INFORMATION ITEM

MEMORANDUM

Attached are the reports from the following officers:

President

Vice President for County Activities

Vice President for Finance

Vice President for Legislation/Resolutions

To: Officers, Board of Directors Members/Alternates

From: Lawrence S. Feinsod, Ed.D., Executive Director

Date: March 20, 2020

Re: NJSBA President and Officers’ Reports

New Jersey School Boards Association

Board of Directors Meeting

Report of the President

Mike McClure

March 20, 2020

Association Activities

January 22 - Board Member of the Year Luncheon for Judith Bassford. The second

celebration was well attended, and very inspiring to listen to the stories of the past Board

Members of the Year.

January 25 - Non-College Bound Learner at NJSBA Headquarters. Dan Sinclair and Vince

DeLucia facilitated a very good meeting and laid out the ground rules for getting information

out to board members.

January 27 – Health and Wellness Steering Committee. We went over our charge and the

duties of the Committee. All in attendance were very engaged and ready to help.

January 29 - Bergen County Meeting, Glen Rock High School. As always in Bergen County,

the attendance was great. The students preformed skits from their school play. This meeting

covered the mandatory training on Gov. 2, 3 and 4 training.

February 1 - NSBA Equity Symposium and Advocacy Institute in Washington DC. The

Equity conference was very informative and featured excellent speakers. Because of the

impeachment hearings, the meetings on Capitol Hill we met with congressional aids, who

answered our questions, and will take our messages back to the respective legislative offices.

February 5 - Burlington County SBA (mandated training for Gov. 2, 3 and 4).

February 11 – Governor Murphy presentation at Maple Shade High School. Governor

Murphy spoke about the mental health of the children in the state, and the state’s paid

training program for school staff. The Commissioner of Education Dr. Lamont Repollet and

the Health Commissioner were also in attendance.

February 12 - Cape May County SBA, Wildwood High School, Dinner was prepared and

served by the students and it was the best. It is always nice to see a good CTE program

working in our high schools.

February 18 - NJSBA Health and Wellness Committee, NJSBA headquarters. The meeting

was well attended and every one was ready to get to work. Participants were split into small

groups to research different parts of the wellness issues for our students.

February 21- 23 – New Board Member Orientation weekend. NJSBA received many

complements about the weekend. The group leaders were great and did a supper job. Vince

DeLucia injured his knee and was unable to attend so Dr. Feinsod and the training team

stepped up and ran the weekend without any problems. It was a very enthusiastic and

inquisitive group.

February 25 – Executive Committee, NJSBA headquarters. The Executive Director and

Department Directors provided reports on the NJSBA activities.

February 29 – Board of Directors Leadership training. Dr. Michael McGough facilitated the

BOD professional development training. Dr. McGough was amazing. All attendees enjoyed

the training and said it was the best they ever had.

March 5 - Cape May County 8th Grade Dialogue, Upper Township Middle School. There was

very good attendance by parents and students. As always, the eighth graders had very

informative answers to questions that will encourage thinking about some changes that may

be needed in the schools.

March 7 - Legislative Committee, NJSBA headquarters. Karen Cortellino facilitated a very

good meeting. Mike Vrancik gave updates, along with his team, to keep the Committee up to

date.

As you are well aware, Dr Feinsod and I have been in constant communication regarding the spread

of COVID-19 across our state. The staff and Larry have been doing a fantastic job keeping our

Association’s services and activities going for its members. We have had to make some changes in

the way we do things until further notice. Please remember that we are here for any board member

who needs our help or guidance. Please stay strong and supportive of all our schoolchildren

throughout the state during these trying times.

Thank you

Michael McClure, President

New Jersey School Boards Association

Board of Directors Meeting

Report from the Vice President for County Activities

Bruce R Young

March 20, 2020

County Meetings and Training

This year I have attended several county association meetings. I am very impressed with the

training that the members are receiving. I also see many members coming from other counties to

a different county’s meeting.

