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

Put Talk into Action: Vote in the Annual School Election (April 20)

TRENTON, April 16, 2010 —The New Jersey School Boards Association today urged the state’s voters participate in the Annual School Election on Tuesday, April 20. According to Marie S. Bilik, the organization’s executive director, this year’s election is a critical one for education programs, in light of state aid reductions and resulting staff and program cuts.

Elections will take place in more than 90 percent of New Jersey school districts. Voters will have the opportunity to act on proposed school budgets and select over 1,600 local board of education members.

Bilik’s statement follows:

“From the schoolhouse to the State House, people are talking about the funding of public education. Public awareness of the Annual School Election is greater than it’s been for more than 30 years. Our citizens need to turn that awareness into action by voting on Tuesday, April 20.

“After two rounds of state education funding cuts, local school boards have proposed the leanest, most cost-efficient budgets possible. Their goal is to ensure a quality education by preserving the education program to the greatest degree possible while not overburdening property taxpayers.

“In fact, school boards have done the best job possible with the hand they’ve been dealt.

“School elections focus on the community’s education goals and needs, not state-level politics. That’s why this year, it’s important for voters to participate in the election and make an informed decision on their community’s proposed school budgets and local board of education candidates.”

Voters should contact their local school district office for polling times and locations in their communities.

The New Jersey School Boards Association is a federation of 588 local boards of education and includes 44 charter school associate members. NJSBA advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.