Commissioner Clarifies Travel Regulations for Schools

Commissioner Clarifies Travel
Regulations for Schools

Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy recently provided clarification of the School District Accountability Act’s requirement that school board members and school district employees follow the travel and meal regulations set by the New Jersey Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The commissioner’s guidance, in the form of a March 17 memo, stemmed from the OMB’s prohibition on reimbursement for lodging and meals for overnight travel within the state, and a ban on reimbursement of meals for in-state travel. While the OMB’s prohibitions deal with state employees, the School District Accountability Act, enacted last year, applies the OMB travel regulations to school employees and school board members.

Waivers Authorized The OMB recently authorized the education commissioner to grant waivers for overnight travel for school board members and employees who attend in-state conferences, pursuant to regulations issued by the state Department of Education. Until the education commissioner issues the regulations, school board members and employees may attend in-state conferences and receive reimbursement for lodging and meal costs if a contract with the conference sponsor was executed before March 17 and the conference will take place before Sept. 1, 2008. All conferences after Sept. 1, 2008 will require a commissioner waiver.

Reimbursement for overnight travel may exceed the federal daily rates if the hotel is the site of the convention or conference.

If the conference is not in a hotel, such as a conference at the Atlantic City Convention Center, lodging may not exceed the federal per diem rate. NJSBA has already secured Workshop 2008 room rates that are below the per diem rate from a number of major Atlantic City hotels—and the majority of hotels are expected to follow suit.

Other clarifications included:

Travel to conferences, conventions and symposiums require prior board approval. If board approval cannot be obtained before a travel event, prior approval of the superintendent may be obtained, and the request must include justification of an emergency.
Board meetings are limited to light meals and refreshments for board members not to exceed $10 per person. Light meals may also be served to employees required to attend the meeting and whose meeting preparation requires them to remain in district.
Lunch for training sessions and retreats may be authorized up to $7 per person when board members or employees must remain at a training site other than the school district. Refreshments for breaks may be provided.
No public school funds may be spent for board members or staff to attend retirement or employee recognition dinners.

NJSBA has posted online the entire memo from the commissioner.