Michael R. McClure, a 19-year veteran of the Maple Shade Board of Education, was elected president of the New Jersey School Boards Association on May 18 during the organization’s Delegate Assembly at Mercer County Community College.
McClure has just completed four years of service as the Association’s vice president for finance. He will serve a two-year term as NJSBA president, a volunteer position.
The current president of the Maple Shade school board, McClure is a former president and vice president of the Burlington County School Boards Association and served on the NJSBA Board of Directors for ten years. He has earned the designations of Certified Board Leader, Master Board Member and Certified Board Member through NJSBA’s Board Member of Academy, which recognizes commitment to professional development and training.
In his acceptance speech, McClure told the delegates he would continue NJSBA’s progress in serving local boards of education, the Association’s sound financial practices, and its superior board member training. As president, he said he will guide the Association’s executive team in advocating for state support for school boards across New Jersey.
McClure is a trustee of the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey, a non-profit organization founded by NJSBA to advance the governance of New Jersey’s public schools, through training and research.
In addition, he has served as president of his community’s recreation board for more than 15 years, and helped start and operate a youth wrestling program in Maple Shade Township.
McClure succeeds Daniel Sinclair of the Lakeland Regional Board of Education, Passaic County, who now assumes the role of NJSBA Immediate Past President.
The NJSBA delegates also elected the following local school boards members to Officer positions: Vice President for County Activities – Bruce R. Young, Carlstadt-East Rutherford Board of Education, Bergen County; Vice President for Finance – Tammeisha D. Smith, Knowlton Township, Warren County; and Vice President for Legislation/Resolutions – Karen Cortellino, M.D., Montville Township, Morris County.
All candidates were elected the acclamation of the 180 delegates in attendance.
School Funding Resolution In other business, the delegates voted not to adopt additions to existing NJSBA policy on school funding and state aid to school districts. The proposal consisted of language recommended by the Association’s Resolutions Subcommittee and would have added the following provisions to NJSBA policy:
- The NJSBA believes in a fair, equitable and adequate allotment of state aid based upon the most recent enrollment and financial data, including adjustments to ensure full funding under the statutory formula, but that no school district and no student should experience hardship as a result of reductions or other adjustments in state funding.
- The NJSBA further believes that the state’s school funding formula should address the financial needs of school districts in which exceptional circumstances involving the community’s tax base prevent the calculation of a fair and accurate local contribution to the education program.
The Subcommittee’s recommendation was substitute wording for language contained in a resolution submitted by the Weymouth Township Board of Education in Atlantic County. At the meeting, the Weymouth delegate moved the resolution with the subcommittee’s substitute language.
After discussion, the delegates soundly rejected the proposal by a margin of 63% to 37%. Speakers in opposition expressed concern that the proposed policy would contradict provisions of school funding law, enacted last year, which will realign state aid allotments.
Bylaws Changes The delegates approved amendments to the NJSBA bylaws that would reduce the deadline for receipt of resolutions for the Delegate Assembly from 75 to 65 days in advance of the meeting; require advance notice of proposals to reinstate a resolution removed from the agenda by the Resolutions Subcommittee; and change the number of members on certain NJSBA committees. To see the full report on the bylaws changes, click here.
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The New Jersey School Boards Association is a federation of the state’s local boards of education and includes the majority of New Jersey’s charter schools as associate members. NJSBA provides training, advocacy and support to advance public education and promote the achievement of all students through effective governance.