The School Facility Managers' Academy Series is the premier educational program for New York State school facilities directors. This year all three tracks will be held in one location. Don't miss this premier training opportunity!

Date: Tuesday, December 10 - Wednesday, December 11
Location: The training will take place at GST BOCES Bush Campus. Hotel accommodations are located at the Hampton Inn, 51 Arnot Road and the Hilton Garden Inn, 35 Arnot Road in Horseheads. Tuesday's dinner will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Fees:

• SFA Member: $450 (includes Tuesday's hotel accommodations, tuition, materials, breaks, two lunches and Tuesday's dinner.)
• Non-member: $600
• Commuter rate: $375 (includes the same as above but without the hotel accommodations)
• Early Arrival Hotel (Monday): add $100

Register online here.

Review the complete schedule

 Managers' Academy

New to the school facilities management profession? Looking to become a Director of School Facilities in the future? Need a refresher course on the latest information on code compliance, budgeting, and health and safety requirements? The School Facilities Managers' Track will give you the knowledge you need to excel on the job.

Seminar topics address the latest information needed to create and maintain high performing learning environments for K-12 students, faculty and staff. Whether you’re new to the profession or looking to update your facilities management knowledge and skills, this program is right for you.

Topics and speakers include:

• Health & Safety Regulatory Review and Update – Peter La Duca, Executive Manager, Health & Safety Training and Information Services, BOCES-Nassau County
• Administration & Compliance: All Hazard School Emergency Planning – Jonathan Harks, Safety & Administrative Support Manager, Eastern Suffolk BOCES
• Administration & Compliance: School Fire Safety Inspections – Speaker TBA
• Budget & Finance – Debra Eichholtz, School Business Administrator, Newfield Central School District
• School Energy Management: Solving Tomorrow's Problems Today – Alwyn John, Senior Energy Management Coordinator, TST BOCES
• School Facilities Management Technical & Systems Compliance – Anthony Frandino and Daryl Andreades, Office of Facilities Planning, NYS Education Department
• Civil Service Law Round Table - Elaine Walter, Civil Service consultant

Personnel Management Academy

The Personnel Management Track is designed to keep you at the forefront of managing people. Industry experts will provide best practices on improving your hiring and interviewing techniques, conducting evaluations, legal issues, managing stakeholders and more. No matter if you're new to the field or a seasoned professional, this program is right for you.

Topics and speakers include:

• HIring & Interview Techniques – John Scheiss and Michael DeMott, Berry Educational Consulting LLC
• Conducting Employee Evaluations – John Scheiss and Michael DeMott, Berry Educational Consulting LLC
• Civil Service Legal Issues – Jay Girvin, Esq., Girvin and Ferlazzo, P.C.
• Managing Your Boss and Other Stakeholders – Check back for updated speaker information
• Difficult Conversations – Rachel Rissetto, Human Resources Director, Hudson City Schools
• Progressive Discipline – Rachel Rissetto, Human Resources Director, Hudson City Schools
• Civil Service Law Round Table - Elaine Walter, Civil Service consultant

Security & Emergency Management Academy (Preliminary) 

Two new topics were added to the track:

Be Aware & Prepared: Basic School Security Essentials - Carl Thurnau, PE and Tom Czyz, Armoured One
Regardless of your district's budget resources, there are several basic must-do tasks to prepare its buildings in the event of a security breach. Learn from the experts what's absolutely necessary to keep students and faculty safe, and return to your district with an easy-to-use self-assessment tool you can implement immediately.

Be Aware & Prepared: Basic School Security Essentials - Carl Thurnau, PE, Director of Facilities, City School District of New Rochelle and Tom Czyz, President, Armoured One Developing Your Emergency Response Plan in Order to Survive a State Audit  by Peter La Duca
The presentation will review the origin of school emergency planning in New York State and the SAVE legislation. It will focus on steps school districts can take to plan for and successfully respond to a New York State Comptroller’s Office audit.

Topics and speakers include:

• Be Aware & Prepared: Basic School Security Essentials - Carl Thurnau, PE, Director of Facilities, City School District of New Rochelle and Tom Czyz, President, Armoured One (New Topic)
• Developing Your Emergency Response Plan in Order to Survive a State Audit - Peter La Duca, Executive Manager, Health & Safety Training and Information Services, BOCES-Nassau County (New topic)
• DOFs and County Managers: Building Effective Partnerships - Tim Marshall, Director, Steuben County Office of Emergency Services
• DOFs and County Managers Effective Emergency Preparedness Strategies Table Exercises - Tim Marshall, Director, Steuben County Office of Emergency Services
• Active Shooter Discussion - Ryan Bentley, Investigator, New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
• Active Shooter Table Exercises - Ryan Bentley, Investigator, New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
• Profile of the Security Solutions Working in K-12 Facilities, Derek McManus, Vice President, Business Development, Day Automation Systems

Scholarship Opportunities!

Together, New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR) and Utica National Insurance Group are sponsoring ten scholarships to the Academy. Interested applicants must submit their application by November 15. Applications will be reviewed by SFMI officers to determine scholarship winners. Scholarship recipients will be notified by November 22.

All members are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to:

• Members from those Chapters who were not awarded a school facilities conference scholarship this year.
• Members who are new to the profession.
• Members who would be attending the Academy’s school facilities track for the first time.
• Members attending the Academy in pursuit of their CDF, RDF, AADC, ADC or other designations.
• Members who otherwise would not be able to attend.

Program Sponsors

SFMI recognizes the following companies for their support of the School Facilities Managers’ Academy and for their commitment to providing quality training to New York State’s school facility managers.

Tuesday's Cocktail Reception

Scholarship Sponsors