Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     3-30-13 Education in the News - Dept of Education-State Budget, Autism Rates in NJ
     3-20-12 Education Issues in the News
     3-6-12Tenure Reform News - Discussion at Senate Education Committee
     2-23-12 State Aid Figures Released late today: GSCS Statement
     2-29-12 NJTV on NJ School Funding...and, Reporters' Roundtable back on the aire
     S1455 Ruiz TEACHNJ Act, introduced February 2012
     S1455 Ruiz TEACHNJ Act
     November Elections for Schools - Department of Education FAQ's
     1-18-12 GSCS ‘Take’ on the School Elections Law
     1-24-12 Education Issues in the News
     1-24-12 Supreme Court Justices Nominated by Governor Christie
     Committe Assignments for 2012-2013 under the new 215th Legislature rolling out
     Education Transformation Task Force Initial Report...45 recommendations for starters
     9-12-11 Governor's Press Notice & Fact Sheet re: Education Transformation Task Force Report
     Democrat Budget Proposal per S4000, for Fiscal Year 2011-2012
     Additional School Aid [if the school funding formula,SFRA, were fully funded for all districts] per Millionaires' Tax bill S2969
     6-24-11 Democrat Budget Proposal brings aid to all districts
     6-1-11 Supreme Court Justice nominee, Anne Paterson, passed muster with Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday by 11-1 margin
     4-29-11 BOOMERANG! Near 80 per cent of School Budgets Passed in Wednesday'sSchool Elections
     4-26-11 School Elections, Randi Weingarten in NJ, Special Educ Aid, Shared Services bill
     4-25-11 Charter Schools in Suburbia: More Argument than Agreement
     4-24-11 Major Education Issues in the News
     4-21-11 Supreme Court hears school funding argument
     4-14-11 Governor Releases Legislation to Address Education Reform Package
     4-13-11 Governor's Proposed Legislation on Education Reform April 2011
     4-5-11 Education Issues in the News
     4-8-11 Education Issues in the News
     4-7-11 Gov. Christie - 'Addressing New Jersey's Most Pressing Education Challenges'
     4-3-11Press of Atlantic City - Pending Supreme Court ruling could boost aid to New Jersey schools
     4-2-11 The Record - Charter school in Hackensack among 58 bids
     4-1-11 N.J. gets 58 charter school applications
     3-31-11 Charters an Issue in the Suburbs - and - So far, only 7 Separate Questions on April School Budget Ballots
     3-26-11 New Jersey’s school-funding battle could use a dose of reality
     Link to Special Master Judge Doyne's Recommendations on School Funding law to the Supreme Court 3-22-11
     3-22-11 Special Master's Report to the Supreme Court: State did not meet its school funding obligation
     GSCS - Local District Listing : Local Funds Transferred to Charter Schools 2001-2010
     GSCS Bar Chart: Statewide Special Education cost percent compared to Regular & Other Instructional cost percent 2004-2011
     3-4-11 'Teacher Evaluation Task Force Files Its Report'
     3-6-11 Poll: Tenure reform being positively received by the public
     Link to Teacher Evaluation Task Force Report
     GSCS Take on Governor's Budget Message
     Gov's Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Today, 2pm
     Tenure Reform - Video patch to Commissioner Cerf's presentation on 2-16-10
     2-16-11 Commissioner Cerf talks to educators on Tenure, Merit Pay , related reforms agenda
     Assembly Education Committee hearing Feb 2-10-11
     Assembly Education Committee hearing today, Feb 10, 2011
     9-12-10 ‘Schools coping, in spite of steep cuts'
     12-10-10 ‘NJN could get funding to stay on air as lawmakers weigh network's fate’
     2-7-11 Education - and Controversy - in the News
     1-25-11 Education in the News
     1-24-11 GSCSS Testimony before Assembly Education Committee: Charter School Reform
     1-24-11 GSCS Testimony on Charter School Reform before Assembly Eduction Committee today
     1-20-11 GSCS Testimony before Senator Buono's Education Aid Impact hearing in Edison
     Assembly Education Hearing on Charter School Reform Monday, 1-24-11, 1 pm
     GSCS Board of Trustees endorsed ACTION LETTER to Trenton asking for caution on Charter School expansion
     GSCS testimony on Tenure Reform - Senate Education Committee 12-09-10
     12-12-10 'Rash of upcoming superintendent retirements raises questions on Gov. Christie's pay cap'
     12-8-10 Education & Related Issues in the News - Tenure Reform, Sup't Salary Caps Reactions, Property Valuations Inflated
     12-7-10 Education Issues continue in the news
     12-6-10 njspotlight.com 'Christie to Name New Education Commissioner by Year End'
     12-5-10 Sunday News - Education-related Issues
     11-19-10 In the News - First Hearing held on Superintendent Salary Caps at Kean University
     11-19-10 NJ Spotlight reports on 'National Report Card (NAEP) Rates NJ Schools'
     11-15-10 GSCS meeting with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver
     GSCS Education Forum Stayed Focused on Quality Education
     Governor's Toolkit Summary - Updated November 2010
     11-18-10 Superintendent Salary Caps to be publicly discussed tonight at Kean University
     10-8-10 Education Issue in the News
     9-15-10 'Governor Christie outlines cuts to N.J. workers' pension, benefits'
     GSCS Heads Up - County-wide school district governance legislation getting ready to move
     9-1-10 Education in the News
     8-31-10 Latest development: Schunder's margin notes reveal application error
     8-27-10 later morning - breaking news: Statehouse Bureau ‘Gov. Chris Christie fires N.J. schools chief Bret Schundler’
