TASA/TASB Legislative Conference and Rally

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With an unprecedented budget shortfall facing state legislators and talks of drastic cuts to public education funding, school board members and superintendents should take every opportunity to communicate local district needs and priorities with legislators.

The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) are hosting the TASA/TASB Legislative Conference on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at the Hilton Austin Hotel.

Governmental relations staff of TASA and TASB will provide an update on legislative activities and proposed bills, preparing attendees to meet with legislators and staff later that day. In addition, invitations have been extended to key legislators and political observers to share their insights with attendees.

School board members will earn 2.75 hours of board training credit for attending the conference.

Registration

Registration is now closed for this event.

Visiting the Capitol

Attendees are encouraged to make an appointment now to visit with legislators on the day of the conference. To reach a legislator's office directly, trustees and superintendents may dial TASB's toll-free Legislative Hot Line, 800.580.4885.

Please Note: Buses will be running round trip from the Austin Hilton to the Capitol from 1-6 p.m.

Texas Capitol, Capitol Extension and Capitol Visitors Center

Parking is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th streets. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1.00 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $8.00); accessible parking for persons with disabilities is available, along with accessible routes to the Capitol. Metered spaces are available throughout the complex.

Cancellation

In the event of the cancellation of the seminar, TASA and TASB shall in no way be responsible for any indirect, special, or consequential damages, expressly including any lodging or meal cost or any cost of travel to and from the conference. Contact Mark Pyeatt with TASA at 512.477.6361 to cancel a registration.

Tax Exemption Form

Individuals traveling on school district business are exempt from the state portion of the hotel room occupancy tax. See Comptroller of Public Accounts Form 12-302. Individual hotel bookkeeping policies may prohibit the hotel from providing blank exemption forms or may not allow guests to pay individually when claiming this exemption. To avoid difficulties, TASA and TASB recommend each individual carry an original tax-exempt form and school district identification when traveling on district business. 

Download a tax-exemption form.

Housing

TASA and TASB have reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Austin Hotel at a special rate of $173 for both single and double rooms. Reservations are now closed.

Hilton Austin Hotel
500 East 4th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
512.482.8000 or 800.445.8667

Conference Contacts

Program: Philip Cheatham 512.478.4044 or 800.580.4885
Registration: Mark Pyeatt (TASA) 512.477.6361