2026 Facilities Management & School Safety Conference

Join your colleagues from across Wisconsin for a one-and-a-half-day educational conference designed specifically for school facility, safety, security, operations, and maintenance professionals—as well as school business leaders. With demands on today’s school facility teams at an all-time high, this event serves as your critical strategic resource, offering practical, data-driven solutions to help you build and maintain safe, efficient, and healthy learning environments.

  
This year’s conference features 30 breakout sessions, including both core and continuing education courses for the WASBO Facility Manager Core Certification Program. Developed by a committee of your peers, the program covers the full spectrum of topics you face every day. Our enhanced safety track provides actionable solutions for today’s most urgent challenges.

Beyond safety, you’ll gain expertise in the core competencies that drive operational efficiency and protect taxpayer resources. Sessions will explore innovations in facilities, including AI resources and shared service opportunities, and life cycle planning. We will also recognize our Custodian/Maintenance Professionals of the Year and kick off the event with an energizing keynote address.

Between sessions, be sure to connect with more than 130 exhibitors—your chance to meet with vendors offering tools, technologies, and insights to support informed decision-making and elevate your district’s operations. View the full conference offerings or explore sessions through the conference registration page, and see the Schedule at a Glance to plan your experience.


Sessions tracks include:

  • Core Certification Module 7 - Emergency Management, School Safety & Security
  • Buildings & Grounds Round Table
  • AI for Facilities
  • After Hours Weather Safety - Facility Use, Coaches Training, and More
  • Core Certification Module 8 - Business & Human Resources
  • AI for Enhancing Safety
  • PFAS and Other Water Testing
  • Beyond the Offer: Hiring and Onboarding for Long-Term Success

 

Recognition

2025 Custodian & Maintenance Professionals of the Year

Congratulations to our 2025 Custodian & Maintenance Professionals of the Year! These four recipients will be recognized at the conference:

  • Inga Fredericks, Merrill Area Public School District
  • Steve Ketterhagen, Wheatland J1 School District&
  • Keith Peterson, Argyle School District
  • Trevis Thompson, Cornell School District

Eight Attendee Scholarships

Apply by January 4

Thanks to the generous support of Focus on Energy, eight FMS Attendee Scholarships will be awarded to facility professionals who would not otherwise be able to attend the conference. Be sure to apply before the January 4th deadline!

APPLY NOW

 

Additional Materials and Information

If you are a WASBO member or have previously attended a WASBO conference, your User Name is your email address. If you are unsure of your password, click the Forgot My Password link to the right to reset it. To register for the conference, please sign in or click the create a new account link in the area to the right.. 

Be sure to click the orange Save Responses button below before you Proceed to Checkout.

If the multi-attendee pricing option is selected erroneously (i.e. you are the only registrant from your organization), you agree to be billed for the difference in registration fees. Each individual from your organization will need to register separately. All rates are per person. Individuals from vendor organizations not sponsoring or exhibiting at the WASBO Facilities Management & Safety Conference may register as attendees to participate in networking events and attend sessions; however, distribution of literature is not permitted. Contact Ryan Silvola at 608.729.6632 or [email protected] for sponsorship information.  

When
2/2/2026 7:00 AM - 2/3/2026 12:00 PM
Central Standard Time
Where
Kalahari Convention Center 1305 Kalahari Drive Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

