Participants will receive strategies to assist them in closing the achievement gap among all subgroups and accelerate student achievement in all content areas. This session will provide strategies related to systematic and explicit instruction, engaging all students in manipulating content, comprehension skills, use of strategic reading/thinking tools, and developing students’ metacognitive skills. We will discuss the importance of vocabulary development and background knowledge. Easy-to-implement strategies will be provided that are designed to build the self-efficacy of teachers, instructional facilitators, and building and district leadership. Strategies are delivered in an interactive format to help participants make connections to their current practices.
Materials:
In this interactive session, participants will learn how the East Hanover Township School District successfully connected to the greater community to generate support for the district's system of schools. Discussion will focus on identifying goals and objectives and successfully interfacing with community members, local business leaders and elected officials to form a team committed to enhancing the educational experience of all students. Participants will be able to draw upon an action plan to begin the important discussions needed to generate both financial support and community support to move their school districts forward and will be able to replicate best practices for soliciting community support in their home districts.
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Liberty Science Center will illustrate how educators can integrate an informl resource into a formal education environment. Our objectives are to highlight: the building as a resource, the flexibility of the educational programming, and showcase key professional opportunites for educators.
The presentation will discuss OnCourse’s new comprehensive Special Education software suite, which includes timelines, IEP building, one-touch state reporting, document management, and more. Session participants will discover the benefits of consolidating special education, teacher/administrator evaluation, NJSMART reporting, NJASK analysis, and other administrative tasks in one intuitive application, and understand how to better manage the special education process.
In many districts not enough students are participating in school breakfast programs. Learn why it is important to do so and how districts and students can both benefit from increasing breakfast consumption. Discover the options available to districts, which they can implement in a team effort to increase breakfast participation in schools.
The presentation will focus on banking services and the many changes that have affected the banking industry over that past few years. There will be a discussion of the Governmental Unit Deposit Protection Act (GUDPA); a supplemental insurance program to protect the deposits of local government agencies and municipalities, as well as the new collateralization requirements. The session will also discuss how to create an effective Request For Proposals (RFP) for banking services and help the participants understand what to look for from a bank.
This session will review existing threats to our students and our school facilities. There will be discussion of historical threats since the early 1900s through modern day. Participants will be encouraged to examine the security of their own schools, and to learn how to do a security assessment. The presenters will review a sample security assessment undertaken for a school district and the various solutions that are available.
Does your district feel overwhelmed by issues raised by the use of social media? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other outlets continue to grow and districts do not not want to be left behind. This session will discuss the legal implications of the use and misuse of social media.
Participants will receive a brief overview of anti-bullying proceedings, the role board members play, and the challenges they encounter. Board members and administrators will learn answers to the problems they face in participating in hearings, and in scheduling and resolving bullying cases. The presenters will also conduct a question and answer session to discuss pressing concerns relating to the anti-bullying process.
Participants will learn about new lunch program changes and how district can receive an extra $.06 in reimbursement. Presenters will be available to answer questions about new regulations governing the programs.
Session participants will learn about how TD Bank Days in schools can help teach children the basics of personal finance and the importance of knowing how to balance a checkbook, manage credit, and more.
Eco-Schools helps K-12 public, private and charter schools green the school building, grounds, educational programming and student experience. It provides a step-by-step framework to implement sustainable practices, allows you to choose your own pathways to success, supports student engagement and academic achievement and directly ties to the municipal- based Sustainable Jersey award program. The objective of the Eco-Schools presentation will be to provide participants with concrete actions to begin and/or enhance their sustainability efforts at the school and direct participants to NJ-specific resources.
Join NJSBA's Director of Legal, Policy and Labor Relations Services and the vice-president of the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children's Advocacy for a review of federal and state laws regarding gifted and talented programs and advocacy efforts both inside and outside the school district. Discussion topics will include school funding of gifted and talented programs, state requirements for G&T programs in school districts, state oversight of G&T programs, core curriculum content standards and curriculum frameworks, superior court and administrative case law involving gifted and talented education programs and current public education alternatives that can support gifted and talented education.
