Academy Announces New Certification Designations

Effective July 1, NJSBA will add two new levels of certification to the Board Member Academy – Board Recertification and Master Board Certification.

“With these additions, we are expanding opportunities for boards to receive recognition for their efforts to continuously improve the way they function and serve the children of their communities,” said Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director.

When NJSBA founded the academy in 1992, it planned to eventually limit the life of individual Board Certification (BC) awards.  The intention was to make the BC award effective for a minimum of three years, with expiration when board turnover equaled one-third of the members seated at the time certification was granted.  NJSBA’s new Association Management System will allow the tracking necessary to adhere to this standard. 

Board Recertification  To earn the new Board Recertification (BR) award, a certified board must complete an additional 12 credits, and participate in at least one full-day retreat, and conduct a board self-evaluation.  As with initial board certification, the board must meet attendance requirements (e.g., seven of nine board members, five of seven, or four of five) for each of these activities.  Upon completion of the requirements, NJSBA will affix a recertification seal to the board’s certification plaque.

Master Board Certification  To earn Master Board Certification (MBC), a certified or recertified board must attend the Board-Superintendent Institute with its chief school administrator.  Attendance by members at the Board-Superintendent Institute must meet the Academy’s minimum requirements. A special plaque will be presented to MBC recipients.

Implementation  School boards earning certification after July 1, 2006 will fall under the three-year minimum, one-third turnover rule immediately. Boards that earned the BC designation prior to 2000 will maintain their certification through December 31, 2007.  For boards that were certified from 2000 through June 30, 2006, the BC designation will remain in effect until June 2009.

All credits that a board earned after its initial certification will count towards recertification.  The Inservice Education Department will monitor credits and eligibility for the BR and MBC designations.  Both awards will be presented at the Annual Workshop.

Look for details in the new Board Member Academy 2006-07 Course Guide, or go to www.njsba.org/training.