The Power of collaboration: How COSSBA is elevating Ohio school boards

In this episode, we spotlight the Consortium of State School Boards Associations' efforts to amplify the voice of local school boards at the national level with guest Julie Feasel, COSSBA's director of communications. Also, get a sneak peek at COSSBA's upcoming annual conference and discover how Ohio’s school boards can leverage these resources for local impact!

Learn more: https://www.cossba.org.

Thank you to our sponsor, Pappas & Associates: Shaping policy with integrity. https://www.pappaskc.com.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey everyone, it's Scott Gurfin. Thanks for listening to the OSBA Leading the Way podcast. These episodes are brought to you by Pappas and Associates, shaping policy with integrity. You know, we talk a lot about uh local support from OSBA. Uh but who has your back at the national level? With me today is Julie Fiesel. She is Director of Communications for the Consortium of State School Boards Associations, also known as Cosba. Welcome in, Julie. Thanks for being here.

SPEAKER_01 0:29

Hey, it's great to be here. I'm glad that you're having me because I want to educate all of your members on what Cosba is doing for them at the federal level.

SPEAKER_00 0:38

So my first question is let's say I'm a school board member in Northwest Ohio in a small rural district. Uh I'm a member of OSBA, which means I'm also a member of Cosba. What can Cosba do for me?

SPEAKER_01 0:50

Yes, that's a great question, and I'm happy to answer it. You know, OSBA is looking out for all school board members at the state level. Think of COSBA as looking out for school board members at the federal level. We were formed in 2022, and our main goal is to be that nationwide alliance for school boards, associations, and their members to bring them training and federal advocacy. We're a nonpartisan organization. I like to tell people that we're purple, and our main concern is protecting public education.

SPEAKER_00 1:27

What's the big priority right now for Cospett that you're working on?

SPEAKER_01 1:30

The big priority is making sure that you all and your state associations have the training and leadership needs that you need to serve your members while also watching what's happening at the federal level when it comes to federal legislation.

SPEAKER_00 1:44

And there's a lot going on at the federal level, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:47

That's my biggest question right now. What's going to happen in January? And I can tell you I have an answer. We don't know yet. You don't know yet. But I can assure you that we will be working to make sure that public education is a priority at the federal level. We want to ensure that we have affordable internet connections for all of our schools and students. We want to ensure that the school nutrition program is protected and that funding for our school districts, public school districts, is enhanced and preserved.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

You talked about a little bit about the formation of Cosba. So I just want to go back and touch on that a little bit because uh I know our former CEO, Rick Lewis, was very instrumental in getting this group together, right?

SPEAKER_01 2:41

Yes, he was. Um Rick and several other executive directors of state associations um got together in about uh 2021 and started to discuss, you know, maybe we need an association that is that focuses on strengthening the state school boards associations. And so they got together in 2021. Um COSBA was officially formed in 2022, so we're fairly new. Yeah. Um and we started with 22 state um school boards associations, and we now have 25 state school boards association members. So our members, unlike the state associations, where the members are the actual school board members, our members are you, you know, the Ohio School Boards Association, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, you know. So those are our members, and we strongly believe that if you are successful, that our school board members are successful. And um, so that's what our focus is is serving the state school boards associations.

SPEAKER_00 3:43

Yeah, so uh talk a little bit about how Cosb Cosba uh collaborates with the state school board associations.

SPEAKER_01 3:49

I'm glad that you asked. Uh, we have several um uh in-person meetings that we have every year. Um, we have one coming up in March, which I'll get to a little bit later. But the the great strength in Cosba is the sharing of information and ideas. So um, for example, if Kathy has a question about something that's happening in another state, um, maybe Virginia has that answer. And so we are a whole collection of information and ideas. We have a whole area on our website that shares everything from uh governance options to job descriptions. You know, we we really want to provide that information that the state associations need, not only to run their day-to-day business, but also to serve their members. So think of us as you know, a big think tank for state school boards associations.

