Rural Schools Conference To Be Held At Baylor Feb. 10-11
More than 350 school board members and administrators from Texas school districts with less than 1,000 students will meet on the Baylor University campus for the Texas Association of Rural Schools (TARS) Conference Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 10-11.
The conference, jointly sponsored since 1993 by Baylor's department of educational administration and TARS, will take place in the fifth floor Cashion Academic Center. More than 20 break-out sessions will be led by speakers from Baylor, the Texas Education Agency, Region 12 Education Service Center, various Texas school districts, representatives from the private sector and others.
"The workshops have sought to present administrator and board member training that is unique to small schools in an interesting, entertaining and economical setting," said Dr. James L. Williamson, chairman of Baylor's educational administration department.
Special guest speakers include Dr. Barry Thompson, chancellor emeritus of the Texas A&M University System, and Bill Grusendorf, TARS executive director.
Thompson, who retired as the A&M system chancellor in 1999, will speak at 9 a.m. Saturday. Grusendorf will deliver the keynote address -- "TARS Legislative Agenda and School Bills in the Legislature" -- at a noon luncheon on Saturday. In addition, 70 members of the Muenster ISD High School Band will perform under the direction of Jerry Everett.
On Sunday, Dr. Todd Lake, Baylor's dean of chapel and minister to the university community, will speak at 9 a.m., along with a special performance by the Baylor Religious Hour Choir under the direction of Rebecca Kennedy.
For more information, contact Williamson or Lamona Martin, administrative assistant, at 710-3117.