Topic Tracks Available at Joint Annual Conference

Attendees at the 2025 Joint Annual Conference who wish to focus their participation on a specific subject can utilize topic tracks to plan their Conference experience. Attendees who hope to participate in a variety of topical conversations can also use these tracks, selecting events from each.

Topic tracks for 2025 include Crisis Management; Current Events; Educational Equity; Finance and Funding; Governance, Leadership, and Accountability; Governmental Relations; Rural District Issues; School Law; Social-Emotional Learning; and Student Learning & Achievement.

The 2025 Joint Annual Conference will take place November 21-23 in Chicago.

Complete details on every event can be viewed on the 2025 Conference Planner, or in the program book, which can be picked up at the Conference. Here we’ve highlighted some topic tracks:

Explore sessions related to Advocacy and Governmental Relations here:

• Friday 2-3 p.m.
• IASB Constitutional Review Process, Proposed Amendments, Q&A
• Legislative and ISBE Insights
• Saturday 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• What Will Spring 2026 Bring for School Finance?
• Saturday 3-4 p.m.
• Intergovernmental Collaboration and Relationship-Building
• Use Your Voice: 2026 Federal Advocacy Engagement & Meet Up
• Sunday 8:30-9:30 a.m.
• Your District’s Voice: IASB Springfield & D.C. Advocacy Days

In addition to the pre-conference The Power of Us: Storytelling for Just & Joyful Schools event, the Educational Equity track offers conversations on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for students and staff.

• Friday 9-10 a.m.
• How to Start or Expand Dual Language Programs in Illinois
• Saturday 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• The Equity Journey Continuum on the Illinois Report Card
• Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Diverse Leaders of Color
• Saturday 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• What School Board Members Should Know About English Learners

The Finance and Funding track offers panel sessions, especially for beginners, as well as in-depth discussions on audits, TIFS, levies, and budgets.

• Friday 2-3 p.m.
• Strategic Planning that Works: Vision, Action, Results
• Saturday 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Communicate Financials with Clarity and Confidence
• Preparing your Board and your Community for Construction
• Revenues for the Novice
• Financial Benefits of Effective Risk Management
• Saturday 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Board & Unions: Evolving District Relations & Bargaining
• Goldilocks & Three Bears of Financial Statements for Boards
• Architect-Constructor Collaboration: Best Practices
• Hot Topics in Issuance of Municipal Bonds: What to Know
• Mastering the Deal: The Ultimate Negotiation Playbook
• Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Insurance Program?
• Saturday 3-4 p.m.
• Saving Operational Costs Via Innovation and Collaboration
• One School District, Two Referendums: What Happened?
• Expenditures for the Novice
• From Boardroom to Jobsite: Lessons in Public Construction

Issues for Rural Districts will be discussed in many panels, especially.

• Friday 2-3 p.m.
• Leadership, Policy & Voice: Rural Education Advisory Council
• Saturday 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Creative Solutions for Rural School Facility Improvements
• Rural Realities: Creating Opportunity Where Distance Divides
• Small Towns, Big Impact: Building Trauma-Responsive Schools
• Saturday 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Providing Comprehensive Education Programs in Rural Settings
• Saturday 3-4 p.m.
• Sustainability in Action: Rural Schools Leading the Way
• Sunday 8:30-9:30 a.m.
• Rural & Small School Topics and Talk with AIRSS