Webinars: Field Services

Join NJSBA Field Service representatives and Dr. Denise Rawding, educator and Morris Plains school board president, as we continue to examine the tools and strategies from the Association’s comprehensive book, NJSBA’s Fundamentals of School Board Membership.

In this session, learn about the critical role that school boards can play in adopting curriculum and how to ensure that teachers and students have the high-quality resources they need. Dr. Rawding will offer her experiences in both roles and discuss the following:

•What is curriculum?
•What are key policies related to curriculum?
•What are the New Jersey’s curriculum requirements?
•What is the school board’s role in the curriculum process?
•What are some recommended board member questions before adopting new curriculum and after it is approved?

Please join us as we share these helpful perspectives that are worthwhile for every board member. Fundamentals of School Board Membership is free and electronically available to NJSBA members through the Association’s password-protected online portal. NJSBA will continue to explore the book through multiple webinars. There are no prerequisites for the courses.

Field Services will cover important concepts in NJSBA’s publication, Fundamentals of School Board Membership. The anthology is about school board membership basics and related topics. This book is so comprehensive that it will be presented in multiple webinars; this one covers the fundamentals of parliamentary procedure. Please join us as we share helpful perspectives on topics of value to every board of education.

One of the board’s primary roles is to ensure that schools have the most highly qualified staff available. Research indicates that the quality of the teacher is the most important in-school factor affecting student achievement. Much of the personnel process takes place with your administrators and the process of hiring and renewing staff is closely regulated by statute and code. But, ultimately the board has to vote on hiring new staff and renewing existing staff. Join us as we discuss the board’s role in the process.

Field Services will bring to life the important concepts in NJSBA’s Fundamentals of School Board Membership, an anthology on the basics of board membership on subjects vital to the local governance of public education. This book is so comprehensive that it will be presented in multiple webinars. In this session:

•“Who Does What in Public School Governance” – a primer on the distinct functions of school boards, board members, and superintendents.
•“10 Tips for New Board Members” – words of wisdom from a board veteran, written by Lee Lusardi Connor, former member/president of the Morris Plains Board of Education.

Please join us as we share these helpful perspectives on topics of value to every board. The publication, Fundamentals of School Board Membership, is currently available electronically to our members at no cost through the password-protected portal of our website.

This program is designed to educate new board members; however, it is equally informative and useful to veterans. Topics include the functions of a board of education; board member responsibilities; services available to you from NJSBA; strategies and tips to survive and thrive in your first year of service; where to go for help when you need it.

It is essential that the conduct of members of local boards of education hold the respect and confidence of the public. Board members must avoid conduct which is in violation of their public trust or which creates a justifiable impression among the public that such trust is being violated.

The Code of Ethics provides specific standards to guide school board members in their conduct. Join us for a discussion on the Code of Ethics - interpreting the 'do's and 'don'ts' to assist you in your governance role.