The Association’s Delegate Assembly will convene virtually on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 9 a.m.
The Delegate Assembly meets twice a year to set policies that determine NJSBA’s position on educational issues and establish bylaws that govern its operations. Each board of education in the state is entitled to one voting delegate.
Delegates will attend the meeting via the Webex video meeting service; delegates will need a computer or smartphone to vote during the meeting.
Delegates, non-voting board members and guests can register here. Registrants will be informed of the logon information closer to the date of the meeting; all participants must be registered by 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 13 to receive the logon information.
There will also be a teleconference broadcast of the meeting available for members of the public. The meeting telephone number and access code will be posted to the NJSBA website here, closer to May 15.
Resolutions Delegates will vote on two resolutions at the May 15 meeting.
- South Orange Maplewood BOE (Essex) The resolution seeks to propose revised policy language to express the belief that it is important to cultivate inclusive, affirming and welcoming school communities that contribute to the overall safety, pedagogy and school climate; and to support and work with board members and school districts to create greater awareness, to ensure continued safety, support, student engagement and implementation of best practices and policies of all students, including those who are perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning, or who are LGBTQ+.
- Special Education Committee Report The Special Education Committee Report proposes new policy language as follows:
The NJSBA believes that trained non-lawyer parent advocates provide a valuable service to parents and students. Mandatory training of non-lawyer parent advocates is essential to protect the interests of parents, students and districts. Training for parent advocates should result in an understanding of the appropriate role of a parent advocate as well as the requirements of federal and state special education laws and regulations; IEP development, and conflict resolution. Training should be ongoing. The state should provide funding for such training.
Delegates who wish to propose amendments to the resolutions should email the suggested changes to Cynthia Jahn, NJSBA general counsel, by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 13.