DBA Fall Meeting Schedule

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Thursday, October 8th, 2026 | 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Presentation by Judith Witherspoon, edAmerica - Federal Student Loan Program Participation, Student Access and Institutional Risk

• This session will provide Wisconsin Technical College District Board members with an overview of federal student loan program participation and the relationship between student borrowing, access to education, and institutional risk. The discussion will examine key federal student loan measures and terminology that help institutions understand borrower repayment outcomes and the potential implications for students and colleges.

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Informal Reception

5:15 PM – 5:45 PM | Mentor/Mentee Meet and Greet

6:30 PM | Dinner on Your Own

6:30 PM | Dinner with ACCT President, DBA Staff, Executive Committee, Committee Co-Chairs and Guests

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Friday, October 9th, 2026 | 7:30 AM - 11:15 AM

7:30 AM – 7:45 AM | Breakfast at Moraine Park

7:45 AM – 8:15 AM | Welcomes -
MPTC President Bonnie Baerwald
DBA President John Wyatt
WTCS President Layla Merrifield

8:15 AM – 9:15 AM | Updates and Q&A with ACCT President Jee Hang Lee

9:25 AM – 10:15 AM (Room T139) | Session 1: President’s Panel of Current Issues Impacting our 16 Campuses - President Bonnie Baerwald (Moraine Park) & President Richard Barnhouse (Waukesha County)

• This engaging panel discussion will provide perspective on the current issues, opportunities, and challenges shaping technical education. Panelists will share insights on workforce needs, enrollment trends, funding, employer partnerships, and the evolving expectations of students and communities. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how technical college leaders are responding to rapidly changing economic and educational conditions while ensuring their colleges remain responsive to the needs of employers, students, and the communities they serve.
  

Session 2: Dual Credit Opportunities, Challenges, and Financing - Dr. Lynette Livingston, Chippewa Valley Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, & Superintendent Wayne Weber, Moraine Park

• Dual credit has become an important bridge between Wisconsin’s K–12 and technical college systems, creating opportunities for students to earn college credit, explore careers, and accelerate their education while still in high school. This session will examine the benefits of dual credit for both sides of the partnership. For students and school districts, dual credit can reduce the cost and time required to complete a postsecondary credential, increase exposure to career pathways, and provide a stronger transition from high school to college and the workforce. For technical colleges, these programs strengthen relationships with school districts, introduce students to technical education and career opportunities, and help build the future talent pipeline for Wisconsin employers. The session will provide board members with a balanced look at the opportunities dual credit creates, and funding considerations needed to sustain these programs for students, school districts, technical colleges, and Wisconsin's workforce.
  

10:25 AM – 11:15 AM (Room T137) | Session 2: Dual Credit Opportunities, Challenges, and Financing
Session 1: President’s Panel of Current Issues Impacting our 16 Campuses

11:25 AM – 12:25 PM | Lunch
Note: Lunch will be set up in rooms T131 and T133.

12:35 PM – 1:25 PM (Room T139) | Session 3: Property Taxing Authority - Megan Stritchko, WTCS Policy Advisor

• This session will provide trustees with a practical refresher on the fundamentals of technical college property taxing authority and the board’s responsibilities. Participants will explore how property tax revenues fit into the overall college budget, how the tax levy is established, and how equalized property values and changes in net new construction affect the levy and the resources available to the college. Attention will be given to the relationship between the board’s taxing authority, debt service, and building referendums.
  

• Effective board leadership is essential to ensuring that Wisconsin’s technical colleges remain focused on their mission, responsive to their communities, and prepared to navigate increasingly complex challenges. Board chairs and trustees bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the table, but effective governance requires more than individual expertise—it requires the skills to work collectively, engage in productive debate, manage difficult conversations, and maintain a clear distinction between governance and administration.

• This session will assist board chairs and trustees with practical skills and strategies for navigating challenging situations, and complex board dynamics that can impede effective board functioning. Participants will explore how to foster respectful disagreement, build consensus and create an environment where diverse perspectives can contribute to stronger decisions.

1:35 PM – 2:15 PM (Room T137) | Session 4: Skills and Strategies to Develop Board Chairs and Trustees
Session 3: Property Taxing Authority

2:25 PM – 4:45 PM | Host College Talk and Tour

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Award Reception

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Awards Banquet

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Saturday, October 10th, 2026 | 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM | Breakfast

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | Welcome - DBA President John Wyatt
WTCS Presidents’ Association Report - President Bonnie Baerwald

9:30 AM – 11:15 AM | DBA Board of Directors Meeting

This agenda is subject to change.