I attended the new board member weekend training, and again, I was very impressed with the

entire program. The event was very well attended. A big thanks to the group leaders who did a

great job. If you have any questions about the new board member training or any county

activities, please reach out to me.

Association Activities

Jan 25 – Non-college bound learner training

Feb 6 - Monmouth County SBA

February 8 – Leadership training at Montville High School

February 11 - Ocean County SBA

February 20 - Atlantic County SBA

Feb 21 – 22 - New board member orientation

Feb 22 - County Association Leadership

Feb 25 - Executive Committee

Feb 29 - Leadership training at NJSBA

March 2 - Monmouth County 8th Grade Dialogue

Mar 9 - Ocean County 8th Grade Dialogue

Mar 16 - Atlantic County 8th Grade Dialogue

New Jersey School Boards Association

Board of Directors Meeting

Report of the Vice President for Finance

Tammeisha Smith

March 20, 2020

Association Finance

Through December 2019 (six months), NJSBA has had favorable results versus its budget,

primarily due to:

Workshop 2019 – Each major revenue source (registrations, commercial exhibitors, and

sponsorships) exceeded its budget.

Superintendent searches (fee-based service) are outpacing the budgeted level.

Strategic plans (another fee-based service)

Wages & Benefits – several staff vacancies.

Temporary help expenses– underrunning budget through December, but our need for

temporary help has recently increased with several staff vacancies and sicknesses.

New Jersey informed NJSBA that its required, annual employer’s cash contribution to the

Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) would decrease by $67K from the payment made

in 2019.

2020 – 2021 Budget

The proposed budget that is being presented to the Board of Directors in May was

reviewed with the Finance Committee on February 27.

The proposed budget reflects an annual increase (versus the current year’s budget) in

NJSBA’s expenses of 0.5%. Normal inflationary increases are being mitigated by a

decline in the expected employer’s contribution to the pension plan.

We are recommending that there be no dues increase for next year, marking the 11th

consecutive year that, if approved, dues will remain flat.

Association Activities

January 17 - Audit Committee and NJSBA Board of Directors

January 22 - Board Member of the Year luncheon. We honored past award recipients and our

current awardee, Judy Bassford, Clifton Board of Education.

January 23 - Hunterdon County SBA (discussion on School Funding Primer by NJSBA

Governmental Relations Director, Michael Vrancik)

January 25 - Non-College Bound Learning Ambassadors first meeting. The meeting was well

attended by members of the community, who share the same goals for NJ students. Immediate

Past President, Daniel Sinclair, hosted the meeting.

January 30 - Sussex County SBA (discussions on Advocacy, Alyssa’s Law and

Superintendents Evaluations)

January 31 – February 5 - National School Board Association (NSBA) Equity Symposium and

Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C. Equity Symposium provides a forum for school board

members and community leaders to examine and discuss strategies, trends and best practices

around equity and to join school board members from across the country on Capitol Hill to

advocate for students.

February 5 - Middlesex County SBA (Governance II, III and IV trainings)

February 7 - Urban Boards Committee (key discussions on issues our districts are grappling

with and successes in our districts, best practices)

February 8 - Regional Board Leadership Conference (training on equity from the boardroom to

the classroom)

February 11 - Ocean County SBA (discussion on opioids by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office)

February 12 - Union County SBA (The Pitfalls of boards & staff use of social media and

appropriate procedures for holding a board meeting)

February 19 - Somerset County SBA (special education costs, STEAM/sustainability and

improving our effectiveness as board members)

February 20 - Sustainable Practices Working Session (new innovative ways to make NJ schools

more energy efficient and environmentally friendly)

February 21 - stopped in on the new board member training weekend kick off night for the

meet & greet

February 22 - County Association Leadership (CAL) (training on social media and the board

member)

February 22 - New board member training

February 25 - Executive Committee (discussed financials of NJSBA and strategic planning

through 2023)

February 27 - Finance Committee (discussed financials and NJSBA draft budget for 2020-

2021)

February 28 - School Finance Conference (how to make sound, strategic financial decisions

and optimize the return on school district resources)

February 29- - Personal Leadership Training: The Art of You Leading You presented by Dr.

