School Governance Primer
A video series and additional resources on public school governance in New Jersey.
Video Series
Ray Pinney, NJSBA’s director of county activities and member engagement, leads a series of insightful conversations. Episode topics include the board/superintendent relationship, the board’s role in personnel, the ins and outs of board meetings and forging relationships with the community.
School Governance Primer: Part 1 – The Board/Superintendent Relationship: Dr. Peter Hughes, superintendent of Haworth School District in Bergen County and a former member of the Kinnelon Board of Education in Morris County; and Kerri Wright, a longtime member of the Chester Board of Education in Morris County and a lawyer specializing in education and employment law who often represents school boards, chat with Ray Pinney, NJSBA’s director of county activities and member engagement, about how boards and superintendents can work together, their respective roles, carrying out the superintendent evaluation and more.
School Governance Primer: Part 2 – The Board’s Role in Personnel: Dr. Peter Hughes, superintendent of Haworth School District in Bergen County and a former member of the Kinnelon Board of Education in Morris County; and Kerri Wright, a longtime member of the Chester Board of Education in Morris County and a lawyer specializing in education and employment law who often represents school boards, chat with Ray Pinney, NJSBA’s director of county activities and member engagement, in the second installment of NJSBA’s School Governance Primer. This time, they focus on what board members can – and cannot do – when it comes to personnel.
School Governance Primer: Part 3 – The Ins and Outs of Board Meetings – Dr. Peter Hughes, superintendent of Haworth School District in Bergen County and a former member of the Kinnelon Board of Education in Morris County; and Kerri Wright, a longtime member of the Chester Board of Education in Morris County and a lawyer specializing in education and employment law who often represents school boards, chat with Ray Pinney, NJSBA’s director of county activities and member engagement, in the third installment of NJSBA’s School Governance Primer. This time, they explore how board meetings work, including the public comment session, the importance of the Open Public Meetings Act, the committee system and more.
School Governance Primer: Part 4 – Building a Relationship with the Community – Dr. Peter Hughes, superintendent of Haworth School District in Bergen County and a former member of the Kinnelon Board of Education in Morris County; and Kerri Wright, a longtime member of the Chester Board of Education in Morris County and a lawyer specializing in education and employment law who often represents school boards, chat with Ray Pinney, NJSBA’s director of county activities and member engagement, in this final installment of NJSBA’s School Governance Primer. In this episode, they highlight the roles and responsibilities of board members when interacting with the public, why it’s important to get community input, provisions of the School Ethics Act and more.
Additional Resources
A Guide to Board of Education Meetings in New Jersey (English and Spanish)
Available in both English and Spanish, A Guide to Board of Education Meetings in New Jersey outlines and delineates the roles and responsibilities of boards of education and superintendents; provides guidance for members of the public who wish to address matters of concern with their boards during public meetings; and explains board meeting procedures. Download the brochure in English or Spanish.
Who Does What in Public School Governance
This concise brochure explains the responsibilities of the board of education and the chief school administrator. It is an excellent resource for new board members, superintendents, and citizens who want a better understanding of school governance. This document is available to download for free to NJSBA members and non-members. Download the brochure in English or Spanish.
13 Things School Board Members Wish People Knew About Them
The realities of being a board of education member in New Jersey that everyone needs to understand. Read the article in School Leader magazine.
About NJSBA
Learn more about the New Jersey School Boards Association, including who we are and what we do.