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

Governor Proclaims January 2010 ‘School Board Recognition Month’

TRENTON, December 31, 2009—Noting the hard work and dedication of New Jersey’s local board of education members, Gov. Jon S. Corzine has proclaimed January 2010 as School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey.

“New Jersey’s 4,800 local board of education members devote countless hours, at no pay, to the oversight of school district operations, including finances, curriculum and staffing,” the governor said in his proclamation. “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.”

“By making meaningful contributions to our schools and communities, the dedicated members of local school boards have enhanced our State and Nation,” the governor said in his proclamation.

"Local boards of education set the goals and provide oversight for the entire school district,” said Harry J. Delgado, president of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA). "The work of local school boards has a direct impact on the classroom, and their 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 nearly 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.

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.