Volume 59, No. 2 Spring 2009

Treasurer’s Report

By Barbara Lewis Mill CASP Treasurer

2009-10 will certainly be a challenge for CASP! CASP has not met its financial requirements this membership year. The Board of Directors is concerned with CASP’s fiscal health, given the shortage of membership revenue during 2008-09 and the low turnout of regular members at the Convention. Our annual CASP Convention has always represented at least 50 – 60% of the CASP budget, with membership representing the other 40 – 50% of our base revenue.

CASP will continue to push forward through what we hope will be a limited financial downturn for the state and our nation. The Board of Directors has formed a special committee within the Board of Directors to develop new approaches to the delivery of member services. This courageous team will assist the staff in reshaping a slimmer CASP using the new technology for live and regional trainings. The technology we are investigating is currently used by physicians and other healthcare providers, to bring the best experts into examining rooms via remote electronic broadcasts. We plan to downsize future conventions, and will endeavor to meet the needs of all members using the best vehicles available. We will continue to balance the need to advocate at the state and national levels and the need to provide access to the services most needed by CASP members. Our role will continue to be to do our best to maintain an organization that can effectively support our members during these turbulent times.

We will not have the final financial outcomes for Convention 2009 for another few weeks; however, we do know that we hosted 889 registrants, mostly students (not including staff, exhibitors, presenters, and awardees). Nonetheless, membership revenue is down 7% overall from our expected goal, with convention revenue down about 31% from our 08-09 goal.

The recent receipt of federal stimulus funding for public schools will help to ease the fiscal challenges of school sites and provide funding for districts to consider special education trainings for those not allowed the attend the CASP Convention. For a preliminary list of how much your district is expected to receive, please visit -http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/titlei/fy09recovery/index.html –

Be sure to contact your district administrators and let them know you would like to be considered for other relevant training opportunities. The CASP staff is working diligently to develop additional regional programs in which districts may participate. Remember, the investment in your education will pay off in the years to come.

CASP ended last year with a modest financial deficit – yet we continue to provide our members the services promised. We are especially focused upon working in those areas that will define the role of school psychologists for years to come. These include the federal controversy over the role of school psychologists vs. licensed psychologists (APA); the ongoing fight for recognition; funding; and positions at the school and district level.

Please remember to renew your membership for the 2009-10 year. New members joining as of May 1st will enjoy their membership for 14 months! Remember to remain part of the future of School Psychology!