Materials:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/110631331
http://www.scribd.com/doc/110631332
This presentation will help school districts determine whether they can save money on unused sick time and vacation payouts when employees retire.
This presentation will detail the new and upcoming changes in the world of e-rate, the Federal Communications Commission program that provides discounts to help schools and libraries obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Participants will learn how to best use the e-rate program to ensure funding of important technology projects and initiatives as well as how to ensure their districts don’t get shut out of funding.
Many school boards and charter school boards of trustees have used committees, including standing committees, ad hoc committees, and committees-of-the-whole, to make board meetings more productive. Learn about policies and procedures that have helped many boards be more successful . There will also be a question and answer period on issues that impede board productivity.
The Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission Cooperative and the Nickerson Corporation will describe the services available through the state-approved MRESC Co-op pricing system. Services include bids for supplies, furniture, energy, flooring and other time and material contracts. We will also be discussing how to join the MRESC Co-op and take advantage of these cost saving programs and services.
School districts work hard to ensure the quality of the core school day and to see that it meets both both state education requirements and student needs. Can you guarantee that same high quality experience in your before- and after-school programs? Two superintendents will share their insights on building strong out-of-school time experiences for students through their partnership with a national leader in extended learning programs.
Fraud, waste and abuse in prescription drug benefit programs cost an estimated $72.5 billion a year. As these and other costs continue to rise, a prescription benefit administrator can proactively protect your program and your members. If such an administrator isn’t providing your employees with sound and appropriate clinical and patient safety programs, it is likely your district is paying unnecessarily high health benefit premiums, and generating erroneous patient records and patient safety and liability concerns. Learn how the Edison Township Board of Education, through its prescription benefit program administrator, Benecard Services, protected its prescription benefit program and its employees.
This presentation will provide participants with an overview of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), union contract negotiations, mediation, fact-finding and super conciliation procedures, and the "do's and don'ts" in preparing for and handling each step in the process. Participants will also learn the different strategies the employer can use during the negotiation process to challenge non-negotiable items presented by the union, discuss scope of negotiations petitions and briefly review unfair labor charges.
Everybody loves to speak with a school law attorney, especially when it is free. Two NJSBA staff attorneys will present an update on recent legal decisions and legislative developments affecting boards of education and charter schools. The session uses a combined presentation/question-and-answer format that will speak to significant recent developments in public education school law. There will be time allotted for an informal, open-ended discussion that will give the participants an opportunity to ask questions about the topics presented and any other area of school law.
Your district just bought many iPads. What do you do with them? There are many educational uses. However, can your users access the school's current applications running on Microsoft Windows PCs? This session shows a new technology called Virtual Desktops. Virtual Desktops allow you to use your Microsoft Windows PC on your iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle, Macintosh computer or another PC. You can control the same Virtual PC from anywhere on the Internet -- school, home or the car. No matter where you are, your Virtual PC screen always looks the same. You have all of your Office documents, Internet Explorer favorites and files on your Virtual Desktop available at all times. Meanwhile, you don't have to worry about Windows viruses, because your Virtual Desktop (PC) is managed by the school technology administrator. You will see examples of school districts that already built Virtual Desktops. Finally, you will see Total Cost of Ownership/Return on Investment (TCO/ROI) numbers that show how you can save money by implementing Virtual Desktops.
Featured will be a "mini" outdoor classroom indoors with setup photos, objects, plants, PowerPoint slides and lessons/handouts. Talk will focus on relevance and benefits of outdoor classrooms and how to develop them.
The presentation will educate school personnel about the requirements of the state’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and introduce a new software program, HIBster. The software helps schools track reported incidents, sort and organize incidents, evaluate incidents for HIB behavior, generate official reports, back up and store reports, manage required tasks and deadlines, automatically develop state forms and telephone calls to parents and provides support for HIB victims.
