A+ Ideas, Programs, and Practices

Through the process of collaboration, the North Brunswick Township Board of Education and the North Brunswick Township Education Association created a collective bargaining agreement that allowed the district to save nearly $3 million in health care premiums. The district was able to reduce health care contributions for their employees, give raises that exceeded state and … Continued

In the summer of 2015, a large group of teachers, administrators and a board member participated in team-building activities, in development of a mission statement and other documents, and in the establishment of district-wide committees as the first formal collaborative effort. In the subsequent three years, with support from the Rutgers University School of Labor … Continued

When members of the public attend a Berkeley Heights Board of Education meeting, it is clear how the board operates, who the board members are, and how members of the public can communicate with their board. All of that information is spelled out in a printed brochure, available to members of the public to pick … Continued

Improving reading results in kindergarten and first grade is a desired goal for any school district. In Lumberton, the district saw success through a school board recognition program. The model included the use of a district goal, a board of education recognition program, an NJEA Pride Grant, a Reading Recovery grant and data analysis. The … Continued

Montgomery Township’s district administrators and the Montgomery Township Education Association, with support from the Rutgers University School of Labor and Management, have formed a District Leadership Team. The team was created to foster a collaborative working relationship between administrators and staff across all aspects of the district, to positively impact student academic achievement and social … Continued

School board members and administrators share a common bond – the children and communities they serve. The Washington Township Schools’ Leadership Team is committed to working together to ensure that board members and administrators maintain an acute focus on the district’s 2,300 children. By celebrating students and their achievements during monthly Board of Education meetings, … Continued

The Harding Township school board has made a conscious effort to focus its attention on developing policy that can benefit the entire PreK-8 district. The board understands that its primary role is to make sound decisions in the best interest of children. And to that end, it believes that these decisions must be fundamentally rooted … Continued

The Hillsborough Public Schools meet the needs of township families, and add revenue to the school district, through the Children at Play (CAP) Program. CAP is a tuition-based, thematic play-based kindergarten extension program, which provides children with a full school day beyond the half-day kindergarten program. For $609 per month, parents may enroll their child … Continued

Reading and studying books is not an activity limited to students in the Washington Township School District in Morris County. School board members there are engaged in a book study, too. Two years ago, the board began the book study program by reading, The School Board Fieldbook: Leading With Vision. For 2015, the board selected … Continued

The Irvington School District is laying the groundwork for future school leadership with an innovative training program that lets staff members see what it feels like to be principal. The Aspiring Administrators program provides training to staff members who possess Provisional Principal Certification. Participants receive specialized training in the principal’s areas of responsibility, such as … Continued