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Minutes of GSCS Board of Trustees meetings 2008
- Board of Trustees Meeting January 30, 2008
East Brunswick Board of Education Office
Minutes
The GSCS Trustee Meeting convened at 3:45.
President Dan Fishbein welcomed and the group went through introductions of the attending 19 Trustees and Members.
The Treasurer’s Report was presented by Dr. Roger Caruba. A motion was made by Kathy Goldenberg to accept the motion and was seconded by Mary Catherine Sudiak to accept the Treasurers’ Report as is. All were in favor.
Dr. Dan Fishbein presented the President’s Report that our GSCS Budget preparations were underway. A motion to accept the Budget Committee appointees and the Nomination Committee, (consisting of David Abbott, Linda Nelson, and Jim O’Neill for 2008-2009 Officers and Districts was made by Mary Sudiak and was seconded by Betsy Ginsburg. The Committees were approved unanimously. The Budget Committee will report recommendations to Board at the next meeting, March 19, 2008.
Executive Director Lynne Strickland presented her report on the recap of the School Funding Formula. Ms. Strickland summarized the submissions/waiver requests and discussed the upcoming panel regarding the school budget submissions/non waivers. She alerted all membership that Governor Corzine’s Budget Message was slated to be heard on February 26. She updated membership of the positives and negatives regarding this and the group went over Amendment suggestions. Lynne discussed the funding formula’s categorical and state aid as well as wealth equalization.
Dick Rosenberg, School House Strategies, reviewed the Regulations that will be written by Mike Azzara for the Funding Formula.
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Jim O’Neill. This was seconded by Betsy Ginsburg. The meeting ended at 4:48.
- The February Board of Trustees Meeting was cancelled.
· Board of Trustees Meeting-March 19, 2008 E Brunswick Bd of Education
Minutes
Welcome and introductions were made by Ms. Lynne Strickland, Executive Director of Garden State Coalition of Schools.
It was noted that the February 2008 GSCS Board of Trustees meeting was cancelled.
A. Treasurer’s Report-Roger Caruba
- GSCS Membership was updated regarding the status of GSCS Treasury Budget and Membership. Approval of the monthly Report and Balance Summary was put to a vote. A motion to accept the Report was made by Mary Catherine Sudiak and seconded by Jim O’Neill. It was unanimously approved.
B. President’s Report-Dan Fishbein
- Budget Committee updates were given and discussions involving A4 equity were had.
§ The Minutes were reviewed and corrections were made. Mary Catherine Sudiak made a motion to accept the corrected Minutes from the GSCS Board of Trustees January 30th Meeting, and Linda Nelson seconded the motion. All approved the January Minutes.
§ The Annual Meeting was discussed and is currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at Forsgate from 9 – 11:30 a.m. Potential Keynote guest speaker names, such as Lucille Davy-the Commissioner of Education, were given. It was mentioned that conflicts with this date exist for certain districts, i.e. Union, N.J. The Board requested Lynne Strickland to see if another date close to the 28th for the Annual Meeting might be available at the Forsgate.
- GSCS business was discussed regarding the election process for new Board Members and Executive Officers. This election will again take place at the Annual Meeting. Linda Nelson is the Chairperson for the Nomination Committee. Linda is working on GSCS attaining appropriate candidates for appointments.
- ELC and State of New Jersey argument discussion before Supreme Court was discussed.
C. Executive Director’s Report-Lynne Strickland
- Assembly Education Committee hearing invited GSCS members of Glen Ridge, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, and Brick for a roundtable discussion.
- Membership Communications Report was provided by Betsy Ginsburg.
- The legality of waivers and second questions on ballots were discussed. A legislative Amendment request, by the education group coalition (GSCS NJEA NJASA NJASBO NJPSA), was for the removal of the 60% vote requirement as the Letter to Senator Sweeney and Assemblywoman brings forward.
- Lynne Strickland addressed the possibility to jointly work together with Special Education lobbies to focus on mutual issues and funding structures in education. Coalition possibility could benefit all Districts. Brenda Considine, the Special Education Coalition Director from Hopewell, Mercer County, came to the Trustee meeting and spoke of benefits that could come to both constituencies through the efforts being jointly managed. Full Categorical Aide discussion was one of the topics.
Meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:25 p.m. The next Trustee meeting will be held on April 30, 2008, in East Brunswick.