     8-27-10 Star Ledger ‘U.S. officials refute Christie on attempt to fix Race to the Top application during presentation’
     8-25-10 Race to the Top articles - the 'day after' news analysis
     8-24-10 Race to the Top Award Recipients named
     8-23-10 S2208 (Sarlo-Allen prime sponsors) passes 36-0 (4 members 'not voting') in the Senate on 8-23-10
     8-16-10 Senate Education hears 'for discussion only' comments re expanding charter school authorization process; Commissioner Schundler relays education priorities to the Committee
     8-13-10 East Brunswick Public School seeks stay on Hatikvah Charter School opening this fall (re: Hatikvah not meeting minimum enrollment requirement)
     7-22-10 'Summer school falls victim to budget cuts in many suburban towns'
     7-21-10 List of bills in Governor's 'Toolkit'
     Governor's Toolkit bills listing
     7-18-10 Troublesome sign of the times? Read article on the growing trend for education foundations - the pressure to provide what the state no longer supports for education...California's Proposition 13 cited
     7-16-10 GSCS Information & Comments - S29 Property Tax Cap Law and Proposal to Reduce Superintendent salaries ....
     7-15 & 16 -10 'Caps - PLURAL!' in the news
     GSCS - High costs of Special Education must be addressed asap, & appropriately
     7-12-10 Assembly passes S29 - the 2% cap bill - 73 to 4, with 3 not voting
     GSCS re:PropertyTax Cap bill - Exemption needed for Special Education enrollment costs
     7-8-10 Tax Caps, Education in the News
     GSCS:Tax Cap Exemption needed for Special Education Costs
     7-3-10 Governor Christie and Legislative leaders reached agreement today on a 2% property tax cap with 4 major exemptions
     7-1 and 2- 10 Governor Christie convened the Legislature to address property tax reform
     6-29-10 GSCS - The question remains: ? Whither property Tax Reform
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: State Budget poised to pass late Monday...Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-25-10 Appropriations Act bills for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 available on NJ Legislature website - here are the links
     6-23-10 Trenton News: State Budget on the move...Education Issues
     On the GSCS Radar Screen: Recently proposed (early June '10) legislation S2043 brings back Last Best Offer (LBO) for school boards in negotiations
     On the GSCS RADAR SCREEN S2021 (June '10) sponsored by Senator Tom Kean
     On the GSCS Radar Screen: Recently proposed legislation S2043 brings back Last Best Offer (LBO) for school boards in negotiations
     6-8-10 Education issues in the news today - including 'hold' on pension reform, round two
     On the GSCS Legislative Radar Screen
     6-4-10 S1762 passed unanmiously out of Senate Education Committee yesterday
     6-3-10 RTTT controversy remains top news - articles and editorials, column
     6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE': It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed
     Senate Education Committee Agenda for 6-3-10
     5-11-10 njspotlight.com focuses on NJ's plans for and reactions to education reform
     ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS CITED FOR ROUND 2 - RACE TO THE TOP GRANT
     5-8 & 9-10 Education Reform Proposals Annoucned
     5-9-10 'Gov Christie to propose permanent caps on salary raises for public workers'
     5-3-10 NY Times 'Despite Push, Success at Charter Schools is Mixed
     3-30-10 Race to the Top winners helped by local buy-in
     3-31-10 What's Going on in Local Districts?
     3-26-10 GSCS: Effective & Well-Reasoned Communication with State Leaders is Critical
     3-26-10 School Aid, Budget Shortfall - Impt Related Issues = Front Page News
     3-25-10 NEW PENSION REFORM LAW - INFORMATION
     FAQ's on Pension Reform bills signed into law March 22, 2010
     3-23-10 GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11
     3-21-10 Reform bills up for a vote in the Assembly on Monday, March 22
     3-11-10 'GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter caps'
     3-5-10 HomeTowne Video taping + interviews of GSCS Summit@Summit
     3-5-10 GSCS Summit@Summit with Bret Schundler to be lead topic on Hall Institute's weekly 2:30 pm podcast today
     2-26-10 'NJ average property taxes grow 3.3 percent to an average of $7,300'
     2-25-10 Gov. Christie's Red Tape Review Comm., chaired by Lt. Gov. Guadagno, to hold public hearings In March
     2-24-10 Pension Reform bills to be introduced in Assembly this Thursday
     2-24-10 'Tight funds raise class sizes that districts long sought to cut'
     2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'
     2-19-10 'Acting NJ education commissioner hoping other savings can ward off cuts'
     2-22-10 Trenton Active Today
     Flyer for March 2 Education 'Summit@Summit'
     MARK YOUR CALENDARS! GSCS GENERAL MEMBERSHIP-STATEWIDE MEETING 'THE SUMMIT AT SUMMIT', TUESDAY MARCH 2, 7:30 p.m., Details to follow
     2-14-10 'FAQ's on NJ's state of fiscal emergency declaration by Gov. Christie'
     2-12-10 Assembly Budget hearing posted for this Wednesday, Feb. 17
     FY2010 Budget Solutions - PRESS PACKET
     School Aid Withheld Spreadsheet
     2-12-10 News Coverage: Governor Christie's message on actions to address current fiscal year state budget deficits
     2-11-10 Gov Christie address to Joint Session of the Legislature on state budget and current year aid reduction remains scheduled for today
     2-10-10 'Schools are likely targets for NJ budget cuts'
     2-9-10 News article posted this morning notes potential for large loss of current year school aid
