The New Jersey State Board of Education on Jan.4 marked School Board Recognition Month by approving a resolution that commends the hard work and dedication of the state’s approximately 5,000 local school board members and charter school trustees.

New Jersey’s locally elected and appointed boards of education play a vital role in ensuring that their local school districts meet state standards and adhere to all code provisions, with the goal of 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 resolution states. “New Jersey’s 5,000 non-partisan local board of education members and charter school trustees are public servants who dedicate their time, without pay or benefit, to the oversight of school district operations, sound financial practices, comprehensive policies, curriculum, staffing, and the well-being and academic achievement of all students in the district.”  The State Board resolution also paid tribute to New Jersey’s national status as a leader in student achievement.

 “School Board Recognition Month recognizes the important contributions that local board members make to the academic success of the state’s schoolchildren,” said NJSBA President Don Webster Jr., who accepted the resolution at the State Board’s regular monthly meeting.  “It also presents an opportunity to educate New Jersey’s citizens about the crucial role that school boards play in the governance of our public schools.”

In his remarks at the State Board meeting, Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director, noted that “local board members exemplify citizenship at its highest level through their volunteer efforts to ensure that all children receive a quality education in their respective communities.”

Board of Education Recognition Month Resources NJSBA has created an online toolkit to help communities celebrate School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey. The kit contains sample resolutions, news releases, certificates of appreciation and other information that school boards, parent-teacher organizations and municipal governing bodies can use to recognize the dedication of their board of education members.

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. 2017 marks the 16th year that School Board Recognition Month has been celebrated in New Jersey.

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Left to right: Mark Biedron, State Board of Education president; Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director; Don Webster Jr., NJSBA president; and Kimberley Harrington, Acting Commissioner of Education.