School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey

January 2007

Sample News Release: County School Boards Associations

(County school boards association can use this sample news release to promote awareness of School Board Recognition Month and the contributions of local school boards to the education process.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:     ( County SBA spokesperson)

                        (Office and home telephone number)

(Name of County) School Boards Association Honors Local School Trustees

(Date resolution was approved), 2007—January marks School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey, and the (County) School Boards Association today adopted a resolution commending the dedication and effort of local school trustees throughout the county.

“School board members devote countless hours to their communities and public education at no pay,” states the __________ County School Boards Association’s resolution. “Many local board members dedicate extraordinary amounts of additional time and effort to attend training and to reach out to state and federal lawmakers on behalf of their communities’ children.”

Since the first School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey in 2002, the State Board of Education, the state-level public body that regulates New Jersey’s public schools, and New Jersey’s governors have approved resolutions and proclamations honor the work done by local school board members.

“Local school boards oversee their communities’ education programs and work with chief school administrators to set goals for our children’s education,” said (name of CSBA president), president of the __________ County School Boards Association.  “With more than 4,800 men and women serving on the state’s local boards of education, school board members constitute the largest group of public officials in New Jersey.”

“The primary goal of School Board Recognition Month is to thank current and former school board members for their work on behalf of their communities,” explained Kevin E. Ciak, New Jersey Boards Association (NJSBA) president.  “We also want to build interest in school board service for the future.  And by making the public aware of school boards’ contributions to education, we also hope to encourage citizens with a sincere interest in their public schools to consider board membership.”

NJSBA is an advocacy and service organization for the state’s local boards of education; it is spearheading statewide School Board Recognition Month efforts.

The National School Boards Association began School Board Recognition Month in the early 1990s, and various other states followed suit by dedicating one month of the year to recognize the contributions of local board members.  When he was governor of Texas, President George W. Bush proclaimed School Board Recognition Month in the Lone Star State.  Former President Clinton observed the event a number of times during his presidency.

School Board Recognition Month comes at an important time in the candidacy process for local board membership, according to NJSBA officials. The filing deadline for candidacy in the 2007 Annual School Election is February 26.  The election will take place on April 17.  More than 1,500 school board positions will be on the ballot statewide.

Information on school board candidacy, produced by NJSBA, is available at local school board offices throughout the county and online at www.njsba.org.