Is your district upgrading or replacing inefficient lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment? Looking for guidance to prioritize capital investments to ensure best payback? Learn about the LGEA (Local Government Energy Audit) that is free, and how to reduce projects costs using the various incentive programs from the New Jersey Board of Public Utility’s New Jersey Clean Energy program.
“Flipping the Classroom' is a current ‘buzz phrase’ used often in the education industry now, but what does it really mean? Session participants will understand how flip teaching leverages learning in a classroom through the use of internet technology and teacher-created videos to offer engaging and individualized online instruction. Discover how a school in Yuma, Arizona, is receiving national recognition for its success in a flipped classroom model using technology from Education2020.
Discover how a better building envelope can reduce energy demand on heating and cooling systems. Session participants will understand the significance of each part of the building envelope (including the top, bottom, vertical shafts and walls) relative to the efficient operation, and will examine the materials and methodology used in air sealing buildings.
This presentation will feature a case study on how the Somerville school district was able to provide a next-generation learning environment through the use of a private fiber optic network shared with Somerville borough. The Fiber Optic Wide Area Network (WAN) has enabled the district and the borough to share the costs of a future proof network infrastructure.
Learn how the technology has enabled students and faculty to access content from anywhere, and has made it possible to conduct online and standardized state testing simultaneously without sacrificing bandwidth or Internet speed. Understand the advantages and benefits of a high speed network to educators and students, from enriched curriculum and new educational resources to ongoing professional development and administrative uses. Discover the benefits from a fiber optic network and how it delivers a robust portfolio of advanced data, voice, and network services for a higher quality, more efficient, and more reliable overall scholastic experience.
This presentation will provide board members with an understanding of recent legislation and the accompanying regulations governing the use of school buses for advertising purposes. Participants will understand how to generate additional revenue for their districts through the sale of advertising, and discuss topics such as contractual requirements and the content and location of ads.
Materials
With the aid of the Teaneck Board of Education, Di Cara Rubino Architects will provide an open and informative discussion on both the accomplishments and difficulties encountered during a recent Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP) performed in the Teaneck school district. The panel will educate listeners on the steps required to get an ESIP started, what to expect during the process, and the importance of having the right team on board to handle implementing an ESIP. The dialogue will stress the environmental and financial benefits of ESIP’s, while candidly addressing the challenges involved.
The presentation will include an explanation of how the T&E in “STEM” create an opportunity, through Project Based Learning Design Challenges utilizing iSTEM pedagogy, to integrate each of the constituent STEM subjects. Theory meets practice for participants who will then participate in an abbreviated version of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) Flashlight Design Challenge that addresses sustainable power & energy technologies, simple circuit design, and the Engineering Design Process.
This presentation will instruct school districts on how to undertake capital projects such as boilers, unit ventilators, and light fixture replacements at no additional cost to the taxpayer through the use of Energy Savings Improvement Programs.
Educators all over the country are describing the iPad as a revolutionary learning tool. Discover why, in this collaborative and engaging session. Participants will learn how the iPad is being used by teachers and students, have the opportunity to play with a handful of Apps, and explore how it integrates with other educational technology such as the SMART Board, SMART Response, and Safari Montage’s Digital Curriculum Presenter.
Is your school district potentially liable for a claim of deliberate indifference? How quickly can you disseminate emergency information? Can your students or staff anonymously report a threat, bullying or harassment via two-way communication? Is it cost effective to send a news bulletin to your entire community? This presentation will discuss how districts can provide a secure, fast and efficient channel for the flow of information.
Learn how more than 210 school districts in New Jersey are using the community portal of their Student Information System. Parents can view information about students’ schedules, grades, attendance, and assignments. In addition, they can manage their contact information and pay fees. Parents can now make scheduling requests online and schedule appointments with counselors and teachers. Many districts are replacing mailed report cards and saving postage and printing costs. Districts can post letters and messages from teachers and administrators that are specific to the student, as well as place district wide notices online for parents to see and acknowledge.