SPEAKER_00 4:42

And you you were talking about Kathy, Kathy McFarlane, Dr. Kathy. Dr. Kathy, I think who is our current CEO. So just to make sure our listeners knew who Kathy was when you were talking about that. So I know you're you're uh we're relatively new, Cosma's relatively new organization, but I'm sure there are some success stories.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

I think our biggest success story is A, our growth in such a short time. Um, you know, we've added additional states, but also B, um, our success is that sharing of information. That is um such an important um thing for our state school board executives to have. You know, uh Dr. McFarland participated in our mentorship program for new executive directors. So she had a direct line to somebody that she could call and say, hey, I've got this happening in Ohio. Have you ever, you know, dealt with this? You know, how can you help me? And so it's that whole support system that is a true success um for us. And I can only see that growing.

SPEAKER_00 5:41

So yeah, that's that's an example. So whether it be the advocacy piece or just how you're handling different things that that go on in the in the schoolhouse, right? Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

In the schoolhouse or your your day-to-day operations. Right. Hey, Scott, you've got a podcast going, you know. Can you tell me how you got that started? If you're another state who doesn't have one, it's a um a great um think tank of how you can best serve your members.

SPEAKER_00 6:08

Well, it's funny you mentioned that because I did have uh Wisconsin actually uh had gotten in touch with me to talk about our podcast. So yeah, they're a member.

SPEAKER_01 6:17

It's already they are a member and it's already working. So there's a great uh a great example of a success story.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

So I wanted to talk uh about the advocacy piece because I know that's I I know we have uh our we have a group that goes to Washington, which they did, I think what was a I was there with them.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

Right.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

And that I think that is a big thing that our members really see with Cosba is that that advocacy piece. And I'm sure you we have uh lobbying uh team members just like we do here at OSBA. I mean, so that's where they are, they're on the hill lobbying for the the most important things.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

Exactly, yes. Um we have lobbyists in Washington, DC who are watching out for you know for what we um support. Um and so just like in and I'm a former school board member, by the way, here in Ohio at the in the Olin TG local school district. And when I was a school board member, I was constantly calling OSBA, you know, to talk about, hey, what's happening with school funding, what's happening with the third grade reading guarantee. And so that is Cosba on the federal level. And so we've got people watching out for what's happening, you know, in Washington, D.C. Every year we do a federal advocacy conference, which Ohio sent the largest contingent this year, which was great. And, you know, we have a day of learning about what those federal issues are, how we talk about them, and then we have a day where we, you know, send everyone to the hill and they talk to their um local representatives, you know, in the House and Senate.

SPEAKER_00 7:55

So uh you mentioned a lot of things that a lot of events. Uh your big one that's coming up in March is the annual conference, and it's kind of like if you want to compare it, it's kind of like the Capitol Conference, right? Yeah. On a national level. On a national level. And let's just start out. Uh, it's coming up, it's it's March, and what are the dates?

SPEAKER_01 8:14

Yep. Um, it's in Atlanta at the Hilton, Atlanta, and it's March 21st through the 23rd. Um, we do have a pre-conference day. We have an organization um that's called the Unified Boards Alliance that deals with specific, yeah, specific, unique topics um for school boards, like um the UBA will look at um poverty rates, um, schools in crises, um, how do you deal with homeless students? And so they have a pre-conference day on the 20th. Um, their closing speaker is uh Dr. Bernice King. She is the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King and the CEO of the King Center. So really excited to hear about her. Exactly. And being in Atlanta, you know, that's a perfect speaker for her for us. Um the pre-conference day, we have the breakout sessions and the keynote speakers. Dr. John Hodge is gonna be opening that the pre-conference day. And then on the 21st, the full conference officially opens, and that has, you know, over 70 concurrent sessions, breakout sessions on, you know, different topics from school finance to AI, you know, in this in the schoolroom. Um, we have tracks for everybody for um executive directors to board members to even um school board assistants. Um, and so that's exciting. You know, we have our big member meeting, we have an exhibit hall, um, networking, and for people that are uh staff members of state associations, we have work-alike group meetings. So the communications people will be getting together, the meeting planners will be getting together. So it's a big national conference of sharing of ideas and learning.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

Well, I'm definitely hoping to get there because I'm I hope you can. Yeah. But why should our members want to go to this?

