NJSBA Applauds Mandate Commission Findings, Urges Extension of Study

The New Jersey School Boards Association applauded the findings of the Education Mandate Review Study Commission, released last week by Governor McGreevey. At the same time, it urged continuation of the panel’s work into the complex areas of special education, the public vote on school district budgets, and non-public school transportation.

Established by Governor McGreevey in October, the commission studied the mandates placed on school districts by statute or regulation and made recommendations for changes to, or elimination of, the requirements.

“This commission represents a substantial step by the administration to help school districts control costs,” said Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director. “We urge Governor McGreevey and the state Legislature to support the commission’s recommendations. We also ask the governor to promote further study into the complex areas of state and federal special education requirements, required voter action on proposed school budgets, and mandatory payment of non-public school transportation.

“New Jersey’s local school districts continue to face tough financial times. They need as much flexibility as possible to meet students’ needs and not overburden the taxpayers of their communities. The commission’s recommendations would help us achieve those goals.”

In particular, Lee noted the recommendation to eliminate the requirement that school districts employ a custodian/treasurer of school monies. Eliminating the mandatory post has been a long-term NJSBA goal and, according to the commission, would save school districts statewide $3.6 million a year.

The commission called for reassigning the treasurer’s responsibilities, which consist primarily of co-signing checks and reconciling bank accounts, to the district’s school business administrator.

The NJSBA executive director also cited the commission’s support for NJ SMART, a record-keeping process now under development in the state Department of Education. According to the commission, NJ SMART would collapse many duplicative reporting requirements into one centralized system, reducing paperwork in local school districts and saving local property taxpayers money.

The New Jersey School Boards Association was represented on the commission by Richard Sullivan, associate director for governmental relations and a former local school board member and school business administrator.