The Georgia School Boards Association offers two conferences each year- our Summer Conference in June and our Annual Conference in December. Both conferences are great for school board members, superintendents and other educational leaders.
GSBA conferences and workshops affords local school board members a great opportunity to fulfill their annual training requirements each year. (O.C.G.A 20-2-230).
Find out more about both of our conferences below.
“I’m grateful and thankful that in spite of the ongoing pandemic, we were able to come together to gain important information to aid in student’s education/workplace, etc. Thank you GSBA staff for an excellent job!”
The GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference is held each year at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference consists of one day of workshops and two days of speakers, awards, lunches, and more.
The 2022 Annual Conference & Pre-Conference Workshops will be offered in a limited hybrid format.
Check back! These details are subject to change. As additional information becomes available, this website will be updated.
We heard you! In an effort to ease the registration process, registration for the 2022 Annual Conference and Waverly Hotel reservations will take place on 2 separate days. You must register for the conference before making reservations at the Waverly. Additional information regarding this process will be made available in October.
NEW THIS YEAR! The Waverly now charges for parking $15/day for day-time parking and $25/night for overnight parking. Valet parking will be available and price options will be communicated closer to arrival. More details regarding the parking will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Pre-Conference Workshops:
Wednesday, November 30, 8:30am – 4:00pm
Virtual:
In Person:
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 each after Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
Annual Conference:
Thursday, December 1, 8:30am – 4:00pm through Friday, December 2, 2022, 8:30am – 11:00am.
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 each after Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
GSBA affords local school board members a great opportunity to fulfill their annual training requirements for the fiscal year in conjunction with the GSBA Annual Conference held in Atlanta. This is a convenient way to obtain the necessary credit for annual training (see O.C.G.A 20-2-230).
GSBA is proud to offer 3 Workshops at the 2022 Annual Conference. All workshops will go from 8:30am to 4:00pm. For in-person attendees, a continental breakfast will be offered in the morning, boxed lunches will be served at noon, and breaks will be available throughout the day.
Check back! These details are subject to change. As additional information becomes available, this page will be updated.
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops will increase by $70 each after Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
Legal Issues
Board Members (in person) I $275 I 6 credit hours
Board Members (virtually) I $275 I 6 credit hours
Attorneys (in person only) I $350
This is one of the most important and prestigious workshops offered annually by GSBA. For over sixty years, GSBA has been the leader in helping local school boards interpret the complexities of Georgia’s laws, rules, and regulations regarding public education. The E. Freeman Leverett Legal Issues Workshop is the most heavily attended annual workshop offered by GSBA.
School Finance (in person only)
$275 I 6 credit hours
Is your district financially able to weather an extended recession? What metrics do auditors, the DOE, and financial experts suggest you use to gauge preparedness? Where does your district stand in meeting its goals regarding ESSER/CARES funds? How will you sustain the programs and positions? Does your budgeting process reflect the highest inflation we have seen in 40 years? Answer these questions and learn how schools receive funding from state, federal, and local taxpayers. Join former superintendent and current RESA Director Dr. Steve J. Smith, former Decatur City Board of Education member Marc Wisniewski, and Georgia Department of Education Director of Financial Review Amy Rowell as they lead this engaging, relevant, and informative workshop.
Communications (in person only)
$275 I 6 credit hours
The GSBA Communications Workshop focuses on the fundamental aspects of success for any governance team interested in improving how they communicate internally and externally. In this day and age of heightened community involvement, strategic communications are imperative. Learn the value of board norms and protocols, communications planning, and the board’s role in the process. Finally, hear from two Georgia school districts that have implemented successful communications programs.
GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference will be December 1 – December 2, 2022. Information for the conference will be released in the fall of 2022.
GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference will be December 1 – December 2, 2022. Information for the conference will be released in the fall of 2022.
The 2022 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference will be held at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.
Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel
2450 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339
770.953.4500
Renaissance Waverly Hotel – First Floor Map
Renaissance Waverly Hotel – Second Floor Map
RESERVATIONS:
The reservation link for the Waverly will go live on Thursday, October 20 at 10:00am. You must register for the conference before making reservations at the Waverly. More information regarding hotel reservations will be shared with support staff soon. Per Waverly policy, only 3 reservations can be made online at one time.
OVERFLOW HOTELS:
A list of overflow hotels will be made available when registration opens. When making your hotel reservations, please reference the group code under each hotel’s information on this document to get the special negotiated rate.
PARKING:
NEW THIS YEAR! The Waverly now charges for parking $15/day for day-time parking and $25/night for overnight parking. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. When you arrive at the Waverly, if you are parking overnight, please notify the parking attendant and they will direct you to the check-in desk to receive your permit. If you are only parking at the Waverly during the day, you may purchase a parking pass from the attendant as you enter the lot. They accept cash and credit cards.
Valet parking will also be available and price options will be communicated closer to the event.
Overflow parking is available at the Cobb Galleria for $10/day. Please visit their website for more details. Overflow parking options at the Cobb Galleria and parking cannot be reimbursed by the Renaissance Waverly Hotel.
WAVERLY CHECK-IN PROCESS:
The Waverly’s check-in time is 4:00 pm. The Waverly’s check-out time is 11:00 am.
At the time of check-in, all guests must have a photo ID that matches the name on the reservations. If you initially put all of your room reservations under one name, this must be changed to each individual name prior to arrival.
All guest rooms at check-in must have a valid method of payment for room/tax and incidentals.
PRE-PAY FOR ROOMS:
If you would like to pre-pay for your hotel room(s), you may do so via credit card or check and payment must be received by November 14 to the Waverly.
Only payment onsite will be received via credit card. The name on the credit card MUST be present at check-in with a photo ID.
If you wish to pay via check, payments can be submitted to the address below by November 14. Please include the information of the guests with the check, as well as contact information so that the Waverly may reach out to confirm any questions.
Accounting Department
Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center
2450 Galleria Parkway SE, Atlanta, GA 30339
WAVERLY CANCELLATION/NO-SHOW POLICY:
The Waverly has a 72-hour cancellation policy. If a cancellation is made within 72 hours of arrival a full one-night deposit is required.
If you do not show up for your first night of the reservation, your room will be canceled for the remainder of the stay. The room cannot be guaranteed if you do not arrive for the first night’s stay. Please call the hotel and change your arrival date if you will not be arriving on your scheduled check-in date.
HOTEL TAX EXEMPTION FORMS:
State of Georgia Sales Tax Exemption Form
State of Georgia Local Hotel/Motel Tax Exemption Form
Please send these via email to Laura Chiles at the Waverly.
Our Business Opportunities website has up-to-date information on how you and your business can support GSBA and public education in Georgia or contact Pam Harrison, Business Opportunities Manager, at pharrison@gsba.com
Thursday, December 1 – Friday, December 2, 2022
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
The 2022 Annual Conference & Pre-Conference Workshops will be offered in a limited hybrid format. Only what takes place in the Grand Ballroom will be offered virtually. The Legal Issues Pre-Conference Workshop will be offered both in person and virtually (for board members only), and the other 2 workshops will only be offered in person. The Attorney’s afternoon session will also only be offered in person. The Annual Conference will be offered both in person and virtually. The only sessions that will be streamed to virtual attendees will be the General Sessions in the Grand Ballroom. Breakout sessions will not be available to virtual attendees.
Virtual
In-Person
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 each after Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
Both in-person and virtual cancellations must be submitted in writing to Leigh Crow, lcrow@gsba.com, no later than Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Each individual cancellation will be assessed a $70 fee. For instance, if you cancel both a pre-conference workshop and conference registration, a $70 fee will be charged for each cancellation. Cancellations will not receive any refunds after this date.
If cancellations are made before November 15 and you have already paid, we will refund the registration to the original form of payment. No credits may be applied to future events.
