that cater to your specific needs as a school business professional.
Earn up to 10 PD Clock hours at this year's conference.

8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Roadmap For Construction Projects 101 — What Questions Do I Need to Ask? Join us for a 10,000 ft. view of the design and construction process. We'll peer through the lens of key stakeholders to provide you with a fundamental understanding of the process and the respective roles during the entire Design-Bid-Build process.
 PDC: Planning and Construction



8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 

The Preventive Maintenance Power Hour Dive into the nuts and bolts of building a preventive maintenance program that actually prevents headaches. From getting started to keeping it running smoothly, we’ll also share how to make it all happen on a shoestring budget—or no budget at all.
 PDC: Maintenance & Operations
Implementing New Laws Join this interactive group discussion on the various current hot topics in public policy that will affect school districts and educational finance.
 PDC: Public Policy
Doing More with Less: Low to No Cost Sustainability Initiatives Discover practical, low or no-cost sustainability strategies that districts can implement today to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact and stretch limited resources. Hear real-world examples that demonstrate how small changes can lead to meaningful operational and financial benefits.
PDC: Sustainability and Environmental Health
How to Get the Most Out of Your Transportation Claim Every dollar counts, especially in school transportation. Learn what you could be claiming for reimbursement that you are not and maximize your claims.
PDC: Transportation



9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 

Are Student Fees Bringing You Down? Presenters will explore the best approaches to student fee collection and how get the best results from your efforts.
PDC: Budgeting & Financial Planning
Current Issues With Fraud Examine the common types of fraud that we are seeing throughout the banking industry. Join this session to review effective processes that will protect your district from various types of fraud. 
PDC: Cash Management
30 Tips in 30 Minutes on Special Education Hear the top 30 dos and don'ts of special education finance in just 30 minutes. 
PDC: Principles of School Finance



9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. 

Other Duties as Assigned Presenters will explore real-world responsibilities CSBOs often inherit but never studied—such as unclaimed property, fraud prevention, special education, transportation and HR. With duties varying widely by district, there’s no standard playbook. Make sure you are ready for whatever responsibilities come your way. 
PDC: Accounting
Navigating Transportation Communication Between Parents, Buildings and Vendors School transportation involves more than buses. It is a daily coordination between families, schools and transportation providers. Explore communication strategies that keep everyone informed, aligned and prepared. Learn how to manage expectations, respond to disruptions and build trust across all stakeholders in one of the most complex parts of school operations.
PDC: Communications and Community Engagement
Navigating FOIA, OMA & Website Obligations for the School Business Official Unpack the latest developments in the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA). This session will also include how your district’s website obligations and policies should adapt to a world of artificial intelligence and automated requests.
PDC: Legal Issues
Keep It, Toss It or Lock It Up: Smart Records Management for Operations Teams School districts generate countless operational records, but which must be kept, archived or deleted? This session translates records retention and disposal requirements into clear guidance for Operations teams. We'll cover permanent records, defined timelines and storage best practices that keep information secure, accessible and audit ready.
PDC: Maintenance & Operations
Illinois Together: Leading the Way to Procurement Proficiency Illinois Together is Illinois ASBO's statewide cooperative purchasing program crafted specifically for K-12 schools in partnership with Bespoke Community Cooperatives. By pooling the collective buying power of Illinois districts, we can unlock deeper discounts, and reduced procurement paperwork, all while maintaining compliance with state regulations.
PDC: Purchasing & Leadership
Dos and Don'ts of Employee Travel Reimbursements From mileage rates to meal limits, travel reimbursement can create risk during your audit. We will highlight common district mistakes and provide real-world guidance for grant-funded and district-funded travel. Attendees will leave with clear dos and don’ts, policy tips and examples to reduce confusion, improve consistency and withstand audit scrutiny.
PDC: South Central West
AI for Finance and Operations — Case Studies AI is reshaping education. It is also reshaping budgeting, forecasting, facilities planning and HR. See practical demonstrations of where AI is saving time and where it creates new oversight risks for your office. 
PDC: Technology
Frontline Analytics — Deep Dive Into Transportation Finances
 Take a deep dive into analyzing your transportation finances with Frontline Education's data analytics platform. 
PDC: Transportation



