The meeting of NJSBA’s Board of Directors took place on Friday, Feb. 5, at NJSBA headquarters in Trenton. The agenda included the following:

  • Recognized the following new board of director alternates: Brandon Pugh, representing Burlington County (present); and Robert Laverty, Mercer County (not present).
  • Recognized the following retiring board of directors members: Dr. John Kulick, member, Hunterdon County (not present); Dr. Michael Lee, member, Burlington County (not present), and Mr. Frank Pannucci, Jr., member, Ocean County (present).
  • Approved the NJSBA 2014-2015 Audit Report.
  • Approved the following consent agenda items: NJSBA 2016-2017 Advocacy Agenda/Action Plan; Open session minutes of November 20, 2015 Board of Directors meeting, Legislative Committee appointments (as amended), Resolutions Subcommittee appointments (as amended); and first reading of the Governance and Operations Policy numbers 4010, 4111, 4111.1 and 4111.3 – personnel policies
  • Received an update on activities from the NJSBA president, vice president for finance and immediate past president:
    • President –Attended the State Board of Education meeting in January to receive, along with Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director, a resolution declaring January 2016 as School Board Recognition Month. During the presentation Mark Biedron, the State Board president, praised the work of the New Jersey School Boards Association, calling it “probably the finest school boards association in the country.”
    • VP for Finance – Complimented the NJSBA finance department on a “clean audit.” Reported that the Education Leadership Foundation of New Jersey (ELFNJ) finances are very healthy.
    • Immediate Past President – The N.J. Standards Review Committee released its findings. The committee focused on clarifying language of the current standards. What is reflected now should be a lot cleaner and make more sense. Immediate Past President John Bulina and Dominick Miletta, NJSBA Board of Director alternate for Salem County and member of the Pittsgrove Board of Education, both sat on the committee. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) will conduct regional forums on the revised New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
  • Received an update from the executive director:
    • Based on current projections, attendance at county meetings has increased by 86 percent since 2012, as a result of NJSBA’s focus on reinvigorating the county school boards associations.
    • On Jan. 16, NJSBA held a combined meeting with the Board of Directors, Legislative Committee, Urban Boards Committee and the County Association Leadership to discuss the NJSBA 2016-2017 Legislative Advocacy Agenda;
    • The Association has increased its relevancy to state leaders as evidenced by several pieces of NJSBA-backed legislation being passed.
    • The New Jersey Commissioner of Education appointed Irene LeFebvre as the NJSBA representative on the state’s Teacher Leader Endorsement Advisory Board.  She serves on the NJSBA Board of Directors, is chair of the Special Education Committee and sits on the Boonton Town Board of Education.
    • In November, the NJSBA Board of Directors previewed the new online Governance Training. This project, which will result in lively, informative and more interactive online programming for the Governance I, II and III courses, will roll out this spring.
    • The January New Board Member Orientation weekend received excellent evaluations. As with the upcoming March orientation weekend, registration for the January program was at capacity. The weekend orientation programs are offered at no charge to local school districts. Costs are fully covered through contributions secured by the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey.
    • NJSBA’s Technology Conference, scheduled for March 3, will feature Travis Allen, the CEO of the iSchool Initiative and a keynote presenter at Workshop 2015.
    • NJSBA recently issued the New Jersey Sustainable Schools Project Guidebook.  This publication resulted from a three-year research project on the benefits of greening existing school buildings.  NJSBA staff spearheaded the study.
    • NJSBA is continuing to increase partnerships with other education associations, the state education department; municipalities, colleges and universities; and the U.S. Army in areas ranging from STEAM education to pension reform.
    • A federal program designed to promote digital learning, Future Ready Schools-New Jersey, will be addressed by Dr. Feinsod at the State Board of Education’s March meeting. The NJDOE has agreed to partner with NJSBA on this exciting venture.
    • The Education Leadership Foundation of New Jersey recently received a $5,000 grant from Verizon. In addition, the U.S. Army has agreed to sponsor the entire iSTEAM Command Center at Workshop, which represents a contribution of $20,000.
  • The advocacy update included a report on the progress of  legislation establishing an Officer Class 3 designation, which would give school districts the option of  hiring police officers, who receive training similar to School Resource Officers.
  • The interactive discussion focused on ways to increase interest in school board candidacy.
  • Information items included Association financials, written officers’ reports, written president’s report, legal case summary and schedule of the NJSBA holidays for July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
Don Webster Jr., NJSBA president (at left), with Frank Pannucci, Jr., who retired as an NJSBA Board of Directors member representing Ocean County
Don Webster Jr., NJSBA president (at left), with Frank Pannucci, Jr., who retired as an NJSBA Board of Directors member representing Ocean County
Brandon Pugh (at left) joined the NJSBA Board of Directors as an alternate representing Burlington County.
Brandon Pugh (at left) joined the NJSBA Board of Directors as an alternate representing Burlington County.