Honoring Effective Urban Boards

NJSBA is seeking entries for the third annual Raymond Milam Urban Boards Award.  Named after a retired NJSBA Urban Boards field service representative, the award honors an urban school board whose members exemplify commitment and dedication to their district’s mission and public education.

Award entries will be evaluated on the following characteristics of successful urban school boards:

• NJSBA involvement, including service on various NJSBA committees, and individual member and board attainment of Board Member Academy credits, earned May 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005.
  
  
• Training and development activities, including those that increase board performance and effectiveness, such as board governance, long-range planning, board self-evaluation, annual planning retreat programs, etc.
  
  
• Governance and policymaking activities, which consist of strong board/superintendent relationships, annual superintendent evaluations and effective policymaking decisions.
  
  
• Alignment of board activities with the district’s mission and the advancement of student achievement.
  
  
• Accomplishments in student achievement and community involvement, including effective practices or programs that have a positive impact on student achievement and community involvement.

Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges that will include members of the education community. In addition to the criteria outlined above, judges will consider the degree of innovation shown, the strategies used to measure effectiveness, and the organization, clarity and conciseness of the submission.

The winner will be announced at the annual Urban Boards Luncheon during Workshop 2006 on Thursday, October 26.