Dear NJSBA Member,

Our Association is moving closer to  a milestone—the construction of a new headquarters building and conference center. We anticipate that in the near future we will complete the purchase of land in central New Jersey.

Last March, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of land for construction of a new headquarters. As reported previously in School Board Notes, its decision followed months of research by an 8-member ad hoc Facilities Committee. That study examined the capacity, structural conditions and major systems of our current headquarters and its three remote field locations.

Cost Effective The facilities committee determined that renovations necessary to keep our existing headquarters in operation would not be a cost-effective use of Association funds and that our current locations could not meet the Association’s future membership service needs.  (Please visit our special Web page for more information about the decision to construct a new facility).

Field Offices NJSBA is committed to maintaining the high-quality direct services now available through our Field Service Department. Still to be determined is whether or not the Association will close its three field offices and combine all staff at one central location. The Board of Directors has reserved that decision. Whatever the final outcome, let me assure you that direct services to school boards will grow, not diminish.

Money for Project Funding for land purchase and construction will come from a capital reserve account authorized by the Board of Directors in September 2005 and built through sound, efficient financial practices. The board’s discussion has focused on completing the new headquarters without relying on changes in the dues structure.

Construction Oversight With land purchase imminent, the Board of Directors on Sept. 15 approved the appointment of a 10-member Construction Review Task Force. This panel will approve building design, contracts and cost estimates. At each stage through construction, the task force will monitor progress and report to the board.

The panel is chaired by Raymond Wiss, a member of the Northern Valley Regional Board of Education and Bergen County’s representative to the NJSBA Board of Directors.

Conference Center Located near major highways, our new headquarters will give members a level of access to NJSBA’s services and resources not possible at our present sites. Notably, the new facility will include a training center that will host nearly every NJSBA program and meeting that must now take place at costly conference centers and hotels. The training center will also provide an additional revenue source through rentals to outside organizations.

I am confident that you will share my enthusiasm as we enter an exciting stage in our Association’s history.

Sincerely,

Kevin E. Ciak
President