This presentation will familiarize school leaders with the pros and cons of self-insured employee benefits programs - the potential risks and the potential rewards. A benefits specialist and a representative from a New Jersey district that is already self-insuring its collectively bargained employee benefit plans will team up to discuss budgeting, reserve requirements, stop-loss protection, vendor selection criteria, and all major components of evaluating whether a district should be self-insured.
For a copy of the presentation, click here
Participants will understand the ease of use, functionality, and organization of using a web-based student information system to centralize all the data components between an observer /evaluator and student achievement, including assessment data, discipline records, attendance, and all NJSMART data, while exploring a solid and engaging process for developing locally-built evaluation portfolios.
ESIPs (Energy Savings Improvement Programs) offer districts the opportunity to substantially improve school facilities and reduce school operating costs without conducting a referendum. But many education leaders don’t know that their districts can capture the benefits of an ESIP multiple ways, including through a “do-it-yourself” method, similar to other capital improvements? We will illustrate the pros and cons of each alternative of accomplishing a successful ESIP, as each district's needs are unique and individual, and spotlight the "do-it-yourself" process, and its benefits and pitfalls.
Hear the Commissioner’s vision for increasing student academic performance, closing achievement gaps, reducing overregulation and turning around persistently low-performing schools. Learn about state initiatives* including the Regional Achievement Centers (RACs), the NJ-SMART performance reporting/accountability system, the waiver of federal No Child Left Behind requirements, and innovations in school choice and digital learning.
Following his presentation, the Commissioner will take part in a discussion of current educational issues with NJSBA Director of Governmental Relations, Michael Vrancik.
* Workshop 2012 includes 10 NJDOE-hosted sessions, designed to inform local school board members and administrators about the state’s evaluation system pilot project, the Common Core Standards, the Partnership of Assessments for Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC), early childhood education, and other programs.
Please join program leaders from hugely successful Sustainable Jersey municipal government certification program and NJ School Boards Association to learn about an exciting new partnership to support the development of a Sustainable Jersey program for Schools. Explore ways that your school district, organization or business can become part of the process over the next year.
This session will discuss the importance of teaching the basics of personal finance to students as well as strategies for presenting information on credit, savings and budgeting to children.
The Healthy U school-based program uses the CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) curriculum in physical education to promote, educate, and create an environment and culture for health living. This presentation will provide an overview of the program and the curriculum and their positive outcomes. Participants and presenters will also discuss how the partnership allows schools to impact a larger population of students.
Your property and casualty insurance cost can be controlled! NJSBAIG’s expert in-house panel of Loss Control, Claims and Member Services will discuss facilities usage exposures your district faces and ways to avoid liability in your district. Learn how to keep dollars in the classroom!
School districts rely on their communications networks. Will the current Wide Area Network your district uses be sufficient for future communications requirements? This session will help participants learn more about the topic and adequately plan for their district’s needs in coming years.
Workflow optimization can help control costs and improve administrative functions. This presentation will focus on familiarizing school districts with how Stewart Business System’s 360 Assessment Process can help reduce and control print and copy costs and minimize paper waste while at the same time streamlining processes and improving efficiencies both for teachers and administrative staff.
Every school district has experienced state aid cuts and the need to more efficiently deliver educational excellence. School administrators must find more cost effective ways to maintain aging facilities. This presentation will describe a step by step approach to managing school facilities including the initial feasibility studies and assessment, planning and implementation. Participants will learn how to lower the cost of maintaining and operating a school facility.
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School districts have many attractive ways to address the high costs of energy today that go beyond solar systems. New Jersey has been at the forefront of energy programs and offers several programs for districts to consider, some at little or no cost to the district. This session will address how a district can make sense of all these options and provide districts with a blueprint to use in developing a comprehensive long-range energy plan to meet individual energy needs.
This session will explore strategies school districts can use to recoup funds lost to charter schools by selling the charter schools shared services. Some possibilities that will be discussed include: renting of unused space, maintenance or IT services, data reporting, back office services, school food services, grant administration services, child study teams, special education instruction, transportation, and human resources administrative services.