Program

Monday, 02 February 2026

Description
Time
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
7:00 AM
Time
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
7:00 AM
Driven by a passion for kids and collaboration, Beth brings warmth, honesty, and practical expertise to every stage she steps on. Her message is simple but powerful. School safety is a shared responsibility. When we build connections, empower our people, and commit to showing up for kids every day, we create schools where everyone belongs and our kiddo's can thrive.
Time
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
8:00 AM
The audience will learn the critical reasons that schools should plan for emergencies and disaster; resources that are available to schools - including funding sources; emergency preparedness terminology; roles and responsibilities of schools related to the National Incident Management System; the four phases of emergency management and how it relates to school health and safety; training and exercising your plan; and recovery from a school crisis situation. As part of recovery, discussion of the importance of business continuity planning and a real-life case study will be included. Participants will learn best practices in school emergency and disaster planning, safety, security, injury prevention, first aid, CPR and automatic defibrillation programs. Those present will also develop the ability to lead their school and community in developing an effective school health and safety program.
Track
Facilities Manager Core Certification Module 7
Time
9:30 AM - 10:20 AM
9:30 AM
The procurement of goods and services and the management of vendor relations are a part of everyday practice for any industry. However, school districts are a little different. Join for an understanding of how school districts purchase and the importance of building the relationship with school district staff.
Track
Exhibitor Session
Time
9:30 AM - 10:20 AM
9:30 AM
Who is in Charge after 3pm? Does your school district only perform a 1:45pm tornado drill? Did you know that the average tornado in Wisconsin and surrounding states is on the ground a little after 5pm? Learn why your current “plan” will not work if severe weather arrives in the afternoon or evening. More importantly, learn specific steps to increase weather safety on your school district grounds after 3pm.
Time
9:30 AM - 10:20 AM
9:30 AM
Time
10:20 AM - 10:30 AM
10:20 AM
More and more schools are being affected by unwanted intruders. No one is exempt. What steps has your school district taken to train your first responders? This session will focus on assessing your facilities from an electronic equipment standpoint, identifying your needs for camera, access, remote control, and wireless communication and how those are communicated to first responders and your staff. Examples of available systems will be provided from small to very large.
Track
Facilities Manager Core Certification Module 7
Time
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
10:30 AM
Discover how one school district transformed collaboration into real savings and smarter operations. In this session, leaders from the Wauwatosa School District and the City of Wauwatosa Department of Public Works share how shared service agreements power everything from snow plowing and fleet maintenance to utilities, forestry, and emergency response. Attendees will hear practical, real-world examples of how cross-department partnerships improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen relationships—without sacrificing service quality. Walk away with ideas you can adapt in your own district to do more with less (and build better partnerships along the way).
Time
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
10:30 AM
Budgets are tight, expectations are rising, and staffing shortages continue to challenge school facility leaders. Yet, the right equipment strategy can transform these pressures into opportunity. In this session, participants will explore how modern mechanization directly impacts custodial productivity, cost efficiency, and the ability to sustain healthy learning environments — without adding headcount. Using real-world data and benchmarking models, we’ll compare traditional cleaning methods to mechanized approaches, quantify time savings, and demonstrate how to calculate payback periods and justify capital investments. Attendees will learn how to develop a capital replenishment plan, identify the “sweet spot” between cost and efficiency, and communicate results in ways that elevate the value of their custodial departments. Whether you manage a single school or a districtwide portfolio, this seminar provides the tools and insights you need to plan for progress — doing more with less while maintaining high standards of clean, safety, and accountability.
Time
10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
10:30 AM
Take this time to network with the over 130 exhibitors. Purchase raffle tickets at the registration desk and check out the prizes donated by exhibitors. You have tickets in your name badge to get you started! Proceeds to to the Joel Konze Memorial/Facilities Management Conference Student Scholarship. This is a great way to meet new vendors and broaden your network of resources!
Time
11:20 AM - 12:00 PM
11:20 AM
