Volume XLV                            March 2024

No. 337

In This Issue...

  1. META President Message 
  2. SAM Executive Director Message
  3. Upcoming Events:  SAM Webinars and Spring Legal & Tech Conference
  4. 2024-25 SAM Membership Drive
  5. MACSS County SOY Award Nomination
  6. Employment Opportunities
  7. CoSN EmpowerED Superintendent Series


Upcoming Conferences,   
Meetings, & Events 

Spring Legal & Technology Conference
March 11-12
Great Northern, Helena

SAM Administrators Institute
July 22-24, 2024
Helena

** View the full SAM Calendar**    

Thank you to this month's featured Business Partners!  


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SAM Leadership 

SAM
Sara Novak
President 
Carol Phillips
President Elect
 Shelley Andres
Past President  

MASSP
 Sheri Heavrin
 President
 Rhiannon Beery
 President Elect
 Jason Slater
 Vice President
 KJ Poepping
 Past President 
 
MAEMSP
 Julie Hornby 
President
 Mark Goyette
 President Elect 
Kelly Kinsey
Vice President
Ted Miller
Past President
Barb Droessler
Ben Lambert
SAM Representatives
 
MASS
Dale Olinger
President
Joel Graves
President Elect
Hannah Nieskens
Federal Relations Coordinator
 
MCASE
Taylor Salmi
President
 
MACSS
Pam Birkeland
President
 
META
Carol Phillips
President
 
SAM Office
Dr. Rob Watson
Executive Director
 Kim Scofield
Director of Professional Learning & Member Services
 Marcus Meyer
Director of Operations, Membership & Finances

 

 

Cybersecurity Success
by Carol Phillips, META President 

Colin Powell, in his book The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell (2003), wrote:

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. 

As leaders in the field of education I am sure you have found that this quote rings true. For me, as a technologist, it is a perfect representation of what is required to be successful in terms of cybersecurity preparedness. A successful team will be one that prepared in advance and worked through the different aspects of their plans in a safe setting. 

With that in mind I hope you, and your team, will join us for the Montana K-12 Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise in one of two convenient locations. This will be an opportunity for you to bring your team together, and work through some real world scenarios in a safe environment, ask questions, learn from your mistakes, and determine what areas need to be improved upon. When you leave you will have action items for your teams moving forward. This exercise has been designed with laymen in mind. Cybersecurity experts will be on hand to answer your questions, help you shore up your incident response plans, which will allow you to answer those cybersecurity insurance questions with confidence.

Watch for the registration that will be coming to your inbox and the SAM website soon.

EAST EVENT
Tues, Apr 23rd 1-5PM
MSU Billings City College

OR 

WEST EVENT
Thurs, Apr 25th 1-5PM
UofM

I would suggest you have a member from each of the key areas that would be involved in a situation. Look to your Incident Response Plan for more information. Here are just some that we think you should consider having at the table.

  • Superintendent
  • Technologist
  • Principal
  • Clerk
  • Board Member
  • Teacher
  • And anyone else who would need to help you through a cybersecurity incident

Bring your current Incident Response Plan so that you can refer to it while you work through these real world situations. Bring your cybersecurity insurance documents so you can ask the experts your questions.

This will be a great opportunity to practice, work with other schools and their teams. Find out the various ways to look at a situation and learn from each other. In schools we have drills for the various things we want to be prepared for (i.e. fire, intruder, etc). This is a perfect opportunity to start having a drill on this very important topic. I look forward to seeing you there!

Carol Phillips
META President

Open Enrollment, The changing landscape of public education in Montana. (IMHO)

We celebrated a new record recently with more than 250 members who zoomed into our SAM webinar regarding the open enrollment law, HB203. Membership engagement is always something to be excited about. However the webinar discussion, including the questions and comments in chat, were sprinkled with confusion, frustration, and fear. We focused our time on the details of implementation - the nuts & bolts of the new law. We failed to address the real concerns that I could see and hear from our members. What does this mean for the future of public education in Montana?

The recent Montana legislation allowing open enrollment between public schools might initially seem like a win for school choice and parental rights. However, in my opinion, this policy shift will have unintended consequences that could undermine the foundation of public education in our great state.

One of the most significant concerns is the potential exacerbation of educational inequities. Schools in affluent areas, often with more resources and perceived better performance, could become oversubscribed, leaving other schools with dwindling enrollment and funding. Public education relies on equitable distribution of resources; this legislation risks creating a system where 'haves' and 'have-nots' are further divided, undermining the principle of equal opportunity for all students, a guarantee in our state constitution.

