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NJSBA Tells
Lawmakers Budget Threatens Schools and Taxpayers |
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Unless the Legislature modifies budget priorities or raises
additional revenue for education, school programs will suffer and
local property taxes will increase in the coming year, the New
Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) warned a legislative panel
on March 19. Get the full
story. |
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Legislators
Say State Education Aid Must Be Increased |
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Governor McGreevey’s decision to provide only $100 million more
in direct state aid for schools in his proposed 2003-04 state
budget was faulted by education groups, including the New Jersey
School Boards Association (NJSBA), and subjected to some harsh
and surprising criticism from Democratic lawmakers at a March 19
public hearing. Get
the full story. |
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State Aid Payment Moved To Next Fiscal Year |
On March 24, the Legislature’s Joint Budget Oversight Committee
voted 4-2 to transfer $270 million from
Core
Curriculum Content Standard Aid to the Department of Health
and Senior Services to help cover a shortfall of approximately
$300 million in payments due to nursing homes.
Get the full story.
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The Dues Reassessment Ad Hoc Committee has been meeting to
develop a recommendation according to its charge to “equitably
distribute dues among its members. ”If you have comments regarding
the committee’s charge, please communicate to the Committee in
writing by April 3, 2003, to: Jeffrey Fischer, Chair, NJSBA Dues
Reassessment Ad Hoc Committee, 413 W. State Street, P. O. Box 909,
Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 or fax: Jeffrey Fischer, Chair, NJSBA Dues
Reassessment Ad Hoc Committee, 609-695-0413. |
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Public
Testimony Sought for Professional Licensure and Standards |
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The New Jersey State Board of Education will hold a series of
regional public testimony sessions to seek input on the draft
regulations for Professional Licensure and Standards. Since time
and space are limited, if individuals cannot attend one of the
sessions they can still submit their written comments for
consideration. Get
the full story. |
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Ethics
Commission Update |
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The
School Ethics Commission recently issued four complaint
decisions that further clarify school official activity under the
School Ethics Act. In each of these decisions, the Commission
found no probable cause to credit the allegations and dismissed the
complaint. A summary of each decision follows.
Get the full story. |
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March 20th Senate Labor Committee action:
S-1489 (Sweeney) – Concerns use of $242.8 million of
federal Reed Act funds for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and
improved administration of UI benefit payments and employment
services; appropriates $37 million. NJSBA opposed the bill, which
was held. Get the full
story. |
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Two NJ Winners
for the Magna Award |
| The Passaic County
Technical Institute in Wayne and the Trenton Public Schools district
were among 24 winners in the ninth annual Magna Award program.
Sponsored by the
American School Board Journal and their corporate partner,
Sodexho School Services, the award recognizes districts for
outstanding programs that advance student learning and encourage
community involvement.
Get the full story. |
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April 2003
1-30 Keep America Beautiful Month
—This month is set aside each year to celebrate the ongoing efforts
of Americans to improve their environment through educational,
clean-up, and improvement projects.
Click here for more
information. |
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1-30 Mathematics Education Month
—Sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, this
month of local and national events is geared toward promoting the
importance of mathematics in today’s world.
Click here for more
information |
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2 International Children’s Book Day
—Celebrated on Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, this day is meant
to help young children develop an understanding of other cultures
through literature.
Click here for more information. |
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6-12 National Library Week
—Sponsored by the American Library Association, activities during
this week promote the use and support of all types of libraries.
Click here for
more information. |
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6-12 Week of the Young Child
—Sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young
Children, the purpose of the week is to call attention to the needs
of young children and their families and recognize the agencies who
meet those needs.
Click
here for more information. |
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20-26 Public School Volunteer Week
—The third week of April is dedicated to encouraging parents and
citizens to volunteer in their public schools. Project Appleseed,
The National Campaign for Public School Improvement, sponsors this
effort.
Click here for more information. |
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21-27 TV Turnoff Week 2003
—The ninth annual turnoff, sponsored by TV-Turnoff Network,
encourages children and adults to watch less television in order to
promote healthier lives and communities.
Click here
for more information. |
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22 Earth Day U.S.A.
—This annual international observance promotes a healthy environment
and a peaceful, just world.
Click here for
background and information on activities. |
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Last
call for
‘Put Children First!’ petitions
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If you haven’t returned your Put Children First!
petitions and postcards, please place them in the mail today.
The petitions and postcards urge the governor and Legislature to
honor their statutory and constitutional obligation by fully
funding state aid to education. They will be presented to the
governor in April.
Click here for a copy of the petition. Mail original copies
to the New Jersey School Boards Association, Department of
Governmental Relations, P.O. Box 909, Trenton, N.J. 08605. |
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Register Now for
Symposium on Disaster Preparedness The Governor’s Office
on Volunteerism is accepting registrations for the “Let’s Roll!”
symposium on disaster preparedness and response, to be held on
April 4-5, 2003, at the Convention Center in Atlantic City.
Get the full story. |
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The application deadline for the position of Assistant
Director/Policy & Library Resources, has been extended to March
28, 2003.
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APRIL 1 |
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General Membership Mtg. (Camden),
Parkview Elementary School, Stratford, 6:30 p.m. |
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Legislative Dinner (Hudson),
Chandelier Steak House, Bayonne, 6 p.m. |
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APRIL 2 |
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Legislative Dinner (Essex),
Essex Co. Vo-Tech, West Caldwell, 6:30 p.m. |
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APRIL 3 |
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NJSBA Special Education Committee Mtg.,
NJSBA Headquarters, Trenton, 6:30 p.m. |
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Delegate’s Meeting (Cape
May), County Office of Education, Cape May Court House, 7
p.m. |
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Student Recognition Program, (Monmouth),
Colts Neck High School Colts Neck, 6:30 p.m. |
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APRIL 4 |
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Legislative Dinner (Sussex),
Hunterdon & Morris 24th Legislative Districts invited, The Adam
Todd, Andover, 6 p.m. |
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APRIL 5-8 |
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NSBA Annual Conference,
San Francisco, California |
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Click here for more information on county school boards
association activities. |
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