As one of 16 national winners, Bordentown Regional School District was selected for its Connections Mentoring Program, which is a partnership between the district’s school board, the Clara Barton Elementary School and the Bordentown community. Begun in 1998, the program has led to a drop in discipline problems, as well as an increase in student achievement.

The South Plainfield School District was honored for its efforts to change state law in support of South Plainfield’s Future Stars Preschool Program. Board members, with the help of parent organizations and community leaders, successfully pushed the state Legislature to rewrite the law that would have forced the preschool to close due to a prohibition on fee-based programs in public schools.

The Passaic Valley Regional High School District received an honorable mention for its summer performing arts program. Run through the district’s education foundation, the program promotes enrichment activities for students.

The 2005 winners will be highlighted in a special supplement to the April issue of ASBJ and formally recognized on April 18 at the School Leaders Luncheon in San Diego. The luncheon is part of the National School Boards Association’s annual conference. The ASBJ and Sodexho School Services cosponsor the award program.