Regional Workshop 2026: Commerce, Region 10

Fee

$60, includes breakfast and lunch

Agenda

7:30-8:15 a.m.
Registration with light breakfast

8:15 a.m.
Welcome

8:30-9:30 a.m.
Opening General Session

Five Temptations of a Board Member
Based on The Five Temptations of a CEO, this session highlights five common leadership traps board members can fall into under pressure and how those choices affect trust, alignment, and governance effectiveness. 

Trustees will gain insight into how board behavior can either reinforce or reduce these temptations, and how strong governance supports clear decision making, accountability, and long-term leadership success.

9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
New Board Member Training

Texas Trustee Institute (TTI)
TTI has adapted its comprehensive program into a concise, 3-hour offering, specifically tailored for the spring workshop session. This streamlined version retains the core essence of the original experience, focusing on the fundamentals of good governance for first-year board members. Despite the shortened format, the program continues to provide an in-depth look at policy governance and its crucial role in promoting student success. Expert panelists, including seasoned school board members and superintendents, remain a key feature, offering valuable insights and real-world perspectives.

The modified Texas Trustee Institute program ensures that even within a limited timeframe, new trustees are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary to embark confidently on their governance roles.

9:30-10:30 a.m.
Second General Session

Legal Update
This presentation with a TASB attorney will update you on legal developments from the courts, commissioner, and attorney general, as well as regulatory agencies. You’ll hear the latest legal news affecting public school employees, students, parents, business operations, governance, and more.

10:30-10:45 a.m.
Break

10:45-11:45 a.m.
Third General Session

Accountability Unlocked: What Every School Board Member Needs to Know About D/F Ratings, Oversight, and School Improvement
Need a clear, accessible overview of Texas’ A–F system, how D/F ratings accumulate, and why upcoming 2025 guidance matters? We unpack the “three Ds rule,” “three Fs rule,” and when accountability clocks pause or reset. Trustees also learn how intervention stages—from LIPs to Turnaround Plans—connect to the Effective Schools Framework. The session shows how strong governance drives improvement, prevents escalation, and supports long-term student success.

11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
Lunch

1-2 p.m.
Fourth General Session

The How and Why of Superintendent Evaluation
Yes, it’s required by law. Even so, the school board that understands its leadership role will recognize the superintendent evaluation process as a priceless opportunity to advance the district, fortify the board-superintendent relationship, and model professionalism. In this session, familiarize yourself with the legal basics of superintendent evaluation and consider options for creating a collaborative process from identifying goals through conducting the summative evaluation.

2-2:15 p.m.
Break

2:15-3:15 p.m.
Closing General Session

What Every Board Needs to Know Before You Set a Tax Rate
Every year your school board approves a budget and sets a tax rate with two components – a maintenance and operations rate and a debt service rate. The calculations and procedural steps necessary to set these rates are complex and evolving. Every board member needs to understand their own district’s budget and taxing authority. Boards also must follow the procedural steps in tax rate adoption (and voter approval, if necessary) to avoid a legal challenge. In this session, an attorney from the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) and a school attorney from TASB will answer your questions and break down step-by-step the procedures boards need to follow.