For the Conference:
If switching from in-person to virtual, requests must be submitted in writing to Leigh Crow, lcrow@gsba.com, no later than November 15, 2022, in order for a refund of the difference. Any switches from in-person to virtual AFTER November 15 will not receive a refund for the difference and a $70 fee will be charged.
If you want to switch from virtual to in-person, requests must also be submitted by November 15 and the increased fee will be charged. If you want to switch from virtual to in-person AFTER November 15, you will pay the increased fee plus the $70 fee.
If you would like to substitute a registration from one board member to another, you may do so at any time.
For the Pre-Conference Workshops:
If you would like to switch from one workshop to another, requests must be submitted in writing to Leigh Crow, lcrow@gsba.com no later than November 15. Workshop switches AFTER November 15 will incur a $70 fee.
Legal Issues Workshop ONLY: If switching from in-person to virtual AFTER November 15, will not incur a $70.
The Annual Conference will take place on Thursday, December 1 from 8:30 am-4:00 pm and Friday, December 2 from 8:30 am-11:00 am. All activities will take place in the Grand Ballroom except for our Breakout Sessions, which will take place in other spaces at the Waverly. The Annual Conference will be offered both in-person and virtually. The only sessions that will be streamed to virtual attendees will be the General Sessions in the Grand Ballroom. Breakout sessions will not be available to virtual attendees.
For in-person attendees, a continental breakfast and lunch will be offered on Thursday and only breakfast will be offered on Friday.
GSBA has a great program lined up for the 2022 Annual Conference. Please check the Agenda tab regularly, as more information becomes available, it will be added to the website and Whova.
GSBA affords local school board members a great opportunity to fulfill their annual training requirements for the fiscal year in conjunction with the GSBA Annual Conference. This is a convenient way to obtain the necessary credit for annual training (see O.C.G.A 20-2-230).
GSBA is proud to offer 3 Workshops at the 2022 Annual Conference. All workshops will go from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. For in-person attendees, a continental breakfast will be offered in the morning, boxed lunches will be served at noon, and breaks will be available throughout the day.
All 3 workshops will provide 6 hours of credit for board members. Only the Legal Issues Workshop will be offered both virtually and in person for board members. The Finance & Communications Workshops will only be offered in person. The Attorney’s afternoon session will also only be offered in person. Please check the Pre-Conference Workshop tab regularly, as more information becomes available, it will be added to the website and Whova.
Virtual
In-Person
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 each after Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
Yes, the Georgia Council of School Board Attorneys will be hosting a workshop. Attorneys will attend the Legal Issues Workshop in the morning and then will break out into their own session in the afternoon. This is offered in person only. Attorneys who attend the afternoon session will be eligible to receive credit hours for attending. GSBA will provide credit hour forms at the end of the workshop to complete and then will submit the proper paperwork to the Georgia Bar Association.
We will again be using the Whova platform for all attendees. Within Whova, attendees can access the agenda, conference materials, and the sessions that attendees are registered for that are being live-streamed.
Whova is the web and mobile event application we will be using to allow attendees to access the agenda, conference materials, digital exhibit booths, and the sessions that are being live-streamed. This is the same platform that was used for the 2021 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference and the 2022 GSBA Summer Conference. Details to access the event will be emailed to all attendees as we get closer to the event.
If you have previously used Whova to access the prior GSBA conferences then you will use the same login information. If this is your first time, you will be prompted to create an account on your first login. Detailed instructions will be emailed to all attendees ahead of time.
GSBA will be following CDC Guidelines regarding Covid-19. Please visit their website for additional information.
GSBA will do its best to accommodate special dietary needs. Please contact Leigh Crow at lcrow@gsba.com with any specific requests.
GSBA will be hosting a luncheon for Board Chairs attending the Pre-Conference Workshops on Wednesday, November 30. Board Chairs will receive additional information from Nancy McLellan at a later date.
Reservations for the Renaissance Waverly will go live Thursday, October 20 at 10:00 am.
