NJSBA Lobbyist Testifies
Before Senate Ed Committee

NJSBA lobbyist Barbara Horl testified before the Senate Education Committee on Monday. The session was the first meeting of the re-constituted Senate Education Committee since the new legislative session began.

Horl summarized the Association’s mission, goals and services to the state’s school board members.

She also spoke about school board members’ challenges. “Our members are most concerned with the state budget picture for the current and upcoming year,” said Horl.

Recent news about the State’s fiscal 2010 revenue shortfall and proposed solutions that impact current year operating surplus funds have created uncertainty among local board members about how they can continue to deliver the current level of educational services. “And that’s before the legislature begins to deal with the even more pressing issue of the state’s FY 2011 budget with its projected shortfall of a staggering $8 billion to $10 billion,” she said.

Association’s Legislative Goals Horl also introduced NJSBA’s legislative advocacy agenda to the lawmakers, and noted that NJSBA was gratified to learn that the Education Transition Team had recommended a moratorium on new accountability regulations adopted outside the usual process, as well as the temporary suspension of NJQSAC so that it might be streamlined to better monitor school performance.

Collective Bargaining Horl addressed issues pertaining to employee contracts and collective bargaining. “Changes in labor law over the last 15 years have negatively impacted boards’ ability to effectively negotiate,” she said, noting that the removal of the “last best offer” from a board’s tool kit has led to protracted rounds of negotiations, mediation and potentially costly fact finding and super-conciliation.

Horl also stressed that board members are eager to collaborate with the lawmakers. “Our members want to work with you in partnership, because you are both involved in the same cause: the betterment of New Jersey, its children, citizens and communities,” she said.

Barbara Horl, NJSBA lobbyist, speaks with New Jersey Network News reporter Jerry Henry after Horl’s testimony on Monday.

Copyright © 2010 New Jersey School Boards Association. All rights reserved.