QSAC: On Jan. 25, Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed into law A-3676/S-2136, legislation that amends the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, the state’s new student monitoring system. The bill contains NJSBA-sought amendments that eliminated provisions that would have given state-appointed “highly skilled professionals” sole authority to hire and fire employees in a district under full or partial state control.

Gang Education: The governor also approved A-1650/S-1749, which require boards of education to provide elementary school students with instruction in gang violence prevention.

Mandated Holidays: The governor issued a conditional veto of A-17/S-9, which would eliminate certain mandatory holiday observances in the schools.

Corzine said he agrees with the concept of removing mandatory observances. However, he is concerned with including Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day among the list of those holidays left to local discretion.