The 2022 Newly Elected Officials Course (NEOC) has officially kicked off. This year saw an incredible turnout of officials, shocking us with new NEOC records. In two weeks, seats for the course sold out. Emails and phone calls rolled in, and as the waitlist filled, we decided to pivot and create a second option to the Certificate Program: the Academic Program.

In our search during the summer to find the locations for our upcoming NEOC, we discovered the Robert A. Read Performing Arts Center at Gateway High School. The Center offered over a thousand seats, ample space for social distancing, and accessible parking. With Covid an unpredictable complication at the time, we opted to err on the side of safety.

Because of this decision, the additional space allowed us to safely expand the maximum capacity for classroom sessions and webinars, creating the Academic Program. Not surprisingly, the Academic Program has also sold out, bringing our total enrollment to an incredible 130 officials.

The need for education is real as local governments face constant turnover in leadership. Every two years, municipal elections bring new officials into leadership positions, often with positive intentions but no government experience. NEOC is the most comprehensive educational program available to municipal officials who are interested in understanding their role and responsibilities as a public servant.

But NEOC isn’t bootcamp! Focusing on the unique needs of local government, and featuring expert instructors, each session takes a deep dive into subjects such as municipal finance, public sector personnel law, the Public Officials Act, ethical decision making, emergency services, and more. With over 50 hours of instruction, graduates of the 2022 NEOC class will have an unparalleled understanding of their lawful obligations and best practices of thriving communities.

Our 2022 officials have already tackled Powers, Duties, Budget & Finance, covering discussions like Local Government 101, and the various and complex intricacies of the municipal budget. A Q&A panel of experienced municipal managers provided insight and advice, and the day closed out with breakout groups and detailed dives into community budgets. Click here to see the photo album from the day.

Thankfully, we have an extensive volunteer base of highly skilled practitioners in the business community, credentialed instructors from our region’s world-renowned educational institutions, and civic leaders to provide fact-based information to elected/appointed officials and municipal staff. Click here to check out the 2022 NEOC Instructors.

Additionally, we’ve partnered with our friends at PCTV to provide high quality recordings of each session, made possible with Gateway’s technological infrastructure. These recordings, as well as recordings of our comprehensive webinars, are made available to attendees, providing the ability review the content later or multiple times.

Local Government Academy is committed to continual improvement, and our mission to educate public officials, and to empower them with the skills and information to responsibly serve their communities.