New Date! Please join us Tuesday April 1st for this very important event!

The Urban Network is the premier advisory voice to OSBA, dedicated to helping urban school boards of education effectively prepare all students to be globally competitive and successful in college and/or career. By sharing ideas and best practices, we ensure that all urban school districts benefit. We invite any and all staff in the district to participate in the conversation. Our workshop discussion will dive deep into the topic of an alternative report card.

Agenda:
10 a.m. Welcome and introductions
Thomas C. Patterson, OSBA President and board member, Sandusky City

10:10 a.m. Report Card Workgroup update

10:30 a.m. Legislative update and Q&A
Malania Birney, legislative services consultant; (tentative) new members of the General Assembly

11 a.m. Lunch and hot topics roundtables

Groups will select 2-3 questions to discuss. After discussions, one facilitator from each table will report.

Hot topic questions
 How is your district tackling transportation challenges?
 How does your district work with partners to center yourselves in your community (successful after-school and wrap-around service partnerships)?
 How is your district tackling chronic absenteeism and/or declining enrollment?
 In what area is your district excelling?
 If you were an all-powerful governor/president and could enact one policy change to help your district, what would it be?

11:30 a.m. Hot topic report outs

11:45 a.m. COSSBA announcements and wrap up

Sessions

Date Title Location
4/1/25 [In-Person] Urban School Boards Network Meeting TBD
4/1/25 [Virtual] Urban School Boards Network Meeting Webinar

Tuesday April 1, 2025

9:30 a.m.
Registration

We will begin welcoming in-person guests at 9:30am

the Zoom Session will begin by 9:50am

10 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Thom Patterson, president, OSBA Board of Trustees
10:10 a.m.
Highlighting Success: TPS Bus Tours
Chris Varwig ,vice president, Toledo Public Schools, immediate past president , OSBA Board of Trustees
10:30 a.m.
Legislative Update and Q&A
lead by Melania Birney, lobbyist, OSBA

We will be joined by members of the General Assembly

Guests TBA

11 a.m.
Working Lunch with Hot Topic Roundtables

Lunch will be provided to those attending this event in person.  Menu TBA: If you have any special dietary needs or requests, please email Scott Clay, sclay@ohioschoolboards.org to make arrangements for your meal. 

In-person guests will break into groups and our online guests will meet together in a breakout room facilitated by Zoom.

Groups will select 2-3 questions to discuss.

After discussions, one facilitator from each table will report out.

Hot Topic Questions

  • How is your district tackling transportation challenges?
  • How does your district work with partners to center yourselves in your community? (successful after-school and wrap-around service partnerships)
  • How is your district tackling chronic absenteeism and/or declining enrollment?
  • In what area is your district excelling?
  • If you were an all-powerful governor/president and could enact one policy change to help your district, what would it be?

11:30 a.m.
Group report-outs
11:45 a.m.
COSSBA Announcements, & Wrap-up
12 p.m.
Adjournment