     2-8-10 Northjersey.com editorial 'Tightenting our Belts'
     2-8-10 'School leaders around N.J. wait and worry over state aid figures'
     2-8-10'Gov Christie, lawmakers proporse sweeping pension, health care changes for public employees'
     2-4-10 'Christie advisers call for tough new school rules'
     1-28-10 School Surplus plan to supplant State Aid in this year gaining probability
     Governor Christie Education Transition Team Report , released 1-22-10
     1-22-10 "N.J. poll finds support for easier teach dismissal, merit pay'
     1-20-10 'N.J. files application for federal Race to the Top education money'
     1-20-10 Editorials, Commentary on New Governor in Trenton
     1-18-10 Advance news on 'Christie as new Governor'
     GSCS to speak at Tri-District 'Open' meeting in Monmouth on January 27
     1-15-10 Education News-Race to the Top incentives, NCLB annual results, supermajority vote upheld
     1-14-10 'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie targets teachers' union with Schundler appointment'
     1-14-10 'To lead schools, Christie picks voucher advocate'
     1-12-10 Lame Duck Session is over
     1-11-10 Transition News
     1-10-10 'Educators say consolidating school districts doesn't add up'
     1-8-10 Of Note for schools - from Lame Duck session yesterday, 1-7-10
     1-6-10 Race to the Top Plans on the move, not without conflict
     1-6-10 Lame Duck Legislative Calendar Updated
     12-31-09 Commissioner invites chief school administrators to Race to the Top meeting
     1-5-10 GSCS: Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session & State School Aid Proposal
     1-5-10 Lame Duck Legislative Calendar through January 12th
     1-5-10 Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session
     12-23-09 Gannett article provides details on Gov. Corzine's proposal to use additional surplus in place of state aid
     12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated
     1-4-10 Legislative Calendar through January 12th
     1-4-10 Assembly Education Committee Agenda
     12-30-09 January 4th Senate Quorum -Committee Schedule (Assembly not yet public information)
     January 2010 Lame Duck Legislative Schedule
     12-15-09 Also on the GSCS Radar Screen
     12-15-09 On the GSCS Radar Screen: S2850 poised for a vote
     11-17-09 Politickernj's 'Inside Edge' on Possible Education Committee Chairs
     11-19-09 GSCS HEADS UP: Prevailing Wage bills on 'lame duck fast track' to be heard on 11-23-09
     11-13-09 Education Week on: Gov-elect Christie's Education Agenda; Race to the Top Funds Rules
     11-12-09 p.m. Lame Duck Schedule Announced
     10-26-09 'High school sports spending grows as budgets get tighter inNew Jersey'
     10-2009 On the GSCS Radar Screen
     10-1-09 Education Week on Acheivement Gap narrowing; Algebra Testing
     10-1-09 Information on S2850 Prevailing Wage bill - food service workers included
     9-29-09 My Central NJ article on merging v home rule struggle
     GSCS Report on its Annual Meeting June 2009
     9-27-09 Education News of Note
     9-23-09 'Tests changing for special ed students'
     9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'
     8-10-09 News of Note
     8-7-09 'Bill would strengthen teacher tenure rights'
     7-14-09 Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial
     6-26-09 Floor Amendment to A1489 re Extracurricular fees
     6-26-09 Executive Director to GSCS Trustees; Wrap Up Report - State Budget and Assembly bills this week
     6-26-09 Education Issues in the News
     6-23-09 A4141 & S3000 clarifies how to eliminate Non-Operating school districts
     6-23-09 Grassroots at Work re A4140, A4142 and A1489
     6-23-09 Press of Atlantic City on Assembly Education hearing yestserday
     6-22-09 Assembly Education moves bills out of committee
     6-22-09 GSCS Testimony A1489, A4140, A4142
     6-22-09 Bills A4140, 4142, and A1489
     6-21-09 Assembly Education hearing for 6-22 9 am
     6-15-09 GSCS Testifies on its concerns re S2850
     6-11-09 GSCS - it sometimes defies logic
     4-5-09 The Record, Sunday April 5, Front Page Opinion
     4-5-09 A new approach to an old math problem'
     12-28-08 NY Times 'Pension Fight Signals What Lies Ahead'
     12-29-08 NJ to new leaders - Fund our schools
     12-21-08 GSCS EMAILNET - Excerpts
     11-25-08 Perspective piece criticizes recent Supreme Court Abbott decision
     11-24-08 Editorial asks for preschool initiative slow down
     11-23-08 'State lacks financial incentives to sell concept of school mergers'
     11-4-08 NCLB early test results
     10-6-08 D.O.E. October Workshops on Transforming High Schools
     10-6-08 October Workshops on Tranforming High Schools
     GSCS, Special Education Coalition for Funding Reform, and Rutgers Institute co-sponsor Forum Oct 7th
     10-8-08 GSCS spotlights preschool expansion implementation issues as a prioirty
     9-30-08 Senate Education Committee meets 10-2-08
     9-24-08 Editorials re High School Redesign issues
     9-24-08 Commissioner of Education at Assembly Education Committee yesterday
     9-24-08 Supreme Court hearing on constitutionality of School Funding Reform Act
     9-17-08 HIGH SCHOOL 'REDESIGN' PLAN TO BE DISCUSSED AT STATE BOARD OF ED TODAY
     SAVE THE DATE - OCT. 7TH
     6-17-08 School bills passed in Assembly yesterday
     6-13-08 News on Education Committee actions yesterday in Trenton
     4-07 The CORE bill 'A4' in its entirety
     5-15-08 Bills A10 and A15 already posted for a vote in the Assembly this Monday 5-19-08
