NJSBA Expands Training on Superintendent Contracts

Bill Would Remove Public Input From Regulation Process

Accountability Regulations Could Drive Up Costs—NJSBA

NJ Graduation Rate Tops Nation

Supreme Court Rules in ‘Class of One’ Suit

Lawmakers Near Budget Deal

Accountability Act Training: What’s New for 2008-09?

Basic Training for New Board Members

NJSBA Honors Longtime Board Members

Strategic Planning Committee Members Appointed

Calendar

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NJSBA Expands Training
on Superintendent Contracts

NJSBA will expand the scope of its training on superintendent contract development to reach more members, particularly those at a critical stage of the recruitment process.

“School boards must remain acutely aware of their responsibility to address the community’s educational goals and its financial interests when developing employment agreements,” said Marie S. Bilik, NJSBA executive director. She outlined a series of steps that will enhance existing Association efforts in this area and will expand the number of board members who receive the training.

Superintendent Search Service Board members with the most immediate need for training—those currently undergoing a superintendent search—will benefit from recent enhancements to NJSBA’s Superintendent Search Service. As part of the service, NJSBA staff will now meet with the entire board to provide information on superintendent contracts and discuss a board’s responsibilities and legal obligations, including recent requirements that the executive county superintendent approve all new contracts.

Board members will also learn about the process of “costing out” a contract, or determining the cash value of various provisions and benefits.

In the future, board members will have the opportunity to review a sample agreement that will incorporate contract development recommendations from a joint committee of NJSBA and the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.  The recommendations will be “fair and reasonable and meet the expectations of the citizens of New Jersey,” according to the associations’ leaders.

Accountability Act Training NJSBA will also address superintendent contract development through programming for experienced board members required by the 2007 Accountability Act. In the process, NJSBA will reach approximately half of the state’s school board members each year. The Association will continue to address superintendent contracts in its New Board Member Orientation training.

In addition, Workshop 2008 will offer sessions to all board members on superintendent contract development.

New Program in Fall NJSBA is also planning a special, in-depth program later in the fall on development of superintendent contracts. The programming will be aimed at board members and school board attorneys.

“Our goal is to encourage school boards to develop agreements that meet district needs to attract and retain effective educational leaders, while preserving the community’s financial interests,” explained Bilik.