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

Gov. Corzine Proclaims January 2009 ‘School Board Recognition Month’

TRENTON, January 5, 2009 — Noting the hard work and dedication of New Jersey’s local board of education members, Gov. Jon S. Corzine has proclaimed January 2009 as School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey. Approximately 4,800 citizens serve their communities as school board members, without compensation.

“As the policymaking bodies for local school districts, New Jersey’s local boards of education endeavor to meet the challenges facing public schools and help students achieve state academic standards,” the governor said in his proclamation. “By making meaningful contributions to our schools and communities, the dedicated members of local school boards have enhanced our State and Nation.”

"Boards of education provide oversight and set the goals for the entire school district,” said Harry J. Delgado, president of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA). "The work of local school boards directly impacts the classroom, and this hard work has helped make New Jersey’s public schools a national leader in student achievement.”

NJSBA initiated the state’s first School Board Recognition Month in 2002 to acknowledge the work of the local school board members who oversee the education of New Jersey’s 1.4 million public school students. Nationally, School Board Recognition Month began in the early 1990s with a proclamation by then-President Clinton. Several states, including New Jersey, now dedicate a month to recognize the service of their state’s community school boards.

School Board Recognition Month comes at an opportune time of year, when New Jersey citizens interested in public education consider candidacy for their local boards of education. This year, March 2 is the deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions with their local school board in order to get their name on the ballot for the 2009 Annual School Election. The election will take place on April 21, when approximately 1,500 school board seats will be on the ballot throughout the state.

Gov. Corzine’s proclamation, as well as additional information on School Board Recognition Month and school board candidacy, are available online at NJSBA’s Web site.

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.