Governor Proclaims January as School Board Recognition Month
Citing local school boards’ contributions to our schools and communities, Governor James E. McGreevey has proclaimed January 2003 as School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey.
“New Jersey’s 4,800 local board of education members devote countless hours, at no pay, to the oversight of school district operations, including finances, curriculum and staffing,” the governor said in his proclamation, which he released last week. Get the full story.
Napoleon-Smith Appointed as New State Board Member
Thelma Napoleon-Smith is sworn in last month as the newest member of the state Board of Education. Her husband, Marcellus Smith, holds the Bible while Mercer County Superior Court Judge Raymond Hayser administers the oath of office.
Thelma Napoleon-Smith, a career educator who worked her way from teacher to principal in the Trenton Public Schools system, was sworn in last month as the newest member of the state Board of Education. Napoleon-Smith was appointed by Governor James E. McGreevey to a term that expires in 2007. Get the full stroy.
Board Member Removed for Ethics Violation
In a recent decision, the commissioner of education agreed with the recommendation of the School Ethics Commission and removed a board member from office who violated the School Ethics Act. The board member violated the act when he fraudulently obtained an advisory opinion from the Commission, misleading them into believing that the situation he posed was his, when it was actually the situation of another board member. Get the full story.
School Board Recognition 2002 logo Boards Learn To Protect Negotiated Gains

All too often, the gains that school management fought to achieve in negotiations are undermined through poor administration of the new labor agreement. In addition, improper

contract administration can lead to unnecessary and expensive grievances and arbitration.Get the full story.
Student Residency Requirements on Web Site
The New Jersey Department of Education has added to its Web site a package of information about student school residency requirements and how to determine eligibility to attend a school. Get the full story.
Administering the Negotiated Agreement In an era when school districts are being required to do more with less, effective contract administration is essential to providing the best possible educational program. Get the full story.
National History A new Web site created by the National Archives and National History Day, Inc. transports students and educators back in time to 100 critical moments in our nation’s history. Original speeches, international treaties, Supreme Court cases, patent designs and Constitutional amendments that changed the course of American history are presented with transcriptions and historical interpretations. The site is part of a federal program called Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics and Service. Click here to visit the Our Documents Web site. Get the full story.
Let Us Spotlight Your Successes
The New Jersey School Boards Association is searching for creative school programs for its 18th annual School Leader Award competition. Get the full story.
Training Programs and Resources
Featured in This Week's Edition
Finding Bucks Outside the Box

Advanced Boardsmanship
JANUARY 14
General Membership Meeting (Salem), Kountry Kitchen, Elmer, 6:30 p.m.
JANUARY 15
General Membership Meeting (Passaic), The Brownstone, Paterson, 6 p.m.
JANUARY 16
Indicates an NJSBA Meeting NJSBA Effective Grievance Handling Program, Ramada Inn, East Windsor, 8:30 a.m.
JANUARY 18
Indicates an NJSBA Meeting NJSBA School Finance Committee Meeting, NJSBA Headquarters, Trenton, 9 a.m.
JANUARY 20
Indicates an NJSBA Meeting Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Observance, NJSBA Closed
Click here for more information on county school boards association activities.