When I worked in public education, I had the opportunity to attend a number of conferences. I was even involved in the planning for some smaller events. One thing I learned quickly is that as with many things in life, the most important thing is "location, location, location." If you're running a conference and you want lots of people to show up, you hold your event somewhere nice such as Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe, Monterey or Newport Beach.

Unfortunately, the California Association of School Business Officers outed by Matier and Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The economic crisis just gets worse and worse, so the California Association of School Business Officials is hosting a symposium this week on how to deal with the tough times - at the Marriott Hotel and Spa in Newport Beach.

The first order of business for the assembled 300 superintendents, deputies and finance officers: a golf tournament Wednesday at the nearby Black Gold Golf Club.

Sounds like a nice place. The school association's invite breathes heavy about "several water features including a stunning waterfall off the 18th green ... rolling hills ... and the most incredible vistas overlooking all of Orange County and Long Beach."

After that, the paper clip counters will "get the early news on coming changes impacting school finance" and the chance to "re-energize" themselves for the challenges ahead.

Incidentally, between the Orange County hotel stay, seminar registration and $110 golf fee, the average tab for the three-day gathering works out to about $1,000 a head.

It is a bit ironic that the people who are typically the ones telling their co-workers that they can't have an extra ream of paper are the ones having a really nice time at a Hotel and Spa on the beach. From my perspective, the reality is that they had to have this event somewhere. Could they have done it somewhere less expensive? Yes. Do you think the CFO's would rather go to Fresno or Newport Beach? I'd vote for Newport Beach every time.

At $1,000 a head for three days, thats only $333 a day. For the golf, conference, hotel and meals, that's really not that bad. While it did cause me to smile, it doesn't generate any outrage. At least for me. Besides, I bet the golf is probably optional.