     9-20-07 New Jersey School Boards Assoc. Releases its Report on Special Education
     9-20-07 With eyes on the future, justices look back at Abbott
     7-31-07 EMAILNET Status of School Funding Formula, more
     Public Education Institute Forum 9-19-07
     Recent education Research articles of note from Public Educ Network
     APRIL '07 MOODY's OUTLOOK ON SCHOOLS -NEGATIVE
     8-9-06 Special Session Jt Comm on Consolidation of Govt Services meeting 8-8-06
     8-2-06 Special Session 4 committees description
     8-2-06 Legislature's descriptoin of Jt Comm on School Funding Reform
     7--31-06 Legislature appoints Joint Committees on Property Tax Reform
     7-29-06 School Funding formula draws mixed reactions
     7-28-06 Gov to legislature: make history, cut taxes
     7-27-06 Trenton begins its move to address property taxes
     7-25-06 Associated Press Prop Tax Q & A
     7-19-06 Ledger -Advocates sue for release of report on school funding
     7-16-06 (thru 7-21-06) Bergen Record series investigate cost of NJ public services & property tax link
     7-18-06 Live from the Ledger
     7-18-06 Education Law Center takes state to court over funding study
     7-18-07 Star Ledger on high taxes & quality education in one town
     7-16-06 Bergen Record series investigate cost of NJ public services & property tax link
     7-14-06 EMAILNET
     7-13-06 Articles - Property tax issues, teacher salaries, voucher suit filing
     7-12-06 Statehouse starts talking specifics about property tax reform
     7-11-06 Talk of Special Session on Property Tax Reform
     6-15-06 Star Ledger, Gannet articles- Abbott advocates demand school reform at educ. dept
     A54 Roberts - Revises title and duties of county supterintendent
     Status of Senate bills related to SCI report
     6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips
     6-6-06 Legislative Leaders announce initial plans for property tax reform
     S1546 Moves School Elections - GSCS Position
     Representative GSCSTestimonies
     Funding Coalition submits paper 'Beginning Discussions on School Funding Reform'
     Find Your Legislator
     5-14-06N Y Times 'For school budgets the new word is NO'
     Assembly Speaker Roberts proposes 'CORE' plan for schools & towns
     AR168 WatsonColeman-Stanley
     5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton
     5-10-06 A Lot is going on - Major News fromTrenton
     5-9-06 Supreme Ct freezes aid & Asm Budget Comm grills DOE Commissioner
     4-21-06 School budget election fallout - politicians & press comment
     3-28-06 GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm today
     4-17-06 EMAILNET
     4-8-07 Corzine Administration files brief with Supreme Court re Abbott funding
     4-16-06 Star Ledger editorial & article re Gov v. Abbott from 4-15-06
     3-28-06 GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm
     Legislative Calendar during State Budget FY07 process
     3-24-06 Schools learn who wins, loses in Corzine budget
     3-10-06 Star Ledger 'Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute.
     2-22-06 New York Times NCLB - 20 states ask for flexibility
     2-1-06 EMAILNET GSCS Advocacy FY07 Budget; On the Homepage Today
     Governor Corzine's Transition Team Reports
     1-25-06 Star Ledger 'School District's Woes Point to Rising Tax Resistance'
     1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today
     The Record7-10-05 Sunday Front Page Must Read
     GSCS submission to Governor Corzine's Education Policy Transiton Team
     1-15-06 The Record 2 Sunday Articles anticipating top issues confronting the Corzine administration
     1-15-06 Sunday Star Ledger front page on Property Taxes
     1-12-06 Star Ledger 'Lawmaker pushes tax relief plan'
     12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding' notes the Governor's role is critical in making positive change occur
     Star Ledger 6-17-06 Seniors call for Tax Convention Senate Prefers Special Session
     Activists Hope to Revive School Funding Issue
     December 2005 Harvard Famiily Research Project Links
     12-5-05 Governor-elect Corzine selects policy advisory groups
     EMAILNET 12-3-05 Heads Up!
     YOU ARE INVITED - GSCS Invitation: Members and friends of education are invited to a December 7 Symposium on School Funding 'It's Time to get off the Dime - Pitfalls, Priorities and Potential'
     10-19-05 Courier Post-Gannett article on Gubernatorial Debate
     11-1-05 EMAILNET More information on Gubernatorial Candidates
     Lameduck Legislative Calendar November 10 2005 - January 9, 2006
     11-9-05 8 a.m. Election November 8 2005 information
     11-8-05 EMAILNET You are invited to Dec & Symposium on School Funding
     10-14-05 EMAILNET Parent question for Gubernatorial Candidates aired on 101.5 debate, SCC funds, Next Board meeting, press briefing notes
     November 8 2005 YOUR VOTE TODAY COUNTS ... Some news articles worth reading
     Education Law Center Issues Guildlines for Abbot School Districts
     10-16-05 Sunday Star Ledger & Gannet news articles on gubernatorial candidates take on important issues related to public education issues
     10-5-05 PRESS BRIEFING ON SCHOOL AID & FUNDING SPONSORED by Ad Hoc School Finance Discussion Group, GSCS is participant...10-6-05 ASbury Park Press (Gannett) & Press of Atlantic City articles
     Proposed State Budget for Fiscal Year 2006 - GSCS Testimony
     GSCS Testimony before Constitutional Convention Task Force
     NCLB
GSCS Heads Up - County-wide school district governance legislation getting ready to move
SYNOPSIS Establishes governance structure for county administrative school districts

