September is a time for new beginnings. Heading back to school holds promise for all—from kindergartners entering the classroom for the first time to seniors contemplating college or career options. For board members, teachers and administrators, it’s a time to focus on providing the resources and environment that will enable and motivate your students to be the best they can.

The New Jersey School Boards Association also looks to September as a time to focus on how we can best serve our members. Since last spring, a dedicated group of local school board members—the ad hoc Long-Range Planning Committee—gathered data from an NJSBA membership survey and focus group discussions, met with state leaders, and reviewed studies on current and emerging education issues in our state and nation. The committee used this information to create a new Association mission statement and long-range plan based on your needs, how well we have met those needs in the past, and what we can do to better serve you in the future. This week, the Board of Directors will act on the committee’s recommendation.

With a new mission in mind, we will roll out several new products and services over the next few months. One effort is a new e-commerce section on our Web site that will allow you to easily register for programs or purchase publications. New resources will provide the latest in school law, tenure dismissals and collective negotiations, and will include CD-ROMs on negotiating superintendent contracts and the Association’s efforts toward property tax reform. We will also debut a new NJSBA e-bulletin, which will consolidate many of the e-mails you currently receive from us into one bi-weekly communication.

We know how busy you are—juggling family, work and school board responsibilities—so we also took a look at how we can make training more meaningful and easily accessible. That means more regional programs, with some held in conjunction with the county school boards associations. New programs this year will focus on fundamental skills that all board members need, such as communicating effectively and using parliamentary procedure. We’ve also expanded our course offerings leading to our new Certified Board Leader designation, the highest level of individual certification in the Board Member Academy.

We hope you take advantage of these new offerings. Remember: the first place to turn for advice and consultation is your Association. Experts in the field of school policy, labor relations and school law are always available to help you through the complexities of school district governance. Your NJSBA field service representatives are available for on-site consultation in goal-setting, strategic planning, bond and budget campaigns, and superintendent searches and evaluations. If you need research assistance, NJSBA’s lending library holds the only collection of publications in the state strictly devoted to public school governance.

The fall is also a time for new beginnings in the political arena, with the election of a new governor and General Assembly. As you know, NJSBA is committed to advocating your interests and those of your community’s children before the state Legislature, the State Board of Education and the courts, and keeping the news media and public informed of our efforts. Your participation is essential as we work to build new relationships and strengthen our grassroots efforts. Please respond to the action alerts sent to you via our new monthly Governmental Relations e-newsletter.

As your students head back to school, be assured that your Association is poised to assist you. Whether you’re a new board member or veteran, I urge you to reach out to NJSBA for assistance and to take advantage of the many training opportunities available, starting with Workshop in Atlantic City next month.

Begin your new school year with a personal commitment to tap all the valuable resources your Association has to offer.