Additionally, the logistics of open enrollment pose serious challenges. Increased mobility between schools could lead to overcrowding in certain districts, while others may face underutilization, leading to staff layoffs and program cuts. Moreover, the burden of managing a more fluid student population could divert staff time and attention - time better spent focused on the kids and schools in their community.

There is also the impact on community cohesion. Schools are often the heart of local communities, providing a common ground for families from diverse backgrounds. Open enrollment could dilute these community ties, as students disperse to different schools based on perceived notions of better offerings or sports programs, rather than keeping a focus on their neighborhood schools.

In conclusion, while the intent behind open enrollment is to provide more choices for families, it's crucial to consider the broader implications on public education as a whole. Without careful planning and additional support for all schools, this policy could deepen educational inequities rather than ameliorate them - in my humble opinion.

Rob Watson,
SAM Executive Director 

Mark Your Calendar:  SAM Webinar Series
Thursday, March 14, 10:00 AM
Catch-Up Session:  SAM Member Q and A

SAM Monthly Webinar Invitation March 14.png - 261.98 KbMark your calendar for the next SAM webinar on Thursday, March 14 at 10:00 AM which will be a "catchup" question and answer format.  Bring any questions you have about early literacy bill, the health insurance bill, accreditation, the open enrollment bill, and recording board meetings. 

SAM Webinars are scheduled for the 2nd Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM.  Recordings and resources from past webinars can be found on the SAM Member Landing Page.

Did you miss the February 22 SAM Webinar focused on implementing HB203 and HB890?  Follow the links below to access the webinar resources:

You are invited to a bonus webinar on Thursday, March 7 at 10:00amMike Waterman, Executive Director of Business and Operations at Bozeman Public Schools, will lead a review of preliminary budget data sheets. This webinar is part of the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program Quarterly Huddle programming.  With the release of budget information coming from OPI on March 1st, this is a timely topic for all SAM members. This webinar offers a platform for you to have your questions addressed by Mike and the SAM LPLP Providers. Don't miss out on this valuable session!  

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3923446729
Meeting ID: 392 344 6729
 
2024_MASS-META-MCASE_Spring_Conference_with_Reg.png - 206.43 KbLast Change to Register for the 2024 Spring Legal & Technology Conference

Register now for the 2024 Spring Legal & Technology Conference sponsored by MASS, META, and MCASE. The conference is scheduled for March 11-12 at the Great Northern in Helena.

Be sure to check out the Schedule at a Glance to get a sneak peek at all being offered at the 2024 Spring Legal & Technology Conference sponsored by MASS, META, and MCASE.  The conference is scheduled for March 11-12 at the Great Northern in Helena.  

This is a can't-miss event featuring:

  • Pete Just - K12 Generative AI Implementation (keynote presentation) and Writing Effective Generative AI Prompts (breakout session)
  • US Dept. of Education Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) - FERPA Mythbusting and Cybersecurity, Incident Response Tabletop (keynote presentations) and Black Hat Academy, Hackathon (breakout session)
  • Interactive breakout sessions on timely topics including legal updates, federal advocacy, robotics, special education update, plus much more
  • Welcome Reception sponsored by Bytespeed on Sunday, March 10 at 6:30 PM
  • 25th Anniversary Celebration social with a live band sponsored by T.E.S.T. on Monday evening
  • Recognition of award winners (Submit a nomination by following the award links - Feb. 23 deadline)

Contact one of the following hotels to make your reservation for the Spring Conference.

  • DoubleTree (406-443-2200), $140 per night
  • Residence Inn by Marriott Helena, please visit Spring Conference booking link,  $129 per night
  • Delta Hotel (406-443-2100, $129 per night 
Click here to register for the
2024 Spring Legal & Technology Conference

TEST 25 Anniversary Party Invitation.PNG - 820.23 KbT.E.S.T., Inc. is proud to be a Platinum Technology Vendor for the 2024 Spring Legal and Technology Conference. We look forward to seeing you there and invite you to attend our workshop on Monday, March 11th  from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. in the Ballroom.  This will NOT be a normal PowerPoint type of presentation but instead be an IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE!  We will also be having multiple drawings for those who attend our workshop of items donated by Audio Enhancement, Motorola/Avigilon Security Solutions, American Time, and SMART Displays. Must be present to win. We hope to see you there!

Please plan to join us that evening to help celebrate our 25th Anniversary of serving Montana schools.


 

2024-25 SAM Membership Drive Launches in April!