SPEAKER_01 10:07

Yes. You know, as a as a school board member, I uh a former school board member, or maybe I should call myself a recovering school board member. Um, I always like to learn. And um, I was whenever I came to OSBA conference, I always like to hear what the other Ohio school districts were doing. Right. When you come to a Cosba event, you get to hear what's happening at the national level and be informed. How is this, you know, national legislation gonna impact, you know, somebody in Morgan County, you know, or in Allen County. And so it's really important now. I mean, it's not just what's happening in Columbus that impacts school boards, it's what's happening at the federal level that's gonna impact your school board as well. Um, so I highly um recommend that you come to the national conference in Atlanta in March.

SPEAKER_00 10:58

So I think you you touched on some of the key themes and and topics, but I mean, uh when you come up with these topics, it's what members, what board members are telling you, hey, this is what we want to hear about.

SPEAKER_01 11:08

Yes. And actually, our presenters of our concurrent sessions are board members and staff members from the state associations. Right. So they go through a rigorous process. You know, you have to um submit what you're gonna be presenting, and we have a a panel of people, and not myself, that goes through all of some, all of them and ranks them, and that's how you know we present we present them, and that's what you'll be hearing from are your peers. That's what's so great about it.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

And it's interesting because that's how we select our learning sessions as well. Um, and you are you're hearing from your peers, and that's that's exactly what it's like at the capital conference as well. Um, and you mentioned the networking and professional development, which is I find that to be invaluable when you go even at our capital conference, you're you know, I'm seeing other public relations people in schools. I mean, yeah, this is where you're gonna run into other people who are just like you or doing the same things you're doing, right?

SPEAKER_01 12:03

Yes. And you're gonna learn what works and what didn't work.

SPEAKER_00 12:06

Right.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

And so I think that's invaluable. You know, uh we have several states, um Georgia being one of them, that they are doing um PR campaigns now promoting public education and choosing public schools. And, you know, you might pick up a couple of tips that you want to incorporate, you know, here at the Ohio School Boards Association. And so it's that sharing of ideas that we feel, you know, only makes our our consortium stronger.

SPEAKER_00 12:36

So I'm not gonna I I have to ask you then. So how do people register? Yes. How do they go about doing that? And what are the deadlines to get that done?

SPEAKER_01 12:43

And yes, registration is open. Um, and it'll probably be open through March. And you go to cosba.org. That's c o- sb a dot org. And um under events, you can register. Um, registration is $775. If you just want to do the Cosba conference, if you want to add in the pre-conference day, which I hope you do, it's $995. Uh, you can also follow us on social media. We are on Facebook, um, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

Perfect. One final thing. I before I let you go, I what what does the future hold for Cosba? Growth. Growth. I think you touched on that.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

Yes, um, the future is unlimited for Cosba. Um, it's you know, we've only been uh officially formed since 2022. And since that, we have had um such enthusiasm for our organization. We have 25 states who are really involved. Um, our board of directors is made up of executive directors and board members, and so it's a great mix of people. Um, you know, we are for um and will always be for the state school boards associations. Yeah. And so um we want to support them as as much as we can, and I'm excited for what the future holds.

SPEAKER_00 14:08

So, you know, our members stay connected with us and the and they can stay connected with you, right? Absolutely. Absolutely, yes. Pick up the phone.

SPEAKER_01 14:15

I'm actually here in Ohio. Our entire staff works remotely. Um, so I'm you know, here in Ohio, but um all of our information is on our website at cosba.org. Um, and if you follow us, and I hope that you do on social media, you know, you can always comment, you can direct message us, um, you can email us at hello at cosba.org. And I like that. Hello. That's easy to hello at cosba.org. Um, and we will get back to you, and I hope to hear from you all.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

She is Julie Fiesel. She is the director of communications for the consortium of state school boards. I always gotta get boards associations.

SPEAKER_01 14:57

Because there's a lot of state school boards. Right.

SPEAKER_00 15:00

Or Cosba. Julie, thank you again for coming on the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 15:04

Hey, I appreciate it, and I um hope that more people go out and learn about us, and I appreciate you making the time to prove so that I can present us on your platform.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

You're very welcome. And also, thanks to our sponsor, Pappas and Associates, they are shaping policy with integrity.