Welcome to School Board Notes

January 6, 2010 • Vol. XXXII • No. 19

State Prepares for Race to the Top Bill Would Affect NJSBA Membership NJDOE Readopts Accountability Regulations Gov. Proclaims January 2010 ‘School Board Recognition Month’ Excess Surplus Will Offset State Aid Cuts – Corzine Bills on Diploma Mills, School Choice Advance Harassment and Bullying Policy Updated Open Public Meetings Act Notice- Executive Committee Meeting Obituary: Mario J. Gangi, Former NJSBA President NJSBA Addresses Possible Pension Plan Changes NJSBA Invites Members To Connect Online Calendar Click here for a pdf version of this issue of School Board Notes	State Prepares for Race to the Top With a Jan. 19 deadline for the first round of federal Race to the Top (RTTT) grant applications looming, the state Department of Education held information sessions this week on the development of New Jersey’s application.

	Bill Would Affect NJSBA Membership Legislation introduced Nov. 30 would eliminate unified membership in NJSBA.

	NJDOE Readopts Accountability Regulations The New Jersey Department of Education readopted the accountability regulations, effective Nov. 25.

	Gov. Proclaims January 2010 ‘School Board Recognition Month’ Noting the hard work and dedication of New Jersey’s local board of education members, Gov. Jon S. Corzine has proclaimed January 2010 as School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey.

	Excess Surplus Will Offset State Aid Cuts – Corzine Current-year state aid to public school districts would be cut by $260 million under Gov. Corzine’s plan to address the state’s $924 million deficit for 2009-2010.

	Bills on Diploma Mills, School Choice Advance The Assembly Education Committee on Jan. 4 passed two bills that pertain to school districts that provide employees with tuition assistance or additional compensation when they take courses, acquire academic credits or complete a degree program.

	Harassment and Bullying Policy Updated NJSBA’s Legal and Policy Services department has revised its policy on harassment, intimidation and bullying, Policy 5131 in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.

	Open Public Meetings Act Notice- Executive Committee Meeting In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, notice is hereby provided of a meeting of the New Jersey School Boards Association’s Executive Committee. Obituary: Mario J. Gangi, Former NJSBA President Mario J. Gangi, a member of the Cresskill School Board for 29 years, and a former president of the New Jersey School Boards Association from 1990-1992, died on Jan. 2.

	NJSBA Addresses Possible Pension Plan Changes An article in the Dec. 29 editions of the Bergen Record and the Star-Ledger addressed proposed legislation that would prohibit future employees of three associations, including NJSBA, from participating in the Public Employees Retirement System.

	NJSBA Invites Members To Connect Online As new technology such as social media and mobile messaging transforms how people communicate, the New Jersey School Boards Association has embraced new tools that its members can use to stay informed of important issues and communicate with other school board members statewide.

	Calendar

	Training Programs and Resources The 37th Annual Federal Relations Network Conference NJSBA's Winter Public Relations Forum Browse NJSBA’s Bookstore for the latest publications on school governance Board Member Academy Programs Beautiful, affordable walnut and brass plaques help say "thank you" for a job well done!

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