Continue your conversation with peers and exhibitors over lunch. Purchase raffle tickets at the registration desk and check out the prizes donated by exhibitors. You have tickets in your name badge to get you started! Proceeds go to to the Joel Konze Memorial/Facilities Management Conference Student Scholarship.
Time
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
12:00 PM
Take this time to network with the over 130 exhibitors. Purchase raffle tickets at the registration desk and check out the prizes donated by exhibitors. You have tickets in your name badge to get you started! Proceeds to to the Joel Konze Memorial/Facilities Management Conference Student Scholarship.This is a great way to meet new vendors and broaden your network of resources!
Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
1:00 PM
This session will provide ways to develop and implement procedures for before/after school, summer school, and weekend events. Strategies and best practices will be shared that you could deploy on access control measures, training event staff, emergency contact lists, 911 protocols, extra-curricular events and what parts of your crisis plan need to be relayed to external building users.
Track
Facilities Manager Core Certification Module 7
Time
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
2:00 PM
Successful teams are built with intention. This course explores strategies for hiring the right candidates and designing an onboarding process that sets them up for success. Learn how to create a welcoming, organized, and impactful experience that goes beyond the first few days and helps employees feel supported and ready to contribute from the start.
Time
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
2:00 PM
Join your peers from across the state for an interactive roundtable discussion focused on the challenges and successes of managing school facilities. This session offers a unique opportunity for building and grounds professionals to share insights, ask questions, and exchange practical strategies for maintaining safe, efficient, and welcoming learning environments. Topics may include preventive maintenance, energy efficiency, staffing and training, safety protocols, sustainability initiatives, and navigating budget constraints. Whether you’re a veteran facilities director or new to the role, you’ll leave with actionable ideas and valuable connections to help strengthen your district’s operations.
Time
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
2:00 PM
Topics covered during this presentation will include legal definitions of trafficking and forced labor, common trafficker recruitment methodologies, modalities of coercion, barriers survivors encounter when attempting to exit trafficking, tips on identifying potential trafficking, and the importance of a trauma-informed approach to interacting with survivors.
Time
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
2:00 PM
This is your last chance to drop your tickets. Prizes will be drawn during the next session time and posted at 4PM in the exhibit hall. Purchase raffle tickets and visit exhibitors. Drop your tickets for the prizes you want to win. You also have tickets in your namebadge to use! This is your last chance to drop your tickets. Prizes will be drawn during the next session time and posted at 4PM in the exhibit hall.
Time
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM
2:50 PM
ALICE? Run-Hide-Fight? When implementing a protocol, who's job is it anyway? Many facility managers are also depended on to lead safety and security efforts in their school district. This session will dive into how to start a lockdown/active shooter program, and roll it out to staff.  We will also complete a live demonstration to share ways that you can train your staff, in one hour or less.
Track
Facilities Manager Core Certification Module 7
Time
3:10 PM - 4:00 PM
3:10 PM
Strong relationships are essential to maintaining safe, high-quality athletic and school grounds. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience working in K–12 schools, this session shares practical lessons from a veteran groundskeeper on collaborating effectively with coaches, administrators, and fellow facilities staff. Topics include professionalism, building trust, and fostering a team-first mindset that supports both students and school communities.
Time
3:10 PM - 4:00 PM
3:10 PM
An overview of how facility condition assessments and system data inform capital planning, with an emphasis on mechanical systems.
Time
3:10 PM - 4:00 PM
3:10 PM
Continue the networking with your colleagues and exhibitors. You have one drink ticket in your namebadge. If you haven't already done so check your raffle tickets to see if you have won any prizes. Keep your tickets. A second drawing will be held at 4:40pm for any unclaimed prizes.
Time
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
4:00 PM
Join us at Tom Foolery's Adventure Park for more networking! Check in at the WASBO registration table upstairs in the bowling area to begin your evening. You will receive two beverage tickets. Bowling is also included. You will need a wristband for these activities. • Atomic Rush • Climbing Wall • Go Karts • Laser Tag • Mini-Golf • Revolution 360 • Ropes Course • XD Dark Ride • Sky Tykes • Carousel • Ferris Wheel
Time
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
7:00 PM

