May 14, 2026

MASA Spring Conference 2026 - Navigating Conflict Exchange Results

A total of 137 participants completed the Thought Exchange on navigating conflict, representing a range of leadership roles and experience levels across Greater Minnesota and metro districts.

Responses centered on clear, actionable strategies. Participants emphasized communication, empathy, and collaboration as essential to navigating conflict effectively. Key approaches included creating safe spaces for dialogue, building trust, maintaining clarity in messaging, and practicing active listening. Strategic planning, conflict resolution training, and a strong student-centered focus were also highlighted. Tools such as the Dignity Index and frameworks like Braver Angels were identified as valuable supports, along with ongoing professional learning and community engagement.

These insights will directly shape future MASA professional learning, including the Advanced Leadership Academy, where participants will deepen their skills in communication, culture building, and conflict resolution through intentional, practical frameworks.

If this Thought Exchange resonated with you, now is the time to take the next step. Join the Advanced Leadership Academy and continue building the strategies needed to lead through complexity with confidence. Register here.

Compensatory Task Force Asks State Leadership for Hold Harmless Extension

The members of the Compensatory Revenue Task Force came together in unison to urgently call on state leadership to support a modified hold harmless provision for the 2026–2027 school year. Read the letter here.

Rising Diesel Costs and the Impacts to School Districts: AASA Survey Request

From AASA-

AASA is collaborating with the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) and the National Association for Pupil Transportation) and we need your help: Rising diesel fuel prices are creating new and unplanned pressure on school district budgets. Because transporting students is not optional, districts must absorb higher fuel costs when prices rise unexpectedly-often by cutting or delaying spending elsewhere. This brief survey (3–5 minutes) will help us understand how increased diesel costs are affecting district budgets in the current school year, summer programming, and planning for the 2026–27 school year. 

Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to complete the survey. You can access the survey link here: https://edu.sogolytics.com/r/r9km2c

Save the Dates: AASA Releases Dates/Locations for the NCE Through 2035!

2027 Atlanta 2/25-2/27

2028 San Diego 2/17-2/19

2029 San Antonio 2/15-2/17

2030 Nashville 2/14-2/16

2031 New Orleans 2/27-3/1

2032 San Diego 2/26-2/28

2033 Nashville 2/24-2/26

2034 Austin 2/23-2/25

2035 New Orleans 2/8-2/10

Leadership Matters!

“Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them.” - Stephen R. Covey 

Thought of the Week from Horace Mann

“Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of the people in your charge.”

Permanent School Fund Constitutional Amendment Resource

 A Guide to the Minnesota’s Permanent School Fund Constitutional Amendment prepared by our friends at MSBA that you can share with your staff, school board and community. We have a lot of education to do around what the constitutional amendment is all about.