P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI

Maintain Non-Partisan School Boards, Oppose November Board Elections — NJSBA

TRENTON, May 19, 2008 — Legislation before the Assembly today would have the unintended impact of magnifying party influence over local school district policies and educational decisions, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

The bill, A-15 (Roberts, Wolfe, Green, DeAngelo), would move the election date for local school board members, all of whom serve on a non-partisan basis, from April to the party-driven November General Election.

“The intention of current state law is clear: Educational issues at the local level should be debated strictly on their merits, without political party influence,” said Marie S. Bilik, NJSBA executive director. “That’s why local school board candidates appear on the ballot without party affiliation and why they stand for election in the spring.

“Moving board member elections to November would subject the selection of local board members and local educational issues to divisive partisan politics.”

As an alternative to a November election for board members, NJSBA proposes a single non-partisan spring election for school board members, fire district commissioners and officials of the 87 municipalities that have non-partisan governments.

“State law provides that non-partisan municipalities hold elections in the spring – away from the partisan November General Election. That’s logical, and the same rationale should continue to apply to local school boards,” said Bilik.

“NJSBA shares Assembly Speaker Roberts’ concerns about voter participation in the school board elections,” she continued. “We believe that a single, statewide non-partisan election would draw increased media attention and voter interest in school board races.”

Budget Vote NJSBA supports a provision of A-15 that would eliminate school budget elections when the spending proposals are at or below the state cap.

Explained Bilik, “School district’s budgets are subject to a 4-percent cap on tax-levy increases. Their finances receive stringent review by the state government. But unlike municipalities or counties, school boards must also place their budget before voters. Too often, the fiscally sound proposals are rejected because of voter dissatisfaction with non-school spending.”

Over-cap Questions A third provision of A-15 would place over-cap spending proposals before voters in November. NJSBA believes voters should continue to act on proposals to spend above a school district’s budget cap, but in the spring – not in November. Placing such questions on the November General Election would be problematic, according to Bilik.

“The November election takes place midway through the local school district budget cycle which, like the state budget, runs on a July-through-June fiscal year,” she said.

“Over-cap questions should be placed before voters in the spring, before local tax rates are struck, rather than adopted through the overly complicated process outlined in Assembly Bill 15.”

The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.