Session participants will gain a better understanding of the prevalence of PCBs in old lighting fixtures in schools, the health effects of PCBs and how problems can be identified. The presenters will also discuss the benefits of energy-efficient lighting upgrades and how energy service companies can be used to fund lighting replacements in schools.
The governmental relations directors from around New Jersey work directly with legislators on education issues that impact local schools. Join us for an informative conversation and an inside look into the perspective of the governmental relations directors. The discussion will be moderated by John Mooney, founding editor and education writer at NJ Spotlight.
The story of what the snapshot of a NJ's school gardens, based on the survey results from the Department of Heath Survey and the response we received from the School Garden of the Year Award. The objective of this talk is to stress the need for systemic school-wide support for school gardnes from administration down to parent and community volunteers.
This session will address school district program options that support students with disabilities in general education.
Presenters will address the legal and policy implications of the Anti-Bullying Act and the underlying goal of the legislation: protecting all children and assuring a safe and healthy school environment.
Materials
Cynthia Jahns Presentation: http://www.scribd.com/doc/110095724
Phil Sterns Presentation: http://www.scribd.com/doc/110096319
Bullying Powerpoint Presentation: http://www.scribd.com/doc/110095720
Lance Ford, an educator at the forefront of using video conferencing technology in the classroom, will present via Cisco Telepresence video conferencing and will review several ways you can harness this dynamic technology to improve the student experience. Mr Ford will discuss ways to use basic video conferencing in the classroom, how to integrate video conferencing with Smart Board technology; and recording functions of video conferencing that allow you to flip the classroom and create content for students.
This session will examine the topic of effective boardsmanship and what boards need to do to be able to successfully accomplish their goals, improve student achievement in their districts and meet the expectations of stakeholders.
Board members are frequently asked to comment on school-related topics by reporters. Two NJSBA staff members, both former reporters, will discuss media relations issues such as who should speak for a board; how to spread good news about your district; which topics are always off-limits for board members; when you should consider that your comments are “off the record”; and when it’s okay to ask reporters the questions.
Get an update on recent education legislation and its impact on New Jersey schools and boards, including changes to tenure, the November election option for school boards, school ethics proposals and more.
This presentation will acquaint attendees with “Operation Superpower,” a fresh new approach to arts outreach, music appreciation and bullying. Meet three Julliard students who will deliver “Operation Superpower, ” an interactive superhero-themed classical music experience for students in grades ranging from primary through secondary. Operation Superpower can be presented as a school visit, in school assembly or in a subscription concert with a local symphony orchestra.
Learn how school boards can ramp up their curriculum by giving students additional choices. Option 2, which is often called dual credit/dual enrollment, involves community college courses that count toward high school graduation. The purpose of Option 2 is to provide students with meaningful and relevant educational experiences beyond the scope of the current school curriculum. It can also provide big savings in college costs for parents. Learn how to get started, how to write policy on Option 2, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
The new Anti-Bullying legislation was enacted a little more than a year ago. This session will discuss school district experiences in implementing the legislation, any new developments in the law, and challenges facing districts in complying with the new requirements.
Everybody loves to speak with a school law attorney, especially when it is free. Two NJSBA staff attorneys will present an update on recent legal decisions and legislative developments affecting boards of education and charter schools. The session uses a combined presentation/question-and-answer format that will speak to significant recent developments in public education school law. There will be time allotted for an informal, open-ended discussion that will give the participants an opportunity to ask questions about the topics presented and any other area of school law.
The Barnegat school district is one of the few New Jersey school districts to successfully implement an Energy Savings Improvement Plan ("ESIP"). Participants will hear the start-to-finish story of a successful ESIP project and learn how to install energy conservation measures without additional tax dollars by having the project costs re-paid with the resulting energy savings.
Come learn what New Jersey American Water is doing about New Jersey’s dwindling water supply and aging infrastructure.
Cloud computing is driving a transformation in how IT applications and services are delivered and consumed. A Community Cloud allows its members to access applications hosted in a shared infrastructure, sharing and reducing the cost of delivering those services, which can be accessed from devices ranging from the traditional desktops to the iPad.
