Next Board Meetings [East Brunswick 4 pm]: November 10, 2004; December 8, 2004.

 

1. Treasurers Report: Marjorie Heller

                              Mike Gorski, CPA

(Note: Special thanks to Mike for his  excellent work in preparing and presenting the GSCS Financial Statement at the September Board of Trustees meeting.)

 

2. President: Walt Mahler

    Website: Glen Ridge Director of Technology volunteering web

    help.

    Regional Meetings:
    Bergen County “Dollars & Sense” 10/13/04

    Glen Ridge  December 9

    Ewing     Date/Location to be announced

    Mt Laurel   February 10

3.  Executive Director Report:  Lynne Strickland

 

     FYI – CPI that will apply to 05-06 budgets likely to be 3.01%.

     GSCS continued visibility - Treks to Trenton to date:  Monroe,
     Scotch Plains- Fanwood, Westfield, Cherry Hill, Cranford.

 

     Constitutional Convention Task Force: Special Testimony

     sessions next. GSCS working in expanded, informail coalition of

     education and business groups to address issues involved.

 

     Meetings: 

     Majority Leader Joe Roberts, September 29

     12th Legislative District Representatives at Marlboro, 10-12-04.

     Bergen County Forum “Dollars & Sense” 10-13-04

 

     Legislation:

ü   A3362 Greenwald/Cryan: Update Special Education ‘Extraordinary Aid’ 18.3M

ü  S1701 efforts:  

          Amendments underway: 
          S1945 Adler/cap waiver for Hazardous Routes

ü     Assembly developing a package bill that will be released in draft form soon/ education groups will be asked to review and input. Being considered are a number of issues GSCS has raised already, such as:

            Cap waivers for costs over which districts have no
            control: e.g., Health Benefits, Utilities, Insurance, 
            some special education costs 

ü     Also being reviewed by the legislature:

·    impact of surplus 3% reduction to 2% in FY05.

       Will this ‘soften’ property tax spike this year?
  How many districts had greater than 4% surplus in
  03-04?

·         Mixed Message re: Administrative Costs Regional Benchmark

     GSCS: It does not make sense to cap growth of
districts below the benchmark when only costs
above benchmark are considered "excessive."

·         Tools for Schools: Dual spouse buy-back restriction under SHBP

                   Balance of power at negotiations table.

4. Special Guest Presentation:

 

   Patricia Meyers, Executive Director, NJ Council on Local Mandates

 

5. Board Discussion and Adjournment.