SENATE, No. 2261(INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 2010) Sponsored by: Senator ROBERT SMITH, District 17 Senator JOSEPH KYRILLOS, District 14

ASSEMBLY, No. 2623 (INTRODUCED MAY 10, 2010)

STATE OF NEW JERSEY - 214th LEGISLATURE

Identical bills   S2261 & A2623

SYNOPSIS

    Establishes governance structure for county administrative school districts

 

SENATE, No. 2261(INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 2010)

Sponsored by:

Senator ROBERT SMITH, District 17

Senator JOSEPH KYRILLOS,  District 14

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2623 (INTRODUCED MAY 10, 2010)

 

   

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  UPENDRA J. CHIVUKULA

District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

 

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the governance and operation of county administrative school districts, amending N.J.S.18A:18A-2, and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 

     1.  (New section)  Notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation to the contrary, all of the public schools in a county in which the voters have approved the establishment of a county administrative school district shall be governed by the provisions of this act relating to county administrative school districts on and after July 1, 2013.

 

     2.  (New section)  As used in this act:

     “Board” means the board of education of a county administrative school district;

     “Chief school administrator” means the chief school administrator of a county administrative school district.

 

     3.  (New section)  Notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation to the contrary, the schools of each county administrative school district shall be conducted by and under the supervision of a board of education of the county administrative school district, which shall be a body corporate and which shall be constituted and governed as provided by this act. 

 

     4.  (New section)  a.  Upon the establishment of a county administrative school district, the boards of education of the public school districts in the county, and the board of education of any county vocational school district and county special services school district, may continue to exist in an advisory role.  However, the board of education of a local public school district, county vocational school district or county special services school district may pass a resolution to dissolve itself pursuant to regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 22 of this act.

     b.  Upon the establishment of a county administrative school district, the position of district superintendent of schools, together with any other local district-level administrative or supervisory personnel positions, shall be abolished.

     c.  The board of education of the county administrative school district shall appoint a district supervisor for each municipality in the county to oversee operations of the public schools located in the municipality and perform such other duties as the board may prescribe.  The district supervisor shall work under the supervision of the chief school administrator of the county administrative school district.

 

     5.  (New section)  For each county administrative school district established in accordance with this act, there shall be a board of education consisting of the executive county superintendent of schools and four members appointed by the chief elected executive officer of the county, or the director of the board of chosen freeholders, with the advice and consent of that board, as appropriate to the appointment procedures established by the form of government of the county.  No more than two members shall be members of the same political party, but no changes for adjustment of party representation shall be made in a board except as vacancies occur.

     In making the first appointments to a board, one person shall be appointed to serve for one year, one for two years, one for three years and one for four years from November 1 next succeeding the date of their respective appointments.

     Annually during the month of October a member of the board shall be appointed to serve for a term of four years, and thereafter until the appointment and qualification of a respective successor, to take the place of the member whose term or terms shall expire on November 1 then next ensuing.

     Each member of the board shall be a citizen and resident of the county and shall have been a citizen and resident for the three years preceding the member’s appointment to the board.  If a member shall cease to be a resident of the county, membership in the board shall cease.

     Vacancies in the board shall be deemed to exist, and shall be filled, in the manner prescribed in P.L.1979, c.302 (C.40A:9-12.1).

 

     6.  (New section)  The board of education of a county administrative school district shall organize annually on November 1 by the election of a president and vice-president, unless November 1 shall fall on Sunday, in which case the board shall organize on the following day.

    If the organization meeting cannot take place on the day hereinabove provided for by reason of a lack of a quorum or for any other reason, the meeting shall be held within 3 days thereafter.

    

     7.  (New section)  The board of education of a county administrative school district shall be a body corporate and shall be known as and called  "the board of education of the county of"  (here insert the name of the county in which such district shall be  located).


 

     8.  (New section)  The board of education of a county administrative school district may: 

     a.  Make purchases and enter into contracts for the provision or performance of goods or services;

     b.    Provide or contract for the provision of transportation for all public and nonpublic pupils within the county;

     c.  Purchase, sell, and improve school grounds, erect, purchase, lease, enlarge, improve, and repair school buildings, including any building or buildings for school purposes owned by any municipality in the county, with or without furnishings and equipment, and purchase school furniture and other necessary equipment; 

     d.  Insure school buildings, furniture, and other school property, and receive, lease, and hold in trust any and all real and personal property for the benefit of the school district; 

     e.  Employ and dismiss district supervisors, principals, teachers, janitors, mechanics, and laborers; fix, alter, and order paid their salaries and compensation, and prescribe the course of study to be pursued; 

     f.  Appoint a treasurer, who shall not be a member of the board and fix the treasurer’s salary and term of office.  The treasurer shall give bond in such amounts and with such security as the board shall determine; 

     g.  Make, amend, and repeal rules, not inconsistent with this act, or with the rules of the State board, for its own government, for the transaction of business, and for the government and management of the school and school property under its control; 

     h.  Provide textbooks and other necessary supplies and apparatus; 

     i.  Adopt an official seal by which all its official acts may be authenticated;

     j.  Make an annual report to the commissioner on or before August 1 in the manner and form prescribed by him; 

     k.  Appoint a secretary and fix his salary and term of office; and

     l.  Do all other acts and things that may be necessary for the proper organization and functioning of the public schools of the district during its first year.

  

     9.  (New section)  a.  The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall by contract appoint, for a term of no fewer than three nor more than five years, a chief school administrator for each county administrative school district established pursuant to section 1 of this act.

     b.  No person shall be appointed or act as or perform the duties of chief school administrator unless that person holds an appropriate certificate as prescribed by the State board.

     c. The chief school administrator shall devote himself exclusively to the duties of his office.

     d.  The Governor shall fix the salaries of the chief school administrators. 

     e.  At the conclusion of the term of the initial contract or of any subsequent contract as hereinafter provided, the chief school administrator shall be deemed reappointed for another contracted term of the same duration as the previous contract unless either:

     (1)  the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, by contract reappoints him for a different term, which shall be not less than three nor more than five years, in which event reappointments thereafter shall be deemed for the new term unless a different term is again specified; or

     (2)  at least one year prior to the expiration of the first or any subsequent contract the board shall notify the chief school administrator in writing that he will not be reappointed at the end of the current term, in which event his employment shall cease at the expiration of that term.

     f.  A chief school administrator shall not, during the term of his contract, be dismissed or reduced in compensation except for inefficiency, incapacity, or conduct unbecoming a chief school administrator or other just cause, and then only in the manner prescribed by subarticle B of article 2 of chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. 

