An overview of everything you need to know about the Capital Conference

Admission to all conference activities is limited to those wearing the official conference badge. If you were preregistered, you may print your badge at a badge printing kiosk located in the Main Concourse near Registration or at the Information Station.

Attendees can log in to the Conference App to track their Certificate of Attendance credits. Simply click “Check In” for each session you attend to receive credit for attending that session. In the app, you can view your credits by choosing “My Credits” in the menu. You can print or email yourself a credit summary report from the “My Credits” screen. If you prefer, you may complete the 2023 Conference Attendance Certificate Form and return it to Melanie Price at mprice@ohioschoolboards.org. 

Attendees may check their items in the GCCC Coat/Bag Check across from the Union Station Ballroom. OSBA is not liable for damaged, lost or stolen articles.

Conference attendees have an opportunity to earn continuing legal education (CLE) and Center for Public Investment Management (CPIM) credits. Attendees can earn up to 5.0 total CLE hours and seven CPIM credit hours. Approved sessions are identified, including credit information. Click to learn more.

Food and beverages may be purchased at several locations throughout GCCC. Locations include concessions in the Trade Show, the Discovery Café located in the Main Concourse between Halls A and B, and specialty carts in the concourse and Student Achievement Fair.

Download the free Capital Conference App to build a personalized schedule, bookmark exhibitors, complete session surveys, access handouts and receive event updates. Attendees also can log in to the app to track their Certificate of Attendance credits and download their certificate. Search the App Store or Google Play for “OSBA Conference” to download the app.

All paid attendees may pick up a conference bag in the Trade Show. Conference bags are sponsored by Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio.

Attendees are not permitted to distribute materials or otherwise market themselves or their businesses in contracted convention space unless they receive prior approval from OSBA. Exhibitors must limit their marketing activities to within the confines of their booth.

The First Aid Station is located inside the Trade Show. If there is an emergency, go to the first aid station or use the red phones in the GCCC concourses to call for help.

OSBA works with the GCCC caterer to ensure that OSBA events offer vegetarian and gluten-free food options. 

Located near the South Café and Marketplace near the Hyatt Regency and in the Main Concourse next to the Discovery Café, these areas are staffed by Convention Center Guest Ambassadors. Stop by to receive directions and facility or event information. Additional services, including outbound shipping and mobile scooter rentals, are available at the service center near the Hyatt Regency.

Handouts received before the conference and during the event will be available electronically beginning Nov. 9. Handouts can be accessed through this website or the Capital Conference App. More handouts will be available online by Nov. 21.

Visit the Information Station, located across from the B Concourse meeting rooms, for assistance. The Information Station also holds lost-and-found items.

Free wireless Internet access is available in the GCCC Main Concourse and in rooms in the learning session rooms. Attendees should connect to the “FreeInternet” network. Please note: Connection speeds are best for reading email; this is not a high-speed Internet connection.

The lost and found is located at the Information Station.

Wheelchairs are available at the Greater Columbus Convention Center Public Safety; contact Public Safety at (614) 827-2457. You can rent a motorized scooter for use in the convention center by contacting the convention center’s Guest Services at (614) 827-2531 to book.

This room is located in the GCCC connector, near the escalator up to Battelle Grand (North).

Be sure to check out the Publication Exchange sponsored by OHSPRA and OSBA near B 130 to experience some of the great communications work being done by schools across the state. 

The ethics law in Ohio prohibits public officials and employees from soliciting or accepting anything of substantial value, such as gifts and entertainment items, from vendors, regulated parties and interested parties. The law also prohibits vendors and regulated parties from offering or giving these kinds of items to public officials and employees. This restriction applies to all school officials and employees, elected, appointed and employed, except teachers who do not exercise administrative or supervisory authority. View a fact sheet that outlines prohibited and permissible items and specific applications, including conference receptions, raffle prizes and vendors.

Stop by OSBA Bookstore to purchase books, plaques and other items. Attendees will receive a special Capital Conference discount of 10% on all items purchased. Take advantage of this discount online throughout November. Use code 23CCTS at check out when purchasing from the store on the OSBA website. 

Learn about tools and services OSBA offers school board members and the entire governance team. Located in the Main Concourse, the OSBA Pavilion is the site for materials, activities and conversations that highlight the training, resources, information and expertise available to OSBA member districts.

OSBA and its designees may record, photograph and/or stream various aspects of this event for archival and promotional purposes. Registration, attendance and/or participation at the OSBA Capital Conference constitutes an agreement by the individual to OSBA’s use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the individual’s image or voice in photographs, videos, and print and electronic reproductions of the conference.

Room B 141 has been reserved for attendees who need a quiet space to take a break during the event.

Unauthorized audio recording or videotaping of any session is strictly prohibited. Conference participants violating this rule may be asked to leave the conference without a refund.

Want to learn more about OSBA’s regional services and activities? Visit the Region Resource Center in the Main Concourse near the registration area. Regional managers, along with officers and committee members from the five OSBA regions, are on hand throughout the conference to answer questions, discuss how you can get more involved with OSBA, explain services and talk about activities and events in their respective regions. Stop by and enter the regional raffles to win valuable prizes for your district.

Take a break and visit the Relaxation Stations in the Trade Show. Located in aisles 100 and 1400, the Relaxation Stations provide complimentary back massages, manicures, blood pressure screenings, exercise science and caricature drawings. 

 If there is an actual emergency, please follow the directives of OSBA and GCCC staff.

Use Twitter to share your conference experience with others. Include “#OSBACC” in your tweet to share your feedback. You also can post and view updates on OSBA’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/OHSchoolBoards and OSBA’s Instagram page,
www.instagram.com/OHSchoolBoards.

OSBA offers free, continuous shuttle bus service to the convention center from hotels that are not connected to or near the convention center as well as to the Greater Columbus Convention Center’s (GCCC) East parking lot. The shuttle pickup is at the connector between GCCC and the Hyatt Regency.

Shuttle schedule:

Sunday, Nov. 12:

• first hotel pickup is at noon

• last bus leaves the convention center at 9:30 p.m. 

Monday, Nov. 13:

• first hotel pickup is at 7 a.m.

• last bus leaves the convention center at 8 p.m. 

Tuesday, Nov. 14:

• first hotel pickup is at 7 a.m.

• last bus leaves the convention center at 4:30 p.m. 

Areas have been set aside in the Union Station Ballroom to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters. Please see a General Session usher for the location.