Board Member Criminal Background Checks Now Law

As discussed at our last board meeting, the bill A-444 which requires school board members to undergo criminal background checks was signed into law today. Interestingly, this law does not apply to any form of public office beyond the local school board level. Read full article below:

On May 26, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law A-444, which requires school board members and charter school trustees to undergo criminal background history checks and would disqualify board members who have been convicted of certain crimes.  

Current school board members will have to undergo a background investigation within 30 days.  When new members are elected or appointed to a board, they must undergo a criminal history background check within the first 30 days of being elected or appointed.

Who Pays The cost of the background investigation will be the responsibility of the school board member, but unexpended campaign funds may be used for this purpose. The law also allows local boards of education or charter schools to reimburse individuals for these costs.

NJSBA successfully advocated for the change to the bill that allows boards to reimburse members for these costs.

NJSBA has created a sample resolution for school boards that want to demonstrate its intent to reimburse for board-member criminal history background checks.

In addition, the NJSBA Legal & Policy Services Department has developed a sample bylaw that school districts may adopt to memorialize a reimbursement policy for the background checks. It is available upon request from Lisa Deon at (609) 278-5222 or via email.

Board Member Oath Under existing law, a candidate for election to a board of education, when filing a nominating petition, must certify that the candidate is legally qualified to hold that office. Making a false statement in connection with a nominating petition is a crime of the fourth degree.

The new law provides that the oath of office taken by a school board member before assuming office will contain a specific declaration that the member is not disqualified from holding that office due to conviction of one of those crimes or offenses.  A member who falsely swears that he or she is not disqualified due to a conviction would be guilty of a fourth-degree crime. 

The State Bureau of Identification will immediately inform the state commissioner of education of any new charges filed against any board member who has previously undergone a background investigation. 

The Delegate Assembly

During the reorganization meeting of the Verona Board of Education, Unis was appointed to the role of liason to the Delegate Assembly.

Every school board has a voice in the Delegate Assembly—one board, one vote. The Delegate Assembly meets twice yearly to vote on NJSBA policy initiatives and to determine the Association’s positions on key educational issues. At the Delegate Assembly, delegates vote on resolutions submitted by local boards, county school board associations, and the NJSBA Board of Directors and standing committees. Resolutions approved at the Delegate Assembly become Association policy.

The next Delegate Assembly meeting is scheduled for November 21, 2009. We will be sure to keep you posted regarding any important changes that arise. Please be sure to check back come later November.

In the meantime, feel free to watch a brief video about the NJSBA Delegate Assembly.

16 Schools to Pilot “Personalized Learning Plan”

An interesting article was written in the June 17th edition of NJSBA (New Jersey School Boards Association) Notes. It touches on a new pilot taking place at 16 counties accross New Jersey that depending on its outcome may have a significant impact on the future of High school education.

Sixteen schools from 12 counties will participate in the Personalized Student Learning Plan (PSLP) pilot program set to be launched during the 2009-2010 school year. Lucille E. Davy, New Jersey commissioner of education, made the announcement on June 9.

Personalized learning plans are part of the state’s high school redesign project to better prepare students for the college and the workforce. The plans help students recognize and achieve their goals by utilizing adult mentors, including parents, teachers and counselors...[read more]

Completes New Training Earns Two Credits

On June 6, 2009 Unis completed the state mandated New Board Member Training Conference in Plainsborough, New Jersey. The event was hosted by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and covered the main areas of:

1. Legislation & Advocacy
   • Describes how NJSBA policy is adopted and drives legislative efforts, and looks at the legislative process from beginning to end.
2. The Board's Role in Policy Development
   • Discusses the board's responsibility to establish policies and ensure they are followed.
3. School Law
   • Covers the Sunshine Law, and the conduct requirement under the school ethics act.
4. Fiscal Management
   • Focuses on preparing a budget and the process to follow to ensure sufficient funds are available for a quality education.
5. Labor Relations
   • Discusses teh legal requirements of the duty to barging with employee unions and provides some practical advice on the negotiations process.
6. Curriculum/Student Achievement
   • Examines the responsibilities of board members to approve what is to be taught; to make sure what is taught is being learned; and to ensure needed resources are available and used efficiently. Looks at how the Core Curriculum Content Standards affect the role.
7. Evaluation of the Chief School Administrator (Superintendent)
   • Describes the requirements of and suggests methods for conducting the evaluation of the chief school administrator.

By completing this course Unis earned two Academy Credits towards his Certified Board Member (CBM) status.

Certificated Board Member (CBM)
The Certificated Board Member is the first tier of the NJSBA Board Member Academy certification program. Areas of study are designed to give members a firm foundation in the essential governance skills needed to carry out their responsibilities. To receive this certification, board members must earn at least 20 credits and attain some credits in all of the following CBM core topic areas:

• Relationships: board/superintendent, board/community, board/board
• Policy
• Curriculum
• School Finance
• School Law
• Labor Relations
• Board Operations

Unis to Attend NJSBA Training Conference

The New Jersey School Board Association provides state-required training courses in person.

The New Board Member Orientation is designed to help [new school board members] learn the essentials of school governance - so you can quickly assume an active role in school board decision-making. This intense, one-day program will immerse you in the basics of school law, policy, finance, curriculum, labor relations, advocacy, and more.

Unis will attend this training conference on June 6, 2009 from 8:30AM to 4:00PM.