Workshop: Changing to meet the times

A message from NJSBA’s Executive Director

Dear NJSBA Member,

Several local school boards have written to express concern about NJSBA’s recent decision to move Annual Workshop from Atlantic City after 57 years.

There is not a doubt in my mind that the vast majority of members would choose Atlantic City as the preferred site for Workshop 2010.  However, certain economic realities will affect school districts next year. We have to plan accordingly.

The state’s budget deficit will likely impact school district revenues and bring with it a change in state financial policy. Given these constraints, it is unlikely that local school boards will be able to pay for accommodations in Atlantic City casino hotels. It’s also unlikely that citizens will look kindly on such expenditures.

Workshop training is important. In light of economic realities, we need to conduct an event that does not require overnight accommodations. The location in central New Jersey would provide that option for most of our members. For those who need to stay overnight, the new venue will offer hotel rooms at a lower cost than Atlantic City.

In December, Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy issued a waiver authorizing school districts to reimburse board members for overnight accommodations at Workshop 2010.  But the authorization to reimburse – and the financial capability to reimburse – are two separate things.  For many boards, that capability will not exist in the new financial atmosphere.

As in previous years, the commissioner’s waiver was based on the need for local school board members to receive the high quality training that is available at Workshop.  We plan to provide the same valuable training opportunities at this year’s conference. In addition, NJSBA will issue an electronic questionnaire shortly to determine the type of training and other programming our members want to see at Workshop 2010.

NJSBA aims to be responsive to our members’ needs. We also plan to form an advisory panel of our members and those of Workshop’s co-sponsors to help us design the event. NJSBA has not permanently shut the door on Atlantic City.  We are leaving open the possibility of holding future years’ Workshops in the city.

Let me assure you that those future decisions will be based on our members’ training needs and the financial climate in which they must operate.

Sincerely,
Marie S. Bilik
Executive Director

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