The School Administrators of Montana (SAM) Membership Drive will begin the week of April 8 for the 2024-25 membership year! We will once again be using the online renewal process that we have used for the past several years. As the "key contact" for a district, district clerks/business managers will receive an email that will include information for completing membership renewals for their district's MASS, MASSP, MAEMSP, MCASE, and META members. Please work with your district clerk/business manager to be sure your membership is correct. Members not linked to a school district will receive an email that will include a link to their membership renewal form. We encourage you to renew your membership early so you can start the next fiscal year with the full benefits of your membership in place and without a chance of it lapsing. Contact the SAM Office with any questions you may have.

MACSS County Superintendent of the Year Award Open for Nomination

Consider nominating a deserving county superintendent for the MACSS County Superintendent of the Year Award.  This award acknowledges the dedication and service of our colleagues and fellow County Superintendents. Nominations will be accepted from County Superintendents, School Administrators, Teachers, School Board Members, County Commissioners, and parents.  Nominations are due by 5:00 pm on May 1, 2024.  Follow this link to access the application:  2024 MACSS County Superintendent of the Year Award Nomination 

did_you_know.jpg - 16.39 KbDid You Know...

...administrator vacancies are posted on the SAM website?

Do you have positions you would like posted? Follow this link to access the  Vacancy Posting Form. The position, district website, contact information, closing date, and link to the online application are posted for each vacancy. Once a position is filled, please complete the Administrator Positions Filled form so the necessary updates can be made to the posting on the website. Visit the Employment Opportunities page on the SAM website to review current open positions.


cosn logo.jpg - 42.49 KbThe Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and its Montana state affiliate chapter, Montana
Educational Technologists Association (META)
are pleased to continue to support the work of current and aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams in leading all aspects of digital learning transformations.

 CoSN 2024 Driving K-12 Innovation Report

CoSN recently released the 2024 Driving K-12 Innovation Report. The Driving K-12 Innovation Series is the process by which CoSN shares high quality global trend reports regarding the use of emerging technologies to transform K-12 teaching and learning. 

CoSN’s annual Driving K-12 Innovation Report is produced through the collaborative work of a global advisory board of K-12 leaders, practitioners, and changemakers. Together, over a period of six months, the global advisory board members engage in synchronous and asynchronous discussions, surveys, and more around the use of emerging technology to transform learning in K-12 education. The result of the advisory board’s work is the annual CoSN Driving K-12 Innovation Report which is divided into three main categories: Hurdles (challenges), Accelerators (mega-trends) and Tech Enablers (tools). To learn which specific items fell into each of the three main categories this year as well as access the link to download the complete 2024 report please go to https://www.cosn.org/k12innovation/

Roadmap to Innovation Newsletter
In addition to the annual report, CoSN also produces a monthly Driving K-12 Innovation newsletter titled “Roadmap to Innovation”. Subscribers to the free monthly newsletter are informed about tools needed to accelerate change in their districts, at their organizations, and in the K-12 ecosystem around the globe. You can learn more and subscribe to the monthly newsletter at https://www.cosn.org/roadmap-to-innovation/
 

EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panel Series
CoSN, AASA, and edWeb.net co-host a monthly online edLeader Panel broadcast series, sponsored by ClassLink, to help superintendents connect and collaborate. Registration is free and registered participants can join the live event and/or view recordings and podcast versions starting a day or two after the live broadcast. 

The February 12, 2024, edLeader Panel broadcast on Leading Learning That Truly Meets the Needs of Each Student featured Dr. Jill Louters, Superintendent, New Rockford-Sheyenne School District, ND and Dr. Jason Van Heukelum, Superintendent, Winchester Public Schools, VA. The Superintendents shared the strategies their districts are implementing to assure that the teachers and staff have the knowledge and skills to leverage what technology can provide to enable each student to be a successful learner. You will find a link to access the recording and podcast version of this and other previously broadcast edLeader Panels at  https://home.edweb.net/supers.

The next monthly edLeader Panel broadcast, Leading Effective Data Privacy Processes Within a School District Setting, takes place on Monday, March 11 at 2:00 pm Mountain Time. Superintendents Bill Burr, Wrangell Public Schools, AK, Scott Elder, Albuquerque Public Schools, NM, and Dr. Mary Templeton, Washougal School District, WA, will share the strategies they have implemented to assess their school districts’ privacy and compliance policies and also assure that data privacy is integrated into all aspects of technology use within their school districts. Five critical guidelines for making data privacy an essential commitment within any school system will be presented. The superintendents will be joined by Linnette Attai, CoSN Project Director for Data Privacy, who will share information on how and why a school district can earn the CoSN Trusted Learning Environment Seal. Registration for this free edLeader Panel broadcast is available at https://home.edweb.net/webinar/supers20240311/

CoSN 2024 Annual Conference, “Leading for Innovation: At Warp Speed”
Registration is now open for the CoSN 2024 Annual Conference, scheduled for April 8-10, 2024, in Miami, Florida. For conference and hotel information and registration links, see https://www.cosn.org/cosn2024/

CoSN Membership:  If you, your school or district would like more information about joining CoSN or getting more involved with CoSN, please contact [email protected].


