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November 30, 2006 • Vol. XXX • No. 15

Board of Directors Highlights

The regular meeting of NJSBA’s Board of Directors took place on Friday, Nov. 17, 2006 in East Windsor.  Action taken at the Board of Directors meeting included the following:

  • Approved Open Session Minutes of the Oct. 13, 2006 Board of Directors meeting.
  • Approved Closed Session Minutes of the Oct. 13, 2006 Board of Directors meeting.
  • Approved on 2nd Reading and Adopted Governance and Operations Policy File Code 4131.3, Tuition Reimbursement.
  • Approved on 2nd Reading and Adopted Governance and Operations Policy File Code 1004, Membership on Joint Committees and Education-Related Organizations.
  • Approved 1st Reading of Governance and Operations Policy File Code 4155, Attendance.
  • Introduced and waived 2nd reading to approve waiver of Governance and Operations Policy File Code 3323, Soliciting Prices (Bids and Quotations) for the building project.
  • Approved Executive Director’s Recommendations for Relocation of Field Offices.
  1. Relocate Central Field Office staff to headquarters by July 1, 2007.

  2. Relocate Southern Field Office staff to headquarters by July 1, 2008.

  3. Retain the Northern Office in West Caldwell until the new headquarters facility has been in operation for a full budget cycle. A final decision about continuing the operation of the Northern Office would take place during the January 2009 discussion of the projected needs of the Association.
  • Heard report from Construction Review Committee.
  • Heard reports from NJSBA Vice Presidents for County Activities, Finance, and Legislation/Resolutions.
  • Received reports from NJSBA’s President and Executive Director.
  • Reviewed and approved NJSBA plan for district-level teams to meet with lawmakers to discuss special sessions issues.
  • Debriefed on Workshop 2006.
  • Tabled until January 2007 discussion of rescheduling Board of Directors meetings to Saturdays.

NJSBA Revises Model Policy on Absence

NJSBA has amended the “Absences and Excuses” policy, No. 5113, in its Critical Policy Reference Manual to reflect changes made by the New Jersey Department of Education on Oct. 16.

The Association considers actions, such as calling parents and keeping records of absences, to be procedure, rather than policy. However, new code (NJAC 6A:16-7.8) directs school districts to take specific action in response to student absences. Therefore, new language was added to the NJSBA model policy.

Because the state Department of Education might make additional changes to the regulations, NJSBA is advising its members of the minor policy change through this School Board Notes article, rather than by adding the 77 pages of new regulations to the Critical Policy Reference Manual.

To access the Critical Policy Reference Manual and the amended “Absences and Excuses” policy (5113) and legal references, visit www.njsba.org/policy. For information, contact David Bosted at (609) 695-5267.

NJSBA Needs You

Do you want to help shape NJSBA’s legislative agenda and advocacy action plan? 

If so, there are several openings left on NJSBA’s Legislative Committee for board members who want to volunteer their time to communicate with state and federal lawmakers about critical issues to New Jersey’s school districts. 

The committee meets approximately six times a year to review and to adopt

positions on state legislative proposals affecting boards of education. The

committee also is responsible for promoting grassroots advocacy networks on local, county and state levels. 

Committee members are an important part of these networks and are often called upon to testify at hearings before the Legislature and the New Jersey Board of Education. 

NJSBA needs your support more than ever as it tackles tough issues like school regionalization, property tax reform, administrative cost caps, and unfunded mandates.

Openings are available in the following areas: 

Members are needed in District 9 – parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean counties, District 10- parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Alternate members are needed in  District 9 – parts of Atlantic and Ocean counties, District 10 – parts of Ocean and Monmouth counties, District 15 – Mercer County, District 22 – Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties, District 27 – Essex County, District 31 – Hudson County, District 34 – Essex and Passaic counties. District 38 – parts of Bergen county.

Those interested in serving on NJSBA’s Legislative Committee, or for further information, contact Katy Hague at (609) 278-5215.

At the Nov. 17 Board of Directors meeting, members listen intently to a discussion of NJSBA’s plan of action to address the recommendations of the Legislature’s Special Session on Property Tax Reform. In front row are (left to right) Marida Tindall, Cumberland County; Allen Rude, Sussex County; and Giselda Mintz, Sussex alternate.