Garden State Coalition of Schools

Board Meeting Minutes - March 8, 2006

East Brunswick Board of Education, 4 - 5:30PM

1.         President’s Report - Stuart Schnur

            *          There will be a recommendation in April for the 07 Budget.

            *          The White Paper from the Funding Coalition has been sent to Governor

                        Corzine and was distributed to those present.  It is available on the GSCS                     web site.

            *          May 31, 2006 is the confirmed date for the GSCS Annual Meeting at

                        the Forsgate.  Governor Corzine will be invited to speak.

            *          CHANGE IN MEETING TIME - Board Meetings will begin at 3:30

                        instead of 4 effective April 5, 2006.

2.         Treasurer’s Report - Dan Fishbein

            *          The adjusted cash balance was reported to be $61,007.86.  Approval of the

                        Report was moved by Larry Feinsod, seconded by Toni Hopkins, and              passed unanimously.

            *          An outreach letter to potential GSCS member districts from Dan Fishbein,                     Glen Ridge Superintendent and Betsy Ginsburg, Glen Ridge Board              President, is expected to be mailed before the next Board meeting.                        Additionally, there are plans for a regional lunch to be held in Moorestown

                        for GSCS member districts in South Jersey with targeted South Jersey               districts invited.  The goal is to develop a format for regional meetings to                   provide continual outreach to member districts that might be experiencing                 personnel changes, and to continue to broaden the membership and                   awareness of GSCS.

3.         Executive Director’s Report - Lynne Strickland

            *          GSCS data charts are available on GSCS web site showing FY02                                information on enrollments, cost drivers, and local levy in a power point                        format.

            *          Assembly Budget Hearings on State Spending and Saving and the                                 implications for education were reviewed.

            *          Information was presented on NJEA and NJPSA legislative conferences,                      the Governor’s FY07 Budget Summit, GSCS meeting with Commissioner                     Davy, the School Construction Coalition Trenton Press Conference,                    proposed education legislation, and the Assembly Education Committee’s                      agenda.

            *          Channel 13 has reached out to GSCS re: their programming on                                     Celebration of Teaching and Learning.

4.         Adjournment - 5:30PM