Education Community Asks Legislature to ‘Put Children First!’
Representatives of New Jersey’s education community stood shoulder to shoulder last week in Trenton to call on the state Legislature to Put Children First! and give education the highest priority during its deliberations over the proposed 2003-04 state budget. Get the full story and view pictures.
NJSBA Calls for Criminal Background Checks of Interns, Student Teachers

Delegates to the New Jersey School Boards Association Saturday backed a measure calling for FBI and state criminal background checks to be required for student teachers and interns. Get the full story.
Applications Received for Vice President of County Activities
Special Election to be Held July 19
May 8 was the deadline for candidates to submit applications to NJSBA’s Nominating Committee for the office of vice president for county activities. A special meeting of the Delegate Assembly will take place on July 19 to conduct an election to fill the unexpired term for this position. Get the full story.
NJSBA Urban Boards Committee Elects New Officers
Officers of the NJSBA Urban Boards Committee were recently elected at a meeting held in Trenton. The new officers, chairperson Beverly Holland from Neptune Township (center), and vice chairperson Judith Alberti (left) from the Gloucester City Board of Education, are being sworn in by Anne M. Thomas, NJSBA’s vice president for legislation and resolutions. Get the full story.
School Board Recognition 2002 logo Master Board Members Honored

Nineteen school board members who earned their Master Board Member designation through the NJSBA Board Member Academy Program were honored at the NJSBA Board of Directors meeting in East Windsor on May 16. Get the full story and view pictures.
Librera Unveils Program for Trained Reading Coaches to Bring Expertise Back to Their Home Districts
Education Commissioner William L. Librera announced last week an innovation in New Jersey’s Reading Coach program that will enable these highly trained reading coaches to return to their home districts to continue coaching their peers. The purpose of the reading coaches is to help teachers enhance and refine their skills in teaching young children to become proficient in reading and writing. Get the full story.
NJSBA Board of Directors Highlights
A regular meeting of NJSBA’s Board of Directors took place on May 16 in East Windsor. Get the full story.
Training Programs and Resources
 Featured in This Week's Edition

New Board Member Orientation Conferences
special dates icon

May 15—Legislative Action
S-906/A-624 (L. Connors, McNamara/Arnone, Cruz-Perez)—Provides temporary local budget cap exceptions and school district budget cap adjustments for certain insurance costs, security and public safety costs. NJSBA supported this legislation, which passed the Assembly and was sent to the governor. Get the full story.
Fund the Future Rally—
May 31
Board members, administrators, educators and concerned citizens are encouraged to attend an Uproar for Fairness rally on May 31 at noon at the State House in Trenton. The rally is sponsored by the Fairness Alliance, a statewide coalition of over 100 community, religious and service organizations, including NJSBA. Its goal is consistent with NJSBA policies supporting full funding of CEIFA and using a progressive tax to relieve the pressure on local property taxes. Get the full story.
MAY 28
Spring Dinner (Cumberland), Centerton Country Club, Centerton, 6 p.m.
Spring Dinner (Somerset), DoubleTree Hotel, Somerset, 6:30 p.m.
MAY 29
Indicates an NJSBA Meeting NJSBA Special Education Committee Meeting, NJSBA Headquarters, Trenton, 6:30 p.m.
Spring Dinner (Bergen), The Clinton Inn, Tenafly, 6 p.m.
Spring Dinner (Camden), Venice Plaza, Berlin, 6 p.m.
Spring Dinner (Monmouth), Water’s Edge, Sea Bright, 6 p.m.
MAY 30
Spring Dinner (Gloucester), Masso’s Columbus Manor, Williamstown, 6 p.m.
MAY 31
Indicates an NJSBA Meeting NJSBA Legislative Committee Meeting, Ramada Inn & National Conference Center, East Windsor, 8:30 a.m.
Indicates an NJSBA Meeting NJSBA Dues Reassessment Committee Meeting, NJSBA Headquarters, Trenton, 9 a.m.
For more information, visit county school boards association activities.
MAY 12
State Board Highlights—all e-mail addresses.
State Legislative Report—all e-mail addresses.
MAY 13
2003 Annual School Communications Competition—all e-mail addresses.
MAY 15
School Board Notes—all e-mail addresses and mailing addresses.