Good morning.

I hope you had the opportunity to see our commercial for the reformatted policy series. We tried to book either Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera for the video. Unfortunately, they both had other commitments. Personally, I think they really didn’t like the musical score.

But even though it did not feature MTV celebrities, our video does carry a very important message. Today, you will vote on changing the way we express ourselves through policy. Our world is changing rapidly, and proposals affecting our schools are growing in number and frequency. NJSBA needs policy that not only reflects our members’ principles and beliefs, but is also broad enough to authorize action on their behalf.

Reformatting our policies is but one change that has resulted from NJSBA’s strategic plan. This blueprint was developed two years ago to guide the Association in providing advocacy, information and training better and more efficiently. Let me give your examples of other developments:

The activities of the New Jersey School Ethics Commission have a significant impact on the requirements and responsibilities of school board members. It’s important that board members keep abreast of the issues and decisions that come before that body. So, this spring, NJSBA launched a new publication, the School Ethics Report, to provide legal insight and information in this critical area.

A major focus for enhancing member services has been our Web site, www.njsba.org. Today, NJSBA’s Web site provides information instantaneously to members of New Jersey’s local boards of education. Consider NJSBA’s labor relations data—a key element in plotting a negotiations strategy and in bargaining. At one time, a school board had to telephone the Association’s Labor Relations Department to receive updated comparisons of settlement rates, information on insurance provisions, or statistics on school board gains at the bargaining table. It was the only way to get the data. You can still telephone us—toll free, in fact. But this important labor relations information is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through our Web site. And an increasing number of members are accessing our research in this way.

The most recent addition and improvement to our Web site is the Policy and Library Resources page. It includes a "virtual library." This program will enable you to search through NJSBA’s collection of publications and documents on effective school governance. You can even reserve a book online. Our Critical Policy Reference Manual and other policy services are also easily accessible through this new Web page.

We are also exploring ways to make our Board Member Academy training more accessible. I am pleased to note that NJSBA plans to begin the development of Web-based training.

In response to members’ needs, the Academy this year provided a one-day conference on school technology. And, with an unprecedented amount of school construction pending in our state, it also provided programming on the elements of school construction and the state’s Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act.

When we first launched the NJSBA Board Member Academy back in 1992, we never anticipated the enthusiasm of our members for its certification programs. Today, we have 125 Certified School Boards—with Galloway Township, Barrington, Gloucester City, Logan Township and Hillsdale the newest boards to attain this honor. And we have a total of 93 master board members.

I would like you to turn your attention to the overhead screen. These are our 21 newest Master Board Members. They were honored last night by the NJSBA Board of Directors. These board members have completed a comprehensive curriculum in strategic planning, group dynamics, running effective meetings, board members ethics, and other critical leadership areas. They also passed an NJSBA-administered exam.

If your name is on the screen, please stand. Let’s give a round of applause to our newest Master Board Members.

The success of NJSBA’s Board Member Academy reflects the sincere dedication of our state’s local school board members.

That dedication and involvement remains the cornerstone of our Association’s success. Today, we will hear several reports from standing and ad hoc committees. Their work will help chart our Association’s future direction in advocating the education, health and safety of our school children.

The committee process also serves a key research function for NJSBA. I point to the ad hoc committee on the assessment of New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards. Since January 2000, this group has made a significant contribution to the public debate over the state testing program. It also prompted significant change through its analysis and recommendations on the state’s testing system. During the past year and a half, we have reconvened this ad hoc committee to explore other issues dealing with testing.

The work of this committee serves as an example of how the membership’s expertise and commitment can be focused to guide us on the issues we all face. The committee selection process ensures broad representation based on school districts size, grade-structure, location and wealth. It is a system that serves a very important purpose in helping NJSBA meet it goals.

Three weeks ago, over 100 board members gathered for NJSBA’s annual Legislative Conference. Believe me when I say that our state and federal representatives have many ideas that they want to put on the plates of Congress, the state Legislature and local school boards. In my 14 years as a local school board member, I’ve seen many changes and increased responsibility. And there will be more changes and challenges ahead. But let me guarantee you two things based on my experience. First, our jobs will not become any simpler. And, second, with your commitment and support, the New Jersey School Boards Association will help us meet those new challenges.

Thank you very much for attending today’s meeting and helping to set the direction for your Association.