At its Jan. 8 monthly meeting, the New Jersey State Board of Education marked School Board Recognition Month by approving a resolution that commends the hard work and dedication of the state’s nearly 5,000 local school board members.
“New Jersey’s locally elected and appointed boards of education play a vital role in … providing an outstanding education to prepare all students for college and the workplace and to enable them to compete in a global economy,” the State Board’s resolution states. “The efforts of local boards of education, in conjunction with state education officials and local educators, have built a foundation of success that has led to New Jersey’s status as a leader in student achievement, as evidenced by the National Assessment of Educational Progress scores.”
NJSBA officials expressed their appreciation for the recognition.
“School Board Recognition Month provides the opportunity to educate New Jersey’s citizens about the essential role that school boards play in the governance of our public schools,” said Mike McClure, NJSBA president, who accepted the resolution. “It also represents a way to thank our local school board members who dedicate an enormous amount of their time and effort to our schools at no compensation.”
NJSBA Executive Director Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod said board members are vital to the health of our communities.
“Board members are the ultimate citizens in our state because of their volunteer efforts,” Feinsod said. “They are democracy in action.”
New Jersey’s local school boards oversee the operations of the public schools that serve about 1.4 million students, according to the NJSBA, a sponsor of the recognition month in the state.
The National School Boards Association began School Board Recognition Month in the early 1990s, and various states dedicate a month to recognize the contributions of local school board members. 2020 marks the 19th year that School Board Recognition Month has been celebrated in New Jersey.
Information to help communities honor the work of their local board members is available through NJSBA’s website at www.njsba.org/recognition.
The proclamation can be accessed here.
