2012 National School Board Association Conference Trip Notes

Questeq recently attended the NSBA’s 72nd Annual Conference that was held for the first time this year in Boston, MA. More than 5,000 school board leaders and administrators from across the country attended the three-day meeting from April 21-23, 2012. The Questeq team had fantastic conversations with school districts from all over the United States and Canada.

The common issues faced by every district are centered on reduced budgets, increased competition for students and an unclear vision of the future classroom and teaching model. Additionally, we found the growing disconnects between the curriculum and technology departments are limiting the radical changes required to transform our public schools.

Back at my hotel, I read an article from one of the educational magazines provided at the show that stated, “If our public schools don’t change the only students left in the system will be the ones who don’t know how to opt out”. After reading this article, thinking about the trip and my 14 years working with schools, I realized that Questeq has designed the right technology management model.  We must continue to improve our outsourced technology model with greater cost control, technology innovation and flexibility to change our operations based on the curriculum and 21st century learner requirements.