 

     10.  (New section)  The chief school administrator of a county administrative school district shall have general supervision over all aspects, including fiscal operations and instructional programs, of the county administrative school district, under rules and regulations prescribed by the State board.  The chief school administrator shall keep himself informed as to the condition and progress of the schools in the county and report thereon, from time to time, to, and as directed by, the board of education of the county administrative school district.  The chief school administrator shall have such other powers and perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by the board of education of the county administrative school district. 

 

     11.  (New section)  The board of education of a county administrative school district shall evaluate, in writing, the performance of the chief school administrator of the county administrative school district at least once a year.  The board shall provide a copy of the evaluation to the chief school administrator and the chief school administrator and the board shall meet to discuss the findings.  The evaluations shall be based upon the goals and objectives of the district, the responsibilities of the chief school administrator and such other criteria as the State board shall by regulation prescribe.  Any contract entered into pursuant to section 9 of this act shall provide for an evaluation pursuant to this section and may provide for additional evaluation criteria or procedures which shall not be inconsistent with the regulations of the State board. 

 

     12.  (New section)  The chief school administrator, and all teachers, principals, and assistant superintendents of the board of education of a county administrative school district, shall have all rights and privileges of superintendents, teachers, principals, and assistant superintendents of schools, respectively, in school districts.

 

     13.  (New section)  The school year for a county administrative school district shall begin on July 1 and end  June 30.

 

     14.  (New section)  No contract shall be entered into by the board of education of a county administrative school district, nor shall any bill or demand for money be paid, until it shall have been presented and passed on at a regularly called meeting of the board.  A bill or demand for money, except for salaries, that exceeds $25 shall be itemized and shall be verified by affidavit or contain or have annexed to it a signed declaration in writing to the effect that the bill or demand is correct in all its particulars, that the articles have been furnished or services rendered as stated therein, and that no bonus has been given or received on account  thereof.

 

     15.  (New section)  There shall be for each county administrative school district a board of school estimate, which shall consist of two members of the board of education of the county administrative school district, appointed by that board, two members of the board of chosen freeholders of the county, appointed by that board, and the chief elected executive officer of the county or the director of the board of chosen freeholders, as the case may be.

     The appointments shall be made annually between January 1 and January 15. In case of a vacancy occurring in the board by reason of the resignation, death, or removal of any appointed member, the vacancy shall be filled immediately by the body which originally appointed the member, by appointing another of its members to fill the vacancy.  The secretary of the board of education of the county administrative school district shall be the secretary of the board of school estimate,  but shall receive no compensation as such.

 

     16.  (New section)  On or before the fourth Tuesday in March in each year the board of education of a county administrative school district shall prepare and deliver to each member of the board of school estimate an itemized statement of the amount of money estimated to be necessary for the general fund expenses of the county school district for the ensuing school year.  The itemized statement shall calculate separately for each municipality the general fund expenses of the public schools located in that municipality, and shall calculate for the county administrative school district as a whole the amount of money estimated to be necessary to fund the administrative and other services provided at the county level to the public schools of the county.  The board of education shall follow the procedures established in section 5 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-5).

 

     17.  (New section)  Between the fourth Tuesday in March and April 8 in each year the board of school estimate shall fix and determine, separately for each municipality in the county, by action taken at a public meeting of the board, the amount of money necessary to be appropriated for the general fund expenses of the public schools located in that municipality, and shall fix and determine for the county district as a whole the amount of money necessary to fund the administrative and other services provided at the county level to the public schools of the county, exclusive of the amount to be received from the State for general fund expenses.  The board of school estimate shall follow the procedures established in section 5 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-5).

 

     18.  (New section)  Upon the determination of the amount of money necessary to be appropriated for the ensuing school year pursuant to section 17 of this act, the board of school estimate shall establish the tax levy amount required to be raised in each municipality for the general fund expenses of the public schools located in that municipality.  The board of school estimate shall also establish the per pupil tax levy amount required to be raised to support the administrative and other services provided at the county level to the public schools of the county.  The per pupil tax levy amount shall be established by dividing the amount of money necessary to be appropriated for the administrative and other services provided at the county level by the projected enrollment of the county administrative school district for the ensuing school year.  The board of school estimate shall then calculate the amount of school tax levy that is required to be raised in the individual municipalities for administrative and other services provided at the county level by multiplying the per pupil tax levy amount by the number of students resident in that municipality who are projected to be enrolled in the county school district in the ensuing school year.  The board of school estimate shall make a certificate for each municipality of the total amount calculated for that municipality for general fund expenses and county-level administrative and other services which shall be signed by at least a majority of the members of the board.  The certificate shall be delivered to the governing body of the municipality, and a copy thereof, certified under oath to be correct and true by the secretary of the board of school estimate, shall be delivered to the county board of taxation on or before April 15 in each year, and the amount so certified shall be included in the taxes assessed, levied, and collected in the municipality.

 

     19.  (New section)  All provisions of law relating to the entering into contract for the furnishing of supplies and to the preparation of plans and specifications for the construction, alteration or repair of any building by a board of education of a county administrative school district and the approval and filing thereof and of any such contract and to the advertisement for bids and the awarding of contracts as a result thereof, which are applicable to a board of education of a school district, shall likewise be applicable to a board of education of a county administrative school district and no municipal permit shall be required in connection with the making or performance of any such contract.