In this session we will explore the concepts of Cloud computing, its value to institutions, considerations in building and managing a Cloud and how a statewide community cloud like the one being considered by NJSBA and NJEDGE could benefit its members from a cost savings, shared services and student achievement standpoint.
Put on your dancing shoes and boogie the night away at this Workshop tradition. Central Park the Band, provided by Promedia Technology Services, will be playing the greatest hits of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s from 8:00 - 12:00 a.m. Cash bar.
Although much of the emphasis on district evaluation reform efforts has been focused on teachers, there is a concomitant need for reforming principal evaluation. The two systems must inform each other and contribute to a coherent message about effective educational practice. The primary linking points are the critical role that the principal plays in teacher evaluation and the use of student achievement data to inform both systems, but there are other important links as well. This session will help participants understand the connections between the two types of evaluations and provide concrete examples from districts who have begun making these connections.
Learn how one district has successfully integrated sound educational leadership, reporting and accountability practices from the corporate sector, and strong communication practices to promote student achievement and community involvement. Do all members of your community understand your plan for school improvement? Do they know and embrace your values, mission, vision and goals? Session participants will discover a model that makes this information accessible and understandable by all, and can rally an entire community around achieving results for students.
Session participants will learn how more than 200 school districts in New Jersey are using the parent portal of their Student Information System. Parents can manage student’s schedules, grades, attendance, assignments, discipline, contacts and fees. Districts post letters and messages specific to the student from teachers and administrators, as well as place districtwide notices online for parents to see and acknowledge. Many districts are now going paperless and realizing significant savings in postage costs, while parents benefit from instant notification from their child’s school.
The New Jersey Department of Education’s fiscal accountability regulations had an impact on every facet of school districts' operations including public relations. The regs led to misinformation and questions among boards and administrators concerning the legality of school public relations that remain today. The New Jersey School Public Relations Association (NJSPRA) has the answers: Yes, the regs absolutely permit school districts to have a public relations function. NJSPRA's current president and immediate past-president will provide a crash course on the topic, reviewing the regs, discussing the value of and cost-effective approaches to school public relations and how NJSPRA can help districts make the most of their public relations budgets.
During this roundtable, presenters from the East Hanover Township school district will share fundraising efforts that they have initiated over the last five years. These events have increased the involvement of parents and community members in schools and have built goodwill and positive public perception of the schools while raising needed funds for district technology. Experiences discussed will include Serving Up School Spirit – Inter-Schools Parent Volleyball Game; iWalk-a-thon; Community Night of Respect; Parent Principal Breakfasts; and School-Based Planning Teams.
This session will highlight the importance of building relationships not only with your local media, but also with your education stakeholders. Participants will learn how to identify community stakeholders (commuters, senior citizens, parents, local government officials, etc.), and how to become Community Liaisons. Examine specific strategies of how a district currently executes a community relations plan throughout the year, not just when support is needed for a vote. Learn to creatively engage the community with the school system to continuously showcase tax dollars hard at work.
In this day and age of soundbytes, school communications consist of a myriad of touch points. Should one of those points be blogging? Participants will understand what a blog is, how to get started, the advantages and disadvantages of blogging, and will have the tools to determine if this is a method of communication appropriate for their district.
Einstein Fellows will make 5 minutes presentations on why they became a Fellow and what they accomplished during their fellowship. The Program Manager will talk about the benefits to districts and schools who support a Fellow and the relationships built with the sponsoring agencies.
School district financial resources are being stretched as never before. Employment costs continue to rise and the expectations of the public and the unions are often completely at odds. In this environment, negotiating school labor contracts becomes an even more difficult, and crucial, challenge. Come hear from experienced practitioners and school negotiators who will provide advice and information that can help your district achieve its bargaining goals.
