Upcoming Changes to IASB Office Hours 
IASB staff from the Springfield and Lombard offices will be in Chicago for the Joint Annual Conference from Friday, November 2, through Sunday, November 22, 2026. Offices will be open on Monday, November 23, and then closed on Tuesday, November 24, for the Association's commemoration of Veterans Day. The office will remain closed for the remainder of that week, through November 27, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

School Board Members Day is November 15
IASB has a number of resources to recognize the service and leadership of Illinois school board members during the statewide commemoration of School Board Members Day on November 15. Districts are encouraged to use #ThankABoardMember when recognizing school board members on social media. In addition, key messages, graphics, activity suggestions, and sample social media content that can be used to recognize your board are posted on the IASB website. An honorary certificate that can be personalized and given to board members is available, along with a sample resolution that can be adopted by counties, townships, and other elected bodies.

Information for Candidates
The filing period for school board candidates for the April 6, 2027, Consolidated Election is November 16 to 23, 2026. A wealth of information for School Board Candidates is available on the IASB website, including Key Dates for School Board Candidates and recordings of four How to Navigate Running for School Board webinars. A 2027 Candidate's Guide and the 2027 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar can be found on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

IASB Delegate Assembly is November 21 
The 2026 IASB Delegate Assembly will be held on Saturday, November 21, at 11:45 a.m. during the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago. Districts are strongly encouraged to register a delegate in advance. A delegate may participate in the Delegate Assembly even if they are not attending the full Joint Annual Conference, but must be registered for the Delegate Assembly. If pre-registration is not possible, the delegate can register onsite at the Grand Registration Desk at the Hyatt East from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 20 and 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, November 21. This is also where and when registered delegates can pick up their Delegate Assembly packet and credentials.

Get the Essentials: The New Finance Book is Here
The Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) and author Ann Williams, Ed.D., SFO, CSBO, announce the release of a new edition of Essentials of Illinois School Finance: A Guide to Techniques, Issues, and Resources. The reference helps Illinois education leaders understand and manage the increasingly complex financial realities facing public schools. Essentials serves as a practical guide for current and aspiring school leaders, budget makers, and others seeking a clear understanding of school finance principles and practices and the evolving fiscal landscape. A preview of the book’s contents is available. Retail price for the Eleventh Edition is $49. IASB members can purchase at a discounted rate of $39 from the IASB Bookstore. Non-members, including students, may email [email protected].

Case Added to IASB’s Court Decisions Page
IASB's Office of General Counsel prepares summaries chosen from the Illinois Supreme and Appellate courts, federal court, agencies, the Illinois Public Access Counselor, and other tribunals issuing interesting decisions. A new decision from the Illinois Appellate Court has been added to the Recent Decisions page. The decision reversed a lower court’s determination on "compact and contiguous" districts as required by Illinois case law, statutes, and the Illinois Constitution.

PRESS Issue 123
Boards and others that subscribe to PRESS may now find the PRESS Issue 123 (October 2026), Update Memo, and Committee Worksheets at PRESS Online. PRESS and PRESS Plus Issue 123 features updated material in response to bills passed during the second half of the 104th General Assembly, as well as other regulatory, case law, and guidance updates. Log in to your Member Account at IASB.com, and select “PRESS Login” under “Quick Links.” Learn more about PRESS Issue 123 in the recorded webinar under recordings in IASB’s Online Learning webpage.

Join IASB for Trends in Collective Bargaining
Registration is now open for Trends in Collective Bargaining, a half-day training event for Illinois school board members and superintendents. Prepare for your next collective bargaining session by learning from Illinois school attorneys and school district representatives who have been through the process. What are the trends in compensation and benefits? How do we identify problems and resolve differences? How do we prepare for negotiating sessions? Join IASB to learn about these issues, understand regional topics, and prepare for the responsibilities of boards and administrators at the bargaining table.

Visit the IASB Trends in Collective Bargaining webpage for more information and to register. 

Journal Celebrates the Arts
The November/December issue of the Illinois School Board Journal features dozens of examples of the wonderful artwork being created by Illinois public school students. Read a discussion of the importance of the arts in today’s schools. Members can find the printed Journal in the postal mailbox where they receive district mail, or can read select text online and check out the complete digital flipbook.