NJ Education Report

From New Jersey School Boards Association:

An informal survey of School Board Notes readers indicates that a majority support school boards being authorized to move the election of school board members from April to November, while eliminating the annual vote on their district’s proposed base budget, except for proposals to spend above the 2 percent tax levy cap.

When school board members were polled on their support for Assembly Bill 4360 more than 60% of respondents answered affirmatively. When school administrators were polled, more than 86% of them answered affirmatively. Board members were pretty cool, though, to the concept of municipal governments getting say-so, and NJSBA has lobbied for the removal of that portion of the bill.

The bill has passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee last week and awaits action from the Legislature. It’s a win-win, right? While comments from some school board members emphasize fear of partisan politics engendered by an election in November, the majority realize that such a move will save money (it costs districts about $20K to hold an April election) and free up board members and administrators from the relentless dog-and-pony shows that characterize the silly season of marketing budgets to cash-strapped communities.

A 4360 is trivial compared to substantive school reform like Sen. Teresa Ruiz’s tenure reform bill, but let’s hope the Legislature gets around to it. Not much else seems likely to get through lame duck, so at least it’s something legislators can hang their hats on.