Thank you to SAM's Business Partners!  

Please take time to visit their websites.

Montana Big Sky Sponsors

Health Insurance
PO Box 4579
Helena, MT 59601
[email protected]
406-457-4401
Total Education Solutions in Technology
(T.E.S.T)  PO Box 2900Missoula, MT 59805
[email protected]
888-401-6950
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Empowering Teachers To Drive Their Own
Professional Learning
84 Sherman Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
[email protected]

 

Montana Glacier Sponsors

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Infinite Campus is the largest American
owned student information system  [email protected] 

763-458-1752 

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A turn-key library of interactive lessons that enrich K-12 instruction
Erin Murphy

[email protected]
406-929-1903

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Providing expertise in all phases of construction
[email protected]
406-570-7575

montanaschoolsplip.png - 19.74 KbSchool property & liability insurance      
1200 North Montana Ave. Helena. MT. 59601
[email protected] 
406-533-1035 
Imagine_Learning_logo_full_mark_C@2x.png - 15.84 KbK–12 online curriculum and blended
learning solutions
Chet.riddle@imaginelearning.com
480-347-6008 
                                                                    


Montana Mountain Sponsors


Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Solutions
34 West 6th Avenue, Suite 2B
Helena, MT 59601
[email protected]
406-461-7432
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Partners in Clean, Safe & Healthy Buildings
2525 Overland Avenue
Billings, MT 59102
[email protected]
800-652-1020 
Cognia_logo.png - 2.29 KbTargeted Professional Development
Daniel Sybrant
557 Cow Creek Lane
Corvallis, MT Daniel.Sybrant@
measuredprogress.org
888-413-3669, ext. 5776
School portraits, yearbooks & sports portraits
2110 Overland Ave., #115A
Billings, MT 59102
800-862-7183
Corebridge Logo.png - 20.25 Kb Corebridge Financial (formerly Valic)
Annuities, life insurance
430 Ryman St., #102
Missoula, MT 59892
brian.olsen@
corebridgefinancial.com
406-329-5500
RHM.png - 112.32 KbReach Higher Montana
Jason Butcher
Outreach Director
406-366-0777
406-422-1275 Ext. 801
[email protected] 
msgia.png - 1.98 KbSchool Workers’ Compensation & Liability Coverage
PO Box 7029 - Helena, MT 59601
[email protected]
Phone: 406-457-4418
edisonlearning_logo.png - 2.74 KbOnline Learning for students grades 6-12
One East Broward Blvd. Suite 1599
Ft. Lauderdale FL 33301
matthew.krise@edisonlearning.
com
754-778-2617
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Safe, Easily Managed School
Networks
106 East Sixth Street, Suite 500
Austin TX 48701
[email protected]  
512-904-0544   
Spectrum.png - 6.05 KbNational provider of scalable, fiber technology solutions Spectrum Enterprises Local Contacts 
apptegy_logo.png - 6.26 Kb
Powering Your School’s Identity
2201 Brookwood Dr. Suite 115
Little Rock, AR 72202
[email protected]
501-472-5636
CommunicationResources.png - 15.80 KbProviding tech solutions to Montana since 2004
Karl Moritzkarl@
communicationres.com
406-552-2374

 

Montana Meadow Sponsors

45 Arch Logo.jpg - 488.12 Kb 
Collaborating with you to innovate
1627 W. Main Street Suite #325
Bozeman, MT 59715
[email protected]  
406-577-2345
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K12 Montana, Inc.
Creator of K12 Panel -
Making IT work for you!
Jeff Patterson
[email protected] 
GotZoom.png - 9.87 KbSystems and applications to reduce
the financial burden of federal student loans
[email protected]
833-468-9666   

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Technology planning, project  &
solution  services
2135 Charlotte Street
Bozeman MT 59718
[email protected] 
406-294-5470   
 
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Managed IT Services, Advanced
Cybersecurity
Services, Product Procurement
500 N Higgins Ave #201
Missoula, MT 59802
406-721-6462
[email protected] 
 
 

2023-24 SAM Bulletins