Hotel reservations may only be made AFTER registering for the Conference and/or Pre-Conference Workshops. After you register for the conference, a confirmation page will appear that will include a link to the Waverly reservations, this will also be sent in a confirmation email you will receive after you register for the conference. This link will go live on Thursday, October 20 at 10:00 am. This link will not be made available anywhere else. Please use this one link to make all reservations, there is not a unique link for each individual registrant.
No, Governance Teams may not meet during programming times at the Pre-Conference Workshops and the Conference. However, if a Governance Team would like to meet at the Waverly before or after programming hours, please reach out to Leigh Crow at lcrow@gsba.com.
Visit the Agenda tab on this webpage for additional details. This tab will be updated as more information becomes available. Please note that the agenda is subject to change.
The agenda will also be available on Whova. More information on Whova will be posted soon.
We heard you! In an effort to ease the process, registration for the 2022 Annual Conference and Waverly Hotel reservations will take place on 2 separate days. GSBA hopes this will make the registration process a little less stressful.
Registration for the Conference and Workshops opens Tuesday, October 18 at 10:00 am.
The Conference registration link will be emailed out on Tuesday, October 11. It will also be posted on the GSBA website under the Event Registration Page and the Conference Page. This link will go live on Tuesday, October 18 at 10:00 am. You may register all of your governance team at this time utilizing this one link.
If you plan to attend a workshop and the conference at the same time, please make sure to register for both in advance.
The Waverly has a 72-hour cancellation policy. If a cancellation is made within 72 hours of arrival a full one-night deposit is required.
If you do not show up for your first night of the reservation, your room will be canceled for the remainder of the stay. The room cannot be guaranteed if you do not arrive for the first night’s stay. Please call the hotel and change your arrival date if you will not be arriving on your scheduled check-in date.
Per Waverly policy, only 3 reservations can be made online at one time.
If you would like to pre-pay for your hotel room(s), you may do so via credit card or check and payment must be received by November 14 to the Waverly.
Only payment onsite will be received via credit card. The name on the credit card MUST be present at check-in with a photo ID.
If you wish to pay via check, payments can be submitted to the address below by November 14. Please include the information of the guests with the check, as well as contact information so that the Waverly may reach out to confirm any questions.
Accounting Department
Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center
2450 Galleria Parkway SE, Atlanta, GA 30339
Unfortunately, GSBA is only allotted so many rooms at the Waverly. If you are unable to get a room at the Waverly, we encourage you to check out our list of overflow hotels for accommodations.
State of Georgia Local Hotel/Motel Tax Exemption Form
State of Georgia Sales Tax Exemption Form
Please send these via email to Laura Chiles at the Waverly.
The Waverly’s check-in time is 4:00 pm. The Waverly’s check-out time is 11:00 am.
At the time of check-in, all guests must have a photo ID that matches the name on the reservations. If you initially put all of your room reservations under one name, this must be changed to each individual name prior to arrival.
All guest rooms at check-in must have a valid method of payment for room/tax and incidentals.
On-site registration will be available for the Pre-Conference Workshops. However, if the conference itself is sold out (if we’ve reached capacity in the Grand Ballroom), on-site registration will not be available.
If the conference is full, your name can be added to a waiting list. Board members will receive first priority to attend. If you are moved off of the waiting list after November 15, you will not pay the increased registration fee.
If you join the waiting list AFTER November 15, you will pay the increased registration price.
Virtual
In-Person
A list of overflow hotels will be made available when registration opens.
When making your hotel reservations, please reference the group code under each hotel’s information on this document to get the special negotiated rate.
NEW THIS YEAR! The Waverly now charges for parking $15/day for day-time parking and $25/night for overnight parking. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. When you arrive at the Waverly, if you are parking overnight, please notify the parking attendant and they will direct you to the check-in desk to receive your permit. If you are only parking at the Waverly during the day, you may purchase a parking pass from the attendant as you enter the lot. They accept cash and credit cards.