The Perth Amboy Show Choir has received numerous awards and for two years consecutively, has won all categories including Grand Champions at the Fiesta-Val in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Choir has performed at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to standing ovations. In 2008, the Show Choir was one of only three schools selected to perform at the National School Board Association in Orlando, Florida. Their performance of a montage from Disney's The Lion King brought the audience to their feet. They have also performed at the State Theatre in New Brunswick as part of the Kids in Concert series and have performed at Princeton University.
In many districts not enough students are participating in school breakfast programs. Learn why it is important to do so and how districts and students can both benefit from increasing breakfast consumption. Discover the options available to districts, which they can implement in a team effort to increase breakfast participation in schools.
This session will discuss the importance of teaching the basics of personal finance to students as well as strategies for presenting information on credit, savings and budgeting to children.
This presentation will include an overview of newly adopted regulations that permit the issuance of certain refunding bonds without prior Local Finance Board approval, provided certain criteria are met, and the procedure for issuing such refunding bonds. Participants will also learn more about the use of Energy Savings Improvement Programs (ESIP) by school districts to finance the installation of new energy conservation measures.
Is your school district potentially liable for a claim of deliberate indifference? How quickly can you disseminate emergency information? Can your students or staff anonymously report a threat, bullying or harassment via two-way communication? Is it cost effective to send a news bulletin to your entire community? This presentation will discuss how districts can provide a secure, fast and efficient channel for the flow of information.
While the opportunities to create green school buildings continue to expand, integrating sustainability into your curriculum magnifies the benefits of green schools. School buildings as teaching tools create opportunities for students to see their school as a source of learning itself. Learn what you can do to turn your school into a learning tool.
This session will explore and clarify the role of school board members in the student disciplinary hearing process. How boards handle different types of discipline hearings will be discussed, including the topics such as board access to information, student confidentiality, victim complaints, student discipline appeals, and HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) hearings. Participants will review the required board disciplinary hearing process for expulsion, including the reasons to legally expel a student. The audience will have the opportunity to participate in case scenarios and ask questions.
Materials:
The world of physical security has changed. A few cameras throughout a building on a closed circuit television network are no longer adequate in today’s world. Now, physical security includes IP video cameras that are connected to the network, can be managed from anywhere, and can work in conjunction with card access technologies to truly protect your students and your investments. The presentation will discuss aspects of building security, including the ability to manage a physical security system from anywhere in your district, including on an iPad; video security systems as a tool to address bullying, vandalism, and theft in schools; card access integration to give different people access to different areas of buildings (computer labs, chemistry labs, etc.); and card access as a tool to secure lockers and even streamline attendance policies.
The presentation and the information available will feature how USGBC NJ chapter is the foremost leader promoting, advocating, and providing education for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of high performance buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, cost effective, productive, and healthy places to live, learn and work. It will also highlight Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for schools.
This presentation will help school districts determine whether they can save money on unused sick time and vacation payouts when employees retire.
This presentation will instruct school districts on how to undertake capital projects such as boilers, unit ventilators, and light fixture replacements at no additional cost to the taxpayer through the use of Energy Savings Improvement Programs.
The presentation will focus on banking services and the many changes that have affected the banking industry over that past few years. There will be a discussion of the Governmental Unit Deposit Protection Act (GUDPA); a supplemental insurance program to protect the deposits of local government agencies and municipalities, as well as the new collateralization requirements. The session will also discuss how to create an effective Request For Proposals (RFP) for banking services and help the participants understand what to look for from a bank.
This course is designed to provide educators with an in-depth understanding of the Common Core Standards, while instructing them to effectively navigate various Common Core web resources, and successfully use Common Core Standards with existing SMART Board lesson plans.
The OnCourse Observation and Evaluation Data System is a free, web-based software tool for New Jersey schools to manage the teacher and principal evaluation process. This powerful and flexible tool can be populated with the district’s evaluation instrument of choice and can be customized to comply with local and state mandates. This session will acquaint participants with an understanding of how the system can be used to schedule observations, including pre- and post-conferences, collect evidence, rate observations, provide feedback and produce summative evaluation reports, as well as use a mobile application to perform on-site observations and walk-throughs via a mobile device. All of this functionality is provided to New Jersey school districts at no cost and can be seamlessly integrated with their existing human resources or staff information systems.