 

     20.  (New section)  Whenever a board of education of a county administrative school district shall decide that it is necessary to sell bonds to raise money for any capital project as defined in N.J.S.18A:21-1, the board shall prepare and deliver to each member of the board of school estimate a statement of the amount of money estimated to be necessary for such purpose.

     The board of school estimate shall fix and determine the necessary amount and shall make two certificates thereof, one of which certificates shall be delivered to the board of education and the other to the board of chosen freeholders of the county in which the school district is situate.

     The board of chosen freeholders may appropriate such amount and borrow such amount for the purpose or purposes aforesaid, and secure the repayment of the sum so borrowed, together with interest thereon, by the issuance of bonds or notes of the county pursuant to the local bond law, notwithstanding any debt limitation or requirement for down payment therein provided for.  The proceeds of the sale of such obligations shall be paid to the treasurer of the county administrative school district and shall be paid out by him only on the warrants or orders of the board of education of the county administrative school district.  The treasurer shall in no event disburse such proceeds, except to pay the expenses of issuing and selling such obligations and for the purpose or purposes for which such obligations were issued.

 

     21.  (New section)  The provisions of this act shall not apply to a regional school district with constituent municipalities in more than one county.

 

     22.  (New section)  The State board shall prescribe rules and regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), for the implementation of this act and for the organization, management, and control of the county administrative school districts.

 

     23.  N.J.S.18A:18A-2 is amended to read as follows:

     18A:18A-2.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates:

     a.     "Board of education" means and includes the board of education of any local school district, consolidated school district, regional school district, county administrative school district, county vocational school and any other board of education or other similar body other than the State Board of Education, the Commission on Higher Education or the Presidents' Council, established and operating under the provisions of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and having authority to make purchases and to enter into contracts for the provision or performance of goods or services.  The term "board of education" also shall include the board of trustees of a charter school established under P.L.1995, c.426 (C.18A:36A-1 et seq.).

     b.    "Purchasing agent" means the secretary, business administrator or the business manager of the board of education duly assigned the authority, responsibility and accountability for the purchasing activity of the board of education and having the power to prepare advertisements, to advertise for and receive bids and to award contracts as permitted by this chapter, but if there be no secretary, business administrator or business manager, such officer, committees or employees to whom such power has been delegated by the board of education.

     c.     (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1999, c.440.)

     d.    "District" means and includes any local school district, consolidated school district, regional school district, county administrative school district, county vocational school and any other board of education or other similar body other than the State board, established under the provisions of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

     e.     (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1999, c.440.)

     f.     (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1999, c.440.)

     g.     "Extraordinary unspecifiable services" means services which are specialized and qualitative in nature requiring expertise, extensive training and proven reputation in the field of endeavor.

     h.     "Professional services" means services rendered or performed by a person authorized by law to practice a recognized profession and whose practice is regulated by law and the performance of which services requires knowledge of an advanced type in a field of learning acquired by a prolonged formal course of specialized instruction and study as distinguished from general academic instruction or apprenticeship and training.  Professional services may also mean services rendered in the provision or performance of goods or services that are original and creative in character in a recognized field of artistic endeavor.

     i.      (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1999, c.440.)

     j.     "Purchases" means transactions, for a valuable consideration, creating or acquiring an interest in goods, services and property, except real property or any interest therein.

     k.    "Work" means any task, program, undertaking, or activity, related to any development, redevelopment, construction or reconstruction performed or provided pursuant to a contract with a board of education.

     l.      "Aggregate" means the sums expended or to be expended for the provision or performance of any goods or services in connection with the same immediate purpose or task, or the furnishing of similar goods or services, during the same contract year through a contract awarded by a purchasing agent.

     m.    "Bid threshold" means the dollar amount set in N.J.S.18A:18A-3, above which a board of education shall advertise for and receive sealed bids in accordance with procedures set forth in N.J.S.18A:18A-1 et seq.

     n.     "Contract" means any agreement, including but not limited to a purchase order or a formal agreement, which is a legally binding relationship enforceable by law, between a vendor who agrees to provide or perform goods or services and a board of education which agrees to compensate a vendor, as defined by and subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement.  A contract also may include an arrangement whereby a vendor compensates a board of education for the vendor's right to perform a service, such as, but not limited to, operating a concession.

     o.    "Contract year" means the period of 12 consecutive months following the award of a contract.

     p.    "Competitive contracting" means the method described in sections 45 through 49 of P.L.1999, c.440 (C.18A:18A-4.1 through C.18A:18A-4.5) of contracting for specialized goods and services in which formal proposals are solicited from vendors; formal proposals are evaluated by the purchasing agent or counsel or school business administrator; and the board of education awards a contract to a vendor or vendors from among the formal proposals received.

     q.    "Goods and services" or "goods or services" means any work, labor, commodities, equipment, materials, or supplies of any tangible or intangible nature, except real property or any interest therein, provided or performed through a contract awarded by a purchasing agent, including goods and property subject to N.J.S.12A:2-101 et seq.

     r.     "Library and educational goods and services" means textbooks, copyrighted materials, student produced publications and services incidental thereto, including but not limited to books, periodicals, newspapers, documents, pamphlets, photographs, reproductions, microfilms, pictorial or graphic works, musical scores, maps, charts, globes, sound recordings, slides, films, filmstrips, video and magnetic tapes, other printed or published matter and audiovisual and other materials of a similar nature, necessary binding or rebinding of library materials, and specialized computer software used as a supplement or in lieu of textbooks or reference material.

     s.     "Lowest price" means the least possible amount that meets all requirements of the request of a purchasing agent.

