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All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunityEducated in a small town
Taught the fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic that’s meJohn Mellencamp, Small Town, 1985

Like John Mellencamp, many people who grew up or now live in a small town are “romantic” about these places.  While the 1985 hit is a ballad for many “small town” residents, I suspect that it is not on Gov. Corzine’s or most legislators’ iPods.  I say that because in the recent push to regionalize and consolidate school districts (all in the name of property tax relief), small school districts are portrayed as the problem. Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s electronic version of School Board Notes will include the following Web Extra item:

Legislation that would extend tenure-like protections to teaching paraprofessionals in Title 1 school districts is expected to be released by the Assembly Education Committee today (Nov. 13).  The bill, A-420 (Handlin,Voss), is already posted for a vote by the full Assembly on Monday, Nov. 17.

In all, 513 New Jersey school districts Read the rest of this entry »

I will admit it: I am a political junkie.  I not only love to discuss public policy but I also enjoy the “soap opera” aspect of national and state politics.  In an earlier life, I was active politically, and election night was almost a holiday for both Democratic and Republican party loyalists.  While I no longer attend election night “victory” parties, I do like to stay up and watch the results come in.  This past Election Day, I found myself off from work so I felt a pull from the TV to hear what the pundits were saying.  I also felt a pull from my wife, who said that when I am off, some much needed household chores should be accomplished.  Now these may seem like competing pulls, but somehow I felt obligated to do both.  First, by all accounts this was a historical presidential election and I wanted to soak it in.  Second my wife has told me that there is nothing more attractive and sexier in her eyes than a man who cleans a house.  I suspect she is lying to me, but if I go from Don Knotts to Brad Pitt in her eyes by simply using a vacuum cleaner or a mop, who am I to argue?  Read the rest of this entry »

The Phillies are in the World Series and thousands of New Jerseyans are riveted to their televisions rooting them on. At the exact same time, there are even more New Jerseyans who think the baseball season has ended and are watching Survivor and Dancing With the Stars.  This World Series exemplifies the New Jersey north and south divide.  For a small state, we are a very divided state and can even be parochial in our views.  I believe this division and parochialism hinders our ability to come up with solutions to some pressing issues including education.  Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine you are either the governor or commissioner of education of a highly diverse northeastern state.  Like most states, yours is saddled with the “achievement gap” and students who lag behind their peers academically. Then imagine you are offered a solution that academics, legislators, educators and parents agree may hold the key to closing the “achievement gap.” Not only do you have all parties telling you that this is a success, but you actually have some proof that it works in the districts where it has been implemented.  Wouldn’t you jump at the opportunity to implement such a solution if you were governor or education commissioner?  This is the type of program that makes history books and creates a positive legacy of your tenure.  Now imagine that you commit to this program publicly. 

Finally, imagine you find out that your state is broke and probably can not afford to pay for this worthwhile legacy-making program.  What do you do? Read the rest of this entry »

The following article will appear in the Oct. 15 editon of School Board Notes online:

Governor’s Special Address  The media spotlight will fall on Governor Corzine Thursday, Oct. 16, as he delivers a major economic address to a special joint session of the state Legislature.  Faced with a stock market that lost one-fifth of its value within a period of six days and is now on a roller-coaster ride, the failure of several major financial institutions, record mortgage defaults nationwide, a lock on credit–and the fact that New Jersey is highly reliant on tax revenue generated through the financial services industry–the day’s focus is exactly where it should be.

State revenue projections will directly affect the governor’s proposed 2009-2010 state budget, which will include his recommendations for state aid to public education. 

Newspaper accounts indicate that the governor will present a comprehensive economic emergency plan that will include public works projects (including existing plans for school construction), incentives for businesses and help for homeowners who might otherwise lose their property.

In spite of the importance of the governor’s speech, NJSBA lobbyists on Thursday will still have to Read the rest of this entry »

There is a famous line uttered by Obi -Wan Kenobi  in the first Star Wars movie: “I felt a great disturbance in the Force.” (My son argues with me that the 1977 movie is not the “first” Star Wars movie -it is the fourth.  Some movie put out in 1999, which I never saw, is technically the first in the Star Wars saga.)   I, however, measure movies chronologically by the year they come out. ) In any case on October 2, 2008 at the Senate Education Committee meeting I felt a “disturbance” in the force at the State House.  It came when I watched the discussion on bill S-2127 (the diploma mill bill), which is sponsored by Senate President Richard Codey, Senator Shirley Turner and Senator Jennifer Beck.  On this bill NJSBA and NJEA took opposite positions.  This is not odd, and , in fact, occurs frequently on bills regarding labor management issues.  NJSBA supported the bill, since it not only prevents staff from moving up the salary guide by acquiring degrees from unaccredited colleges and universities, but also helps the boards control costs in the area of tuition reimbursement.  It is odd, though, that during the testimony, the NJEA should find itself fighting an uphill battle.  It is even a bit odder that the committee sided with NJSBA’s position and not NJEA’s.  This, however, is not the disturbance in the “force.” The disturbance I sensed is Read the rest of this entry »

I need to let you know before you read any further, that as I write this, I am in a very bad mood.  I am a N.Y. Mets fan and after having my heart broken again on the last day of the baseball season, I am not as nice as I normally am.  I just want you to know before you proceed it is not my fault, but the Mets’ fault. 

For those of you who have attended NJSBA Workshop in Atlantic City, you may remember buttons that a vendor used to give out.  They had three buttons they distributed: one said Blame the Board Member, another said Blame the Superintendent, and the last one said Blame the BA.  They were cute little buttons that were built on inside humor and everyone seemed to have fun with them. It was rather harmless because we were making fun of each other, but just imagine if the person handing them out was your state representative!  Read the rest of this entry »