School board members are among those tireless individuals who volunteer to change the world one step at a time. The New Jersey School Boards Association would like to extend a special thanks to the more than 4,800 local board of education members in New Jersey who willingly donate countless hours to oversee the operation of our schools. Your decisions affect the education, safety and well being of more than 1.4 million children. That role as decision maker requires diligence in studying reports, attending meetings and workshops, dealing with state and federal regulations, and coping with shrinking budgets that must provide for growing needs.

Public School Volunteer Week and National Volunteer Week are celebrated on April 17 through 23. It is our privilege during that time to remember and honor all of you who generously volunteer for the benefit of our children.

In addition, every district has parents, grandparents and students involved in school-based community organizations who devote their time to helping out in the schools. If you would like to remember those who volunteer in your districts, listed at right are special dates during the year for doing so, along with Web site addresses of the sponsoring organizations.