Request for Proposals: Shared Services Study

The New Jersey School Boards Association, a governmental entity established by N.J.S.A. 18A:6-45 et seq., is seeking proposals from private consultants and research organizations to conduct a study of the types of shared services among governmental entities, and between governmental entities and the private sector in New Jersey.

The study would address local school district policies and practices; systems for delivering shared services; and the actual cost and savings to local school districts resulting from sharing services. It would also identify best practices

 Based on its findings, the study would make recommendations to promote cost-efficient and effective shared services through changes in state statute and regulation and local school district policies.

The project would conclude with delivery of a completed report to the New Jersey School Boards Association by January 2007 and a Best Practices publication by June 2007.

Interested parties must first contact Cynthia J. Jahn, Esq., NJSBA General Counsel/AED, at (609) 278-5254 or by email at cjahn@njsba.org to receive the formal Request for Proposals.  NJSBA must receive completed, signed proposals no later than 5 p.m. (EDT), June 19, 2006.

The New Jersey School Boards Association expressly reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.  Consultants shall comply with the “Law Against Discrimination,” P.L. 1975, Chapter 127, as amended.

Board of Directors Highlights

A regular meeting of NJSBA’s Board of Directors took place on Friday, May 19, 2006 in Jamesburg.  Action taken at the Board of Directors meeting included the following:

• Presented Board Certification Awards to Burlington Township (Burlington) and Sparta Township (Sussex).
  
    Representatives of the Pine Hill (Camden) and Wayne Township (Passaic) were unable to attend.
  
  
• Presented resolution and plaque to staff member Francine Case, director of field services, who is retiring after 14 years of service.
  
  
• Approved Consent Agenda Item:  minutes of the March 17, 2006 Board of Directors meeting.
  
  
• Approved Roll Call Vote Items: 
  
  

  2006-07 NJSBA budget Bylaws amendments to the November 2006 Delegate Assembly Positions and Policies on Education File Code 3100, “Timelines for School Budget Process,” and File Code 9112, “Timing of School Elections.”

• Heard an advocacy/communications report.
  
  

  Upcoming projects involving data collection/research on shared services and school elections. Assembly Speaker Roberts’ CORE proposal; and legislation to change the date of the annual school election to November and eliminate the vote on proposed budget amounts below cap. (See article, page 1.)

Board Member of the Year—
Deadline Approaching

Do you know an outstanding board member—someone who regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty? If so, nominate him or her for the second annual Board Member of the Year Award. Nominations for this prestigious award will be accepted through June 15.

Sponsored by NJSBA, the award honors an individual board member who has made significant contributions to education; exemplified leadership in the field of education; demonstrated a strong commitment to personal and professional development as a board member; and shown active involvement in school governance at the local, county and state levels. Nominees must have five years experience as a board of education member and must hold NJSBA’s Certificated Board Member designation.

The winner will be recognized at the 2006 Annual Workshop and Exhibition in October. In addition, he or she will be recognized in NJSBA’s publications.