2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Pros and Cons of a 403(b) and 457 Plan Explore the advantages and potential challenges of offering a 403(b) retirement plan in your organization. This session breaks down both single-provider and multi-provider plan structures, helping you understand which option best supports your employees’ financial wellness. Then we'll flip the expert—shifting perspectives to give you a fresh, insider look at how these plans really work. 
PDC: Human Resource Management
Do You Have a Plan for Health Insurance When You Retire? Planning to retire before Medicare eligibility? This session explores health insurance options to bridge the gap to Medicare—and what to consider after you qualify. Gain clarity, compare pathways and walk away better prepared to protect your health and financial well-being throughout retirement.
PDC: Human Resource Management
Facilities Programs Join your peers in mapping the path for future professional development in facilities operations. Gain information on the available courses and opportunities for your growth. Whether you are a facilities veteran or part of the next generation of school facility managers, everyone can learn and benefit from each other's experiences. 
Presented by Illinois ASBO
American Fidelity  Details Coming Soon
Presented by Illinois ASBO
Reports, Reports, Reports 201 — HLS, FA, SA and MP Learn how to analyze the facility reports your architect can produce for you and how to leverage them to make informed capital improvement decisions. We will also review the differences between Health and Life Safety, Facility Assessments, Security Assessments and Master Planning.
PDC: Planning and Construction
Revenues for the Novice Where does a school district get their funding from on an annual basis? Join this crash course on identifying local, state and federal funding sources for schools. 
PDC: Principles of School Finance
Shining a Light on School Solar: Incentives, Storage and Savings Explore how Illinois school districts are using solar energy, battery storage and available green energy incentives to reduce costs and improve long-term financial sustainability. Learn practical considerations for planning and implementing solar projects that align with your operational and budgetary goals. 
PDC: Sustainability and Environmental Health
How to Avoid the Start of the Year Transportation Nightmare This round-table discussion will focus on everything involved in successful transportation planning from the start of registration through the first few weeks of school. Be ready to share both your headaches and successful experiences.
PDC: Transportation



2:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Ready, Set, You Want Me to Do What? This workshop teaches educational leaders the rules of improvisational acting and gives attendees techniques to successfully navigate and respond in unexpected situations. Attendees will leave with the tools to turn surprises into effective and positive conversations for both parties. 
PDC: Leadership


4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Charting The Unknown: School Finance in Turbulent Times How do you plan for the unknown? In this panel, leaders from three different school districts share their perspectives on navigating the turbulence of long-range financial planning. Learn strategies to manage uncertainty and communicate complex scenarios with clarity, confidence and transparency.
PDC: Budgeting & Financial Planning
TRS or IMRF Updates? Details Coming Soon 
PDCs: Presented by Illinois ASBO 
Operations Department - New Budget Reality Who says “budget” has to be a bad word? Join us for a fresh look at buying habits, operational hacks and the secret to maintaining your building on a budget that actually works. Dig into practical strategies, clever cost-cutting ideas and ways to grow your team’s skills without shrinking morale or your wallet.
PDC: Maintenance & Operations
Proper Specifications for Natural and Artificial Turf Athletic Facilities Athletic fields fail because their specifications are not completed correctly, and don't take maintenance into account. Hear directly from an individual who has over 40 years of experience designing, building and maintaining athletic fields for schools. If you're building or planning a new athletic field, this is a must-attend session.
PDC: Planning and Construction
Expenditures for the Novice: Where Does All the Money Go?
 This essential session breaks down the comprehensive map of school district expenditures, focusing on the essential functions and objects of expenditure.
PDC: Principals Of Finance
What's New in School Security? Join this session for an update on new legislation and technological advances that make school safer.
PDC: Risk Management
“Bus Stop Banter” All Transportation Topics Discussed in 60 Minutes Bring your burning questions on all topics transportation. Ask experts about electric vehicles, routing, driver recruitment, planning software or any other transportation struggle your district is facing.
PDC: Transportation