Thank you, Patti, and thank you, delegates, for taking the time to be here today.

Before we begin our meeting, I want to cite some numbers to get our thought processes rolling.

The first number is 10. That’s the number of goals set by NJSBA’s Strategic Plan. This blueprint grew out of a year-long effort to make our Association more responsive to its members’ needs. It followed the principles of Quality New Jersey, a business-centered organization. Quality New Jersey is dedicated to identifying, developing and improving services for clients. For NJSBA, the term "clients" translates into local boards of education.

We identified 10 goals to enable us to meet our vision statement, which is—

To be recognized as the leader in providing information and training to school boards, the representative of school districts, and the advocate for quality public education.

Proposed action by the delegates today closely touches upon two of those ten goals: first, to communicate and respond to members in a timely fashion; and, second, to influence the discussion of quality public education and the direction/outcome of governmental education policy.

We will consider a by-laws amendment to authorize the Board of Director to establish an annual legislative agenda, recommended by the Legislative Committee and based on the policies that you, the delegates, have adopted. This change will allow NJSBA to set priorities when advancing the interests of our school districts and students.

The initiative stresses accountability. In your packets this morning is a chart that illustrates the progress we have made in the advocacy arena over the past six months. This new document will be accessible through our Web site and updated regularly.

Here’s another number, 1993. Since the year 1993, NJSBA’s dues have remained at the same level for all but 48 districts, where the levels were actually reduced. It’s a record we are proud of.

I am also pleased to tell you that, for 2001-02, all districts’ dues will remain at this same level. Services will continue to be provided in accordance with NJSBA’s Long Range and Strategic Plans to meet our members’ needs for direct services, information and advocacy. And the Association will continue to subsidize the Board Member Academy programs by providing a reduction in conference registration fees.

Maintaining 2001-02 dues at 1993-94 levels required an intensive examination of all expenditures, with the goal of controlling costs. We met the challenge. However, we also recognize that, in the future, maintaining services and controlling costs will require vision and planning. Therefore, the Board of Directors has authorized me, as Executive Director, to examine our future operations against our current dues. An analysis and an action plan will be presented to the Board of Directors in March 2002.

Now, let me give you another number: 21.4 MILLION. That’s the average number of dollars it takes to build a new high school in the United States. School construction is booming, not only in the high-growth states out west and down south, but also in New Jersey, according to the annual nationwide survey of American School University magazine.

The trend is continuing. NJSBA’s survey of school bond referenda showed that New Jersey voters authorized over $1 billion in school construction during the year 2000. I would venture to say that’s the largest amount in our state’s history.

The Educational Construction and Financing Act has had a strong impact on school district willingness to place construction proposals before voters and the willingness of voters to approve those plans. Voters approved over 80% of the construction proposals placed on the ballot after the bill’s enactment last July.

The act stands as one of the major achievements for public education in our state. Our Association will continue to monitor the act as it goes into effect.

We will also assist districts in their efforts to secure funding through the act. It wasn’t too long ago that a superintendent from Bergen County informed us that his district was rejected for retroactive funding…even though he believed it had met all criteria. We shared his concern. After all, the retroactivity provision was initiated by NJSBA; it represents a major benefit to school districts. But we were most concerned because it appeared that the district was being shortchanged.

During the legislative process leading up to the bill’s enactment, NJSBA built very strong working relationships with key representatives in Treasury, the Department of Education and the Economic Development Authority. A quick phone call by an NJSBA staff member resolved the problem, and the state subsequently informed the district of its eligibility.

The effort was not a major achievement for NJSBA. But it did avert a major crisis for this local school board in Bergen County. We were delighted to intervene on behalf of a member.

Next week, your Association will be intervening on behalf of all local school districts on the facilities issue. We have submitted legal arguments against a lawsuit to overturn the facilities act on constitutional grounds. We believe that the act is constitutional and that dismantling the program at this point will cause irreparable harm to school districts. Arguments in the case will be heard on Monday.

Here’s another number: 40. That’s the percentage of federal aid to special education needed for the government to meet its obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

This issue is still alive and well in Washington, so there is time for your board to weigh in on the issue. A sample resolution that your board may consider sending to Congress is available on NJSBA’s Web site.

Yesterday, NJSBA co-sponsored the Annual Celebration of Special Education Week in New Jersey. It was a wonderful event, which drew more than 1200 students and their parents and teachers to The Children’s Institute in Verona. We co-sponsor this event each year to highlight the needs of our special education students. However, the financial burden for meeting those needs cannot rest solely on local school districts.

Private schools for the handicapped serve a significant number of our state’s special education students through tuition paid by local school districts. They have a responsibility to control costs. That’s why we supported the state Board of Education’s recent effort to place limits on administrative costs in those schools. Just ask any local district about the cost of out-of-district placements and its impact on resources for regular education.

State government also has a larger role to play. NJSBA continues to urge legislation that would shift a large share of the excess costs of out-of-district placements to the state.

Let me give you another number: 50. That’s the average percentage reduction in the number of applicants for superintendent positions in New Jersey school districts over the past decade. It’s no secret that school districts have an increasing need for quality school leadership. It’s no secret that action is needed.

Last fall, our membership survey—another product of NJSBA Strategic Plan—cited "quality school leadership" as a major challenge facing our schools. We are not alone in voicing this concern.

Education Week has called the need for quality school leadership "the most recent educational crisis. The Annenberg Institute for School Reform says it is "perhaps the biggest obstacle to reforming schools."

We are working with the education community here in New Jersey, in the northeast regional and at the federal level to raise awareness of this issue and to develop solutions.

Finally, I want to provide you with one more number: 34. That’s the average number of hours time New Jerseyans spend in traffic each year. So, by driving to today’s meeting, you’ve undoubtedly exceeded your quotient of traffic time. But I believe your find that your effort helped your school district and your Association. Thank you for your support and dedication.