Tuesday, 03 February 2026

Description
Time
7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
7:00 AM
Time
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
7:00 AM
Districts face many issues during an employee’s “life cycle” during the employee’s employment with a district. This session will cover the hiring of employees, transfers and changes of assignment, leave provisions and retirement issues.
Track
Facilities Manager Core Certification Module 8
Time
8:10 AM - 9:00 AM
8:10 AM
Producing a safe and healthy athletic surface requires some basics. However, overuse, bad soil or the weather sometimes get the best of your Fields and renovation or reconstruction is necessary. We'll take a look at that.
Time
8:10 AM - 9:00 AM
8:10 AM
Hear from your colleagues at Concordia University to learn about the power of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data. You’ll see GIS capabilities and examples live in action, which will emphasize the flexibility GIS provides not only for asset management, but also for mapping and maintenance procedures to set up your team – and future teams – for success. It’s important to ensure that when we leave, our knowledge remains for future staff!
Time
8:10 AM - 9:00 AM
8:10 AM
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how schools approach safety and security. This session explores the latest AI tools for physical and cybersecurity, including real-world applications, benefits, and emerging trends. Your colleagues will share insights on how AI can enhance threat detection, streamline operations, and support safer learning environments—while also addressing the challenges, risks, and ethical considerations that come with this evolving technology.
Time
8:10 AM - 9:00 AM
8:10 AM
Time
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM
9:00 AM
Everyone wants to do the right thing and act ethically. Is it really that simple? Join your presenters to discuss, “What would you do?” when applying ethics using real life experiences in the operations of your department and school district.
Track
Facilities Manager Core Certification Module 8
Time
9:10 AM - 10:00 AM
9:10 AM
Efficient and effective learning environments depend on strategic, close collaboration between student services, facilities, and building administration teams. This session explores how this targeted collaboration maximizes student well-being, safety, and overall success. We will discuss practical strategies and frameworks for aligning priorities, improving communication, and jointly addressing challenges that arise. Space utilization, safety planning, mental-health-supportive environments, and crisis response all necessitate a multifaceted approach. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to strengthen internal alignment among staff, as well as develop and sustain school facilities that truly serve the whole student.
Time
9:10 AM - 10:00 AM
9:10 AM
Technology continues to evolve as a useful tool for purposes of school security, especially with rise and use of AI. This session will explore the latest technological advances, such as AI security cameras and other surveillance devices. As technology becomes more advanced—in ways that are both beneficial and risky to school districts—it is important for Districts to understand the benefits and drawbacks, practical and responsible implementation, and the legal boundaries of technology use—especially with respect to staff and pupil privacy considerations—to ensure school leaders have the tools necessary to tap into the expansive possibilities of technology.
Time
9:10 AM - 10:00 AM
9:10 AM
Time
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM
10:00 AM
Reunification is the process of safely reuniting students and caregivers following an unplanned, potentially critical, event. While it’s something schools/districts hope they never have to put into action, having a solid reunification plan in place is essential for alleviating stress and ensuring the safety of everyone involved. When an event happens, the entire community is affected, and thorough preparation will create trust, confidence, and patience.  Families and communities will benefit from knowing that their children’s school/district is prepared for such an event. This process requires extensive planning and strong communication between key members of the community, including law enforcement, emergency management, school personnel, students, and families. For many schools/districts, the idea of starting from scratch can feel overwhelming, or even impossible. In this presentation representatives will walk through the process followed by the DeForest Area School District in DeForest Wisconsin, as they transitioned from having no reunification plan to developing a comprehensive and effective strategy. While DeForest uses the Standard Reunification Method (SRM) developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation, the strategies discussed can be applied to any reunification plan. Presenters share firsthand experiences and lessons learned.  Participants will leave with a framework for developing their own reunification plan, creating a professional development plan, along with tips on recruiting volunteers. Additionally, the presentation will discuss how to collaborate across districts and counties to share resources and plan together. We will cover reunification plan selection, development, and the steps it will take to go from nothing to establishing a solid reunification plan.
Track
Deep Dive
Time
10:10 AM - 12:00 PM
10:10 AM
This session will explore best practices for working with vendors, covering essential topics such as navigating contracts, bids, and purchasing policies. Participants will gain insight into developing effective Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and implementing strategic communication techniques tailored to various levels of management and generational differences. The session will also address key negotiation dos and don'ts, providing practical tools for successful outcomes. Additionally, attendees will learn how to collaborate effectively with municipalities, local governments, recreation departments, and other entities, particularly in relation to facilities contracts.
Track
Facilities Manager Core Certification Module 8
Time
10:10 AM - 11:00 AM
10:10 AM
In this session, we will walk through the steps the School District of La Crosse took to develop its climate action plan—from the formation of the sustainability committee, to conducting research and identifying existing efforts already underway. We will also discuss how the plan was presented to the Board of Education and shared with the broader community.
Time
10:10 AM - 11:00 AM
10:10 AM
Often the determination of traffic flow around a school is done with well meaning thoughts and ideas.  In this presentation, you will learn how to use traffic engineering to determine the best flow of traffic for buses, caregivers, and pedestrians.   In addition, we will discuss how to use actual traffic and other  data to determine walk and bus zones in a district.
Time
10:10 AM - 11:00 AM
10:10 AM
Time
11:00 AM - 11:10 AM
11:00 AM
Every day we engage in numerous conversations, each which play important roles in shaping our expectations, relationships, and outcomes. Navigating conversations effectively can be tricky and it takes certain skills, such as social intelligence, courage, self-control, and even humility. We will explore examples and challenge our thinking around crucial conversations within the workplace.
Track
Facilities Manager Core Certification Module 8
Time
11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
11:10 AM
Discover how artificial intelligence can make school facility management smarter, safer, and more efficient. This session highlights practical, real-world applications of AI—learn simple ways to start using AI tools that save time, cut costs, and support better decision-making in your district.
Time
11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
11:10 AM
This session provides Wisconsin school and district leaders with a practical, up-to-date guide to ensuring safe drinking water in public and private school facilities. Participants will receive an overview of current state and federal regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act— including upcoming federal Lead and Copper Rule changes— and learn how these standards apply to both schools on municipal water and those operating their own wells. The course also explains the more rigorous requirements proposed in 2025 Assembly Bill 129 and what they would mean for district planning, testing, and infrastructure upgrades. Attendees will explore how to implement effective water quality monitoring, develop drinking water management plans, and meet new expectations for sampling, filtration, remediation, and communication. The session covers protocols for testing contaminants such as lead, PFOA, and PFOS; requirements for installing filtered bottle-filling stations and faucets; and rules for shutting off unfiltered outlets by 2027. It also outlines mandatory response actions for elevated contaminant levels, as well as parental notification and reporting processes in coordination with DPI.
Time
11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
11:10 AM

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