Valet parking will also be available and price options will be communicated closer to the event.
Overflow parking is available at the Cobb Galleria for $10/day. Please visit their website for more details. Overflow parking options at the Cobb Galleria and parking cannot be reimbursed by the Renaissance Waverly Hotel.
No. The Whova Leaderboard is simply to show the level of engagement by the attendees but there will be no prizes for the leaders.
No, individual meal tickets are not available for people who are not registered for the Pre-Conference Workshops or the Conference. NOTE: If you are registered for the Workshops and/or the conference, meals are included with your registration.
Name badges may be picked up at the Conference Registration Desk on the second floor in the back right corner of the Waverly. Workshop and Conference attendees may pick up their name badges on:
The exhibitors will begin setting up on Wednesday, November 30. Conference attendees will be able to visit with exhibitors on Wednesday afternoon and all day on Thursday, December 1. Please make sure you stop by to say hi!
All opportunities for exhibits and sponsorships are accessible on the Business Opportunities website and can be signed up from there. If you have additional questions, please contact Pam Harrison by email at pharrison@gsba.com or by phone at 770.962.6855.
In an effort to reduce the amount of paper used, handouts will not be distributed. All materials will be made available on Whova.
Yes! The Board Recognition, Leading Edge Awards, Student Video Contest, Beacon Award, and Service Pins will be presented at the Annual Conference. Please check the agenda for specific days/times they will be presented.
GSBA will once again be using a badge scanning process to award credit hours to board members at the Pre-Conference Workshops. All board members will need to make sure their badges are scanned when they arrive at the workshop and when they leave the workshop at the end of the day. Designated GSBA team members will be standing at the doors to scan badges.
For board members attending the Legal Issues Workshop virtually, Whova will provide a viewing record to GSBA to verify a board member watched the workshop.
GSBA’s Summer Conference & Delegate Assembly is held each year at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Savannah, Georgia. The conference consists of one day of workshops and two days of speakers, lunches and more.
Save the Dates! GSBA’s 2023 Summer Conference will be June 8 – 10, 2023. Information about the conference will be released in the spring of 2023.
Thank you Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors of our 2022 Summer Conference!
2023 Pre-conference workshops are on June 8, 2023.
$275 | 6 credit hours
$275 | 6 credit hours
$200 | No credit
Thank you Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors of our 2022 Summer Conference!
2023’s Summer Conference will be June 8 – June 10, 2023. Information for the conference will be released in the spring of 2023.
Thank you Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors of our 2022 Summer Conference!
2023’s Summer Conference will be June 8 – June 10, 2023. Information for the conference will be released in the spring of 2023.
Thank you Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors of our 2022 Summer Conference!
2023’s Summer Conference will be June 8 – June 10, 2023. Information for the conference will be released in the spring of 2023.
Thank you Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors of our 2022 Summer Conference!
2023’s Summer Conference will be June 8 – June 10, 2023. Information for the conference will be released in the spring of 2023.
Thank you Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors of our 2022 Summer Conference!
2023’s Summer Conference will be June 8 – June 10, 2023. Information for the conference will be released in the spring of 2023.
Here are the dates for our 2023 Summer + Annual Conferences
2023 GSBA Summer Conference & Delegate Assembly
Pre-Conference Workshops: Thursday, June 8, 2023
Conference: Friday, June 9 – Saturday, June 10, 2023
Hyatt Regency, Savannah, GA
2023 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference
Pre-Conference Workshops: Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Conference: Thursday, November 30 – Friday, December 1, 2023
Renaissance Waverly, Atlanta, GA
Questions related to our conferences? Contact:
Leigh Crow
Program Manager: Conferences & Events
Email: lcrow@gsba.com
Dr. Samuel King
Director of Board Development
Email: sking@gsba.com
Ashley Mosby
Executive Assistant
Email: amosby@gsba.com
Pam Harrison
Business Opportunities Manager
Email: pharrison@gsba.com