With the arrival of January, many boards of education throughout New Jersey are welcoming new board members.
If you’re a veteran board member, think about all the questions you had when you first entered public service to advance the education of children – and consider making it a priority to lend a helping hand as newcomers learn what it means to be an effective school board member.
As a reminder to those districts that are welcoming new board members, please share with them the extraordinary number of opportunities the NJSBA provides that can help them prepare for their new role.
Every new member will receive a New Board Member Kit from the Association. The kit includes a membership services and benefits guide, a pamphlet on the role of board members and superintendents, an introduction to basic parliamentary procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order, the Fundamentals of School Board Membership publication and a code of ethics for school board members.
The NJSBA also has an entire page of resources on its newly revamped website to assist new school board members. Visit www.njsba.org/information-for-new-board-members.
There are also in-person programs.
Our 3 Rs program, which focuses on Roles, Resources and Responsibilities, covers a variety of topics and offers many opportunities to ask questions and network with board members from other districts. These programs are strategically offered before county meetings, so new members become familiar with our county Association programs.
Of course, there is our New Board Member Orientation Weekend, which as you know, is an on-site intensive, three-day training course. Board members learn how to effectively fulfill their responsibilities while attending large and small group sessions on topics including school law, policy, the School Ethics Act, ways to improve student achievement, school finance, labor relations, the board-superintendent relationship and advocacy. Past attendees credit these weekend training courses with providing a solid foundation with which to begin their board member journey.
Our new board members also get all the expertise that any board member can receive from our various departments, including Government Relations, Legal and Labor Relations, Policy and the all-important Field Services Department.
Plus, the ability to attend county meetings provides new members with opportunities to learn, network and eat – all of which I have made a priority as NJSBA’s president.
Without a doubt, however, our flagship training program is our annual Workshop in Atlantic City, which I encourage every member to attend. Programs abound for all interests. Attendees get the chance to engage in four days of learning, exploring and networking with vendors and board members.
These are not just opportunities for new members. School board veterans – you can partake in these resources and programs as well. Your presence serves as an example for the new member, and I would encourage you to bring a new member to a county meeting or program as they learn how to carry out our mission of advancing public education and promoting the achievement of all students through effective governance.