     t.     "Lowest responsible bidder or vendor" means the bidder or vendor:  (1) whose response to a request for bids offers the lowest price and is responsive; and (2) who is responsible.

     u.     "Official newspaper" means any newspaper designated by the board of education pursuant to R.S.35:1-1 et seq.

     v.     "Purchase order" means a document issued by the purchasing agent authorizing a purchase transaction with a vendor to provide or perform goods or services to the board of education, which, when fulfilled in accordance with the terms and conditions of a request of a purchasing agent and other provisions and procedures that may be established by the board of education, will result in payment by the board of education.

     w.    "Quotation" means the response to a formal or informal request made by a purchasing agent to a vendor for provision or performance of goods or services, when the aggregate cost is less than the bid threshold.  Quotations may be in writing, or taken verbally if a record is kept by the purchasing agent.

     x.     "Responsible" means able to complete the contract in accordance with its requirements, including but not limited to requirements pertaining to experience, moral integrity, operating capacity, financial capacity, credit, and workforce, equipment, and facilities availability.

     y.     "Responsive" means conforming in all material respects to the terms and conditions, specifications, legal requirements, and other provisions of the request.

     z.     "Public works" means building, altering, repairing, improving or demolishing any public structure or facility constructed or acquired by a board of education to house school district functions or provide water, waste disposal, power, transportation and other public infrastructures.

     aa.   "Concession" means the granting of a license or right to act for or on behalf of the board of education, or to provide a service requiring the approval or endorsement of the board of education, and which may or may not involve a payment or exchange, or provision of services by or to the board of education, provided that the term concession shall not include vending machines.

     bb.  "Index rate" means the rate of annual percentage increase, rounded to the nearest half-percent, in the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Government Purchases of Goods and Services, computed and published quarterly by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

     cc.   "Proprietary" means goods or services of a specialized nature, that may be made or marketed by a person or persons having the exclusive right to make or sell them, when the need for such goods or services has been certified in writing by the board of education to be necessary for the conduct of its affairs.

     dd.  "Service or services" means the performance of work, or the furnishing of labor, time, or effort, or any combination thereof, not involving or connected to the delivery or ownership of a specified end product or goods or a manufacturing process.  Service or services may also include an arrangement in which a vendor compensates the board of education for the vendor's right to operate a concession.

(cf: P.L.1999, c.440, s.50)

 

     24.  This act shall take effect immediately and its provisions shall first be applicable in the 2013-2014 school year.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill provides a public school governance structure for counties in which the voters approve the establishment of a county administrative school district to take over the governance and operation of the public schools in the county.  In counties that approve the establishment of a county administrative school district, the schools of the county would be conducted by and under the supervision of a board of education of the county administrative school district (“county board”) and administered by a chief school administrator of the county administrative school district.  Local boards of education in the county, including the vocational school district and county special services school district boards, if any, would cede authority to govern the public schools within their jurisdiction to the county board, though they would continue to exist in an advisory capacity.  The bill would abolish local district-level administrative or supervisory personnel positions, including the district superintendent of schools.  The county board would instead appoint a district supervisor for each municipality in the county to oversee operations of the public schools located in the municipality and perform such other duties as the county board may prescribe.  The district supervisor would work under the supervision of the chief school administrator.

     The county board would consist of the executive county superintendent of schools and four members appointed by the chief elected executive officer of the county, or the director of the board of chosen freeholders, with the advice and consent of that board, as appropriate to the appointment procedures established by the form of government of the county.  The bill would require each member of the board to be a citizen and resident of the county during service and for the three years preceding appointment.  The bill would permit no more than two members of the same political party to serve on a county board.  County boards would organize annually on November 1 by the election of a president and vice-president.

     County boards would have the power to: 

     a.  Make purchases and enter into contracts for the provision or performance of goods or services;

     b.    Provide or contract for the provision of transportation for all public and nonpublic pupils within the county;

     c.  Purchase, sell, and improve school grounds, erect, purchase, lease, enlarge, improve, and repair school buildings, including any building or buildings for school purposes owned by any municipality in the county, with or without furnishings and equipment, and purchase school furniture and other necessary equipment; 

     d.  Take and condemn land and other property for school purposes in the manner provided by law regulating the ascertainment and payment of compensation for property condemned and taken for public uses;

     e.  Insure school buildings, furniture, and other school property, and receive, lease, and hold in trust any and all real and personal property for the benefit of the school district; 

     f.  Employ and dismiss district supervisors, principals, teachers, janitors, mechanics, and laborers; fix, alter, and order paid their salaries and compensation, and prescribe the course of study to be pursued; 

     g.  Appoint a treasurer and fix the treasurer’s salary and term of office; 

     h.  Make, amend, and repeal rules for its own government, for the transaction of business, and for the government and management of the school and school property under its control; 

     i.  Provide textbooks and other necessary supplies and apparatus; 

     j.  Adopt an official seal by which all its official acts may be authenticated;

     k.  Make an annual report to the commissioner on or before August 1 in the manner and form prescribed by him; 

     l.  Appoint a secretary and fix his salary and term of office; and

     m.  Do all other acts and things that may be necessary for the proper organization and functioning of the public schools of the district during its first year.

     Provisions of law relating to contracts for the furnishing of goods or services that are applicable to a board of education of a local school district would be applicable to a county board.

     The position of chief school administrator would be appointed by contract by the Governor for a term of no fewer than three nor more than five years.  An appropriate certificate, as prescribed by the State board, would be required for the position.  The chief school administrator would have general supervision over all aspects of the county administrative school district, including fiscal operations and instructional programs, under rules and regulations prescribed by the State board, and would have such other powers and perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by the board of education of the county administrative school district.