Frequently asked questions

The 2014 OSBA Capital Conference and Trade Show starts on Sunday, Nov. 9 and ends on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus.

Conference registration opens July 14. Please download the district registration form for conference registration rates and ticketed meal function. Housing opened Sept. 4 and information can be found here.

Your registration fee provides access to three general sessions, along with more than 100 concurrent sessions that will cover issues ranging from how to become a more effective board member to implementing a safer school environment for your students. In addition, you will have access to the conference trade show with more than 500 exhibitors and the opportunity to network with thousands of board members and school administrators in attendance.
Please note: meal function tickets must be purchased separately.

Inform your treasurer that you would like to attend the meal function or Early Bird Workshop. Your treasurer can contact OSBA at (614) 540-4000 or (800) 589-OSBA to add these additional items.

Your treasurer needs to complete the Delegate form and send it in with the district’s registration materials.

We’ll be sorry if you won’t be able to join us for this exceptional learning and networking opportunity. However, we understand that things happen, so if you can’t attend, please submit a written request to Ann Herritt. Your request will be processed according to our cancellation policy: If it is necessary for you to cancel your conference registration, refunds will be made only if your name badge is returned to OSBA by Nov. 7. OSBA encourages substitutions from within a district; just notify OSBA of the substitution. For a cancellation of a ticketed event (Early Bird Workshop, Black Caucus Dinner, Conference Luncheons), the ticket must be received by OSBA by Nov. 5 to receive a full refund or no charge to the district. Ticketed event cancellations received after Nov. 5 will be charged 50% of the fee. Cancellations the day of the event will be charged the full amount. There are no refunds for no-shows. Refunds of fees paid will be issued to the district after the conference.

Registration materials, including badges, lanyards and Conference Guides, are mailed to the district treasurer the last week of September. If you register after September, materials may be sent to the district or you may need to pick them up at the registration booth at the conference.

Please open the registration materials box upon receiving it. Check the badges to ensure they are correct and you received all the necessary materials. Contact Ann Herritt ASAP if corrections need to be made. 

OSBA has room blocks at many hotels in downtown Columbus. Click here to learn more about hotel rates. Please note: You must be registered for the conference or exhibiting in the Trade Show to request conference housing.

You will need a credit card to reserve your rooms. All major credit cards will be accepted.

You must be registered for the conference or exhibiting in the Trade Show to request conference housing. After you are registered for the conference, your contact person will receive a confirmation email containing the Internet link to the conference housing site, along with a unique housing code. Hotel reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 9 a.m. EDT. To make reservations, use the link and unique housing code found in the confirmation email. To receive the link before conference housing opens, your registration must be received no later than 3 p.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 29. The housing link will not be available on OSBA’s website. Housing reservations can only be made with your unique housing code and must be made by Friday, Oct. 17, to receive conference rates.

Changes can be made via the conference housing site by modifying your reservation. Reservations may be modified — including changing hotels, the name on the reservation or the dates of the stay — at no charge until Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Cancellations may be made without penalty on or before 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5. If you cancel a reservation between 5 p.m. on Sept. 5 and Nov. 5, your credit card will be charged a cancellation fee of $100 for each room canceled.

No. You should modify your existing reservation to avoid the cancellation fee. You can change hotels, change the name on the reservation or add or delete a day from your stay at no charge by modifying your reservation. If you delete your reservation, you will be charged the cancellation fee.

During the conference, a number of learning opportunities have been designed with new board members in mind. Kick off the conference on Nov. 10 with “Ten myths of school governance” and “Six keys to a better night’s sleep.” On Nov. 11, attend “On the same page — a board handbook,” “Financial forecast wellness check” and “Essential policies for 2015.” Wrap up the conference on Nov. 12 with “Essentials of employee discipline.”

We have a great line up of General Session speakers this year! Learn more about Dr. Adam Saenz, Dan Thurmon, Jeffrey Tambor and other keynote speakers.

Yes. Public records training will be offered on Monday, Nov. 10 from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. You or your district’s designee must be registered for the conference to attend.

Yes, all presenters must register to attend the conference.

The 2015 OSBA Capital Conference will be held Nov. 8-11. The 2016 OSBA Capital Conference will be held Nov. 13-16.

Registrations for spouses and/or partners are complimentary. If spouses or partners would like to attend a ticketed event the main registrant should purchase a ticket on their behalf. Register spouses/partners by selecting the spouse/partner function and entering the name of the spouses/partner when registering the board member. School board members and district personnel do not qualify for the spouse/partner complimentary registration. Complimentary spouse/partner registrations are only available to OSBA members. If you have questions about whether someone qualifies for this complimentary registration, please contact Ann Herritt at (614) 540-4000 or (800) 589-OSBA. In addition to the conference, Columbus has many attractions for your family to enjoy. You can find information on travel, transportation and events here.

Below are a list of specific areas of conference and who to contact:

For registration, contact Ann Herritt

For hotel and housing questions, contact Laurie Miller

For presenter questions, contact Judy Morgan

For other questions, contact Ann Herritt or Laurie Miller.