Michael R. McGough

March 2 - Monmouth County SBA 8th Grade Dialogue

March 6 - Urban Boards Committee (training on best practices in meeting the needs of all our

students)

March 7 - Legislative Committee

New Jersey School Boards Association

Board of Directors Meeting

Report of the Vice President for Legislation/Resolutions

Karen Cortellino, M.D.

March 20, 2020

Legislative Update

Governor’s Budget Proposal includes:

$336 million in new formula aid

$83 million for expanded early childhood (pre-k) programs

No new funding for extraordinary special education

Follows the phase-out schedule in S-2 for “over-aided” districts

Legislative Activity

A compromise between the Senate President and the NJEA was announced on March 9:

o This plan will replace most other plans currently offered to teachers and

provide comprehensive coverage for medical and pharmacy benefits with

reasonable member copayments for physician care and 100 percent coverage

for the use of in-network providers.

o Estimated savings of more than $1 Billion in annual savings for local

taxpayers ($670 million) and educators ($403 million).

o NJSBA awaits the introduction of the formal legislation providing the details

of this major health benefits proposal.

Assembly has again passed legislation requiring local districts to establish a fund to

accept donations toward school lunch account shortfalls. A-1632 (Lampitt) now heads to

the Senate for consideration.

S- 2027/A-3813 a bill that permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum

180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances has been introduced in

response to concerns about the impact of Covid-19.

S-277 (Kean) - "Emma's Law"; a bill that requires school buses that transport students

with special needs to be equipped with, a video camera on the interior of the school bus

to monitor student safety, a global positioning system that provides information about the

location and speed of each school bus in real time, and two-way communications

equipment has been introduced and is moving through the legislative hearing process.

Budget hearing process has begun with public hearings scheduled for March 10 and 12

(Senate) and March 18 and 15 (Assembly)

Association Activities:

January 17 - Board of Directors (Received an update on NJSBA goals and initiatives including

mental health services, educational equity, association’s management system (Cobalt),

professional development (NJSBA online university-Rutgers U), 2020 Workshop, Futures

Research Committee, Board Of Directors professional development on February 29 (Personal

Leadership: The Art Of You Leading You), Career Focused Learners-Ambassadors Committee,

Digital Ready NJ. legislative update, adopted the 2020-2021 NJSBA Advocacy Agenda and

approved a $50,000 ELFNJ grant request from ACES.

January 27 - Mercer County SBA. Excellent presentation by Jane Kershner on the new evaluation

instrument for CSA’s.

January 31 – February 5 - NSBA Equity Symposium and Advocacy Institute in Washington DC.

February 8 – Regional Board Leadership Conference, Montville Township High School.

Provided the welcome to participants.

February 12 - Union County SBA (board’s role in social media and conducting board hearings

like HIB, student discipline, student residency, grievance and Donaldson.

February 19 - Somerset County SBA (rotating round table discussions on HIB, STEAM and

improving our effectiveness as board members)

February 21 & 22 - New Board Member Orientation in Princeton. I am always amazed at the

organization of the event, the eagerness of new school board members to learn and the

outstanding job the NJSBA staff does in helping these board members.

February 25 - Executive Committee. The Executive Director and Department Directors reported

on all the good work being accomplished by NJSBA.

March 5 - Morris County SBA. Excellent program on meeting the challenges of the middle

school student.

March 7 - Legislative Committee – introduced an improved communication initiative for the

members of the Committee going forward:

o provide highlights of the meetings, which will include embedded links to PowerPoint

presentations or relevant web sites

o provide members with the names and contact information of the board presidents,

business administrators, and legislators in their respective legislative districts, and

requesting members to consider holding one or two in-person meetings with these same

individuals

I would like to thank Mike Vrancik and the GR staff for making this happen. We heard

an informative presentation on Preschool Expansion and updates from our Government

Relations staff.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Cortellino, M.D.

NJSBA, VP Legislation and Resolutions