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We invite you to join us for a one-hour webinar on Tuesday, April 21st at noon designed to provide a practical, high-level overview of how districts can spend more strategically to build long-term financial health while maintaining a strong focus on student outcomes.

As enrollment declines across Kansas and costs continue to rise, districts are facing increasingly difficult budget decisions. This webinar will equip school board members and district leaders with practical skills in strategic fiscal management, finance policy analysis, and effective financial leadership. Participants will gain insight into the key questions leaders should be asking to align financial decisions with their highest priority—ensuring that their district resources are used to support and sustain long term academic achievement.

Panelist:
Dave Trabert is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Policy Institute, where he also does research and writes on fiscal policy and education issues. He is the lead author of three books: 8 Things to Know about Running for School Board (January 2025), Giving Kids a Fighting Chance with School Choice, and What was Really the Matter with the Kansas Tax Plan. His other published work includes “Student-Focused Funding Solutions for Public Education” and “Removing Barriers to Better Public Education.”

Trabert was an appointed member of the Kansas K-12 Student Achievement and Efficiency Commission. He serves on the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force and co-chairs the Education Finance Joint Working Group for the American Legislative Exchange Council.

His commentaries have been published by The Wall Street Journal, National Review, Investor’s Business Daily, Forbes, The Washington Times, The Washington Examiner, RealClearPolicy, TheHill.com, and The Daily Caller. His guest editorials have also been published in many Kansas newspapers.

He graduated cum laude from West Liberty University with a degree in Business Administration.

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We invite you to join us on Tuesday, May 5 at 12:00 PM (CDT) for an important webinar covering the recent law on student personal cell phone use during the school day.

Our panelists will provide background, outline key provisions, and highlight important considerations for school boards and district leaders as they navigate the compliance expectations for this legislation. The bill requires school districts to adopt policies and procedures governing student use of personal electronic communication devices during the school day.

Senator Blasi will present an overview of the legislation, including its intent and key considerations related to student use of personal electronic communication devices, as outlined in Senate Sub. for HB 2299. Fritz Edmunds, attorney with the School Boards for Academic Excellence Kansas Legal Hotline, will also share guidance to help school boards and district leaders consider their policy compliance and accountability filing required by the Kansas Board of Education by September 1.

Panelist:

Senator Chase Blasi

Senator Blasi has proudly represented his hometown of Colwich in the Kansas Senate for four years. He represents western and southern Sedgwick County. He has championed issues around adoption, childcare, and children’s health. He recently led the charge on banning cell phones in schools and guaranteeing access to recess for every kid. He has served as Majority Leader for the last two sessions. While he has worn many hats, his most important and favorite responsibility is being a husband to McKenna and a father to four sons.

Fritz Edmunds

Fritz Edmunds has more than 30 years’ experience as a Kansas lawyer. He serves as outside general counsel to various small businesses and interest groups. He also handles select cases as pre-litigation counsel and as trial-counsel when all other reasonable options have been exhausted.

He has served as a presidential appointee to a federal board in Washington, DC, and has litigated cases in state and federal courts throughout his career. Mr. Edmunds serves Kansas school board members as the School Board for Academic Excellence Kansas Legal Hotline attorney.

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We invite you to join us for a one-hour webinar on May 27 at 12 pm CDT with Aaron Salt. This webinar is designed to provide a practical, high-level overview for school board members and superintendents who are interested in creating a superintendent evaluation that is student-focused and promotes a culture of accountability, trust, and shared vision for student academic achievement.

School board members hold a critical responsibility in setting the mission, vision, strategic priorities, and goals that shape a culture of excellence grounded in accountability and trust. Ensuring the district is led by a superintendent who shares the board’s vision and is committed to advancing academic achievement and preparing students for college and careers is essential to long-term success and a strong board-superintendent partnership.

Panelist:

Aaron Salt, author of Govern Differently, currently serves as the Executive Vice President for School Boards for Academic Excellence. His decade of educational leadership spans the rare trifecta of founding and chairing a charter school, serving as elected school board president, and leading district operations as COO and Interim Superintendent. Salt has driven measurable results including increased student achievement, expanded CTE certifications, and strategic budget management during fiscal crises. He holds degrees from Auburn University and Florida State University. Salt lives in Colorado with his wife of 15 years and their four children.

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We invite you to join us on Wednesday, June 17th at 12:00 PM (CDT) for an informational webinar delving into the “miraculous” improvement in reading and math scores in Mississippi.

The unprecedented improvements in fourth grade reading and math scores that occurred in Mississippi between 1998 and 2024, moving them from the worst in the country to among the highest, was labeled a “miracle.” State departments of education and individual districts are trying to figure out the secret to Mississippi’s success in hopes of emulating the results. However, the reality is far more complex than most might expect.

Douglas Carswell will explore the key innovations, difficult decisions, and unwavering commitment to systemic change that created Mississippi’s “miracle.”

Panelist: Douglas Carswell

Douglas Carswell is a leader of the liberty movement with experience building high-performing teams that achieve change. For the past five years, he has led a state-based think tank in Mississippi, securing a string of free-market reforms, including major labor market deregulation in 2021, comprehensive tax reform in 2022, school funding reforms in 2024, and legislation to eliminate the income tax in 2025.

Having been a laggard for decades, Mississippi is now one of the fastest-growing states in America.

Previously a Member of the British Parliament for 12 years, Douglas co-founded Vote Leave, the official Brexit campaign. Re-elected every time he ran, Douglas achieved one of the largest swings in any election in British history when he called a special election on himself to secure the Brexit vote.

Douglas was born in Britain, raised in Uganda, but came to America by choice.

He is the author of five books, as well as Milestones, a radical policy blue print for the reforms Britain needs. He served as a non-executive director at the UK Department of for International Trade, helping secure free trade deals around the world.

Douglas lives in Flowood, with his wife, Clementine, daughter, Kitty, and Crumble, the dog.

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