The attorney-presenters, along with the vice-president of the Edison Township Board of Education,will discuss the implications of the McGovern v. Rutgers decision on the obligations of school boards under the Open Public Meetings Act. Participants will gain a better understanding of proper procedures for conducting a special meeting, notification requirements and the manner for proceeding in closed session, when necessary.
This session will discuss the advantages of a hosted communications and collaboration information technology (IT) solution. Hosted collaboration allows workers to streamline the collaborative process, raising productivity, allowing individuals to work together in real time, and reducing communications costs.
This presentation will discuss an educational intervention used in classes for special education students on the autistic spectrum. It entails finding the strengths and weaknesses of a child and building upon these skills in a teaching interaction. This technique can be applied in a general education classroom by identifying educational goals for students and developing specific strategies to help students reach them. Session participants will learn how teachers identify learning objectives, break them down into specific steps and implement a process that will help students achieve the objectives incrementally. This approach can be applied to help students reach both educational and behavioral goals.
During this hands-on session, participants will have the opportunity to be introduced to a medley of assistive technology tools that have proven to be successful educating students with diverse learning needs in the least restrictive environment.
A small group of our assistive technology team of elementary and middle school teachers will demonstrate the use of several programs that are assisting students with the access to the curriculum as well as promoting student engagement, work production and achievement. Student work samples will be presented, along with an opportunity for participants to try the programs.
In this session on best practices in pre-K-3rd grade education, participants will consider how school districts can plan for and design targeted strategies that are aimed at closing the achievement gap by third grade. The program will summarize state and national research on early learning and highlight implications for school districts by discussing the early learning initiative in Freehold Borough. The presentation will close with action steps for administrators and school board members to consider.
In order to enhance a positive school climate, Cinnaminson High School created some innovative projects which can be replicated in other schools. They include Project X, a schoolwide video that received 37,000 hits on YouTube, "pink compliment" cards, free hug day, the hands to acceptance project, a senior citizen computer literacy mission, blankets for the needy, food bank service and more.
In this cross-curricular, cross-grades level program, kindergarten and 3rd grade students explore concepts in music, science and language art using the master work of music, Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns. Students learn music concepts such as singing, dynamics, tempo, timber, and conducting. The kindergarteners share their ideas about animals with the third grade. The older students have the opportunity to be the “leaders”and they compose poetry about the animals and then read their poems at the concert. This program is an interactive performance that shares the classroom experience in a concert setting.
Using nonfiction books about celebrations, students worked with partners as researchers taking notes. After sharing notes and choosing four of their favorite celebrations, the students applied what they learned and wrote about the traditions they celebrate in their own homes. Students were guided through the drafting, editing, and the revising process. After finishing the writing process, the students had the opportunity to publish their work, creating a book with illustrations. All members of the class were able to learn more about the different cultures and traditions that fellow students observe. Parents were invited to a classroom celebration of the students' accomplishments and students were encouraged to bring in food or symbols that were related to the celebrations they wrote about.
The school district’s goal was to change the thinking of the high school community and to raise expectations. To prepare students to be successful in college, emphasis is placed on the course registration process and to appropriately place students into accelerated courses. An extensive rubric, which includes PSAT scores (administered annually to underclassmen), teacher recommendations, and classroom achievement, is used to place students in the most challenging courses. In the last four years, the number of AP exams given has risen from 226 to 349 exams, and the school has been recognized on the AP Honor Roll for the past two years.
This presentation will help participants understand program choices and give them the tools to determine the best educational option for their Autism Spectrum population of students. Considerations will include budgetary and programmatic advantages and disadvantages, as well as comparing in-district, out-of-district and newer hybrid approaches. Methods of involving the district stakeholders in any transition to a new model will be described and discussed by a panel of educators and parents who have experienced the successful use of each of these approaches.
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This program will highlight the value of a District Instructional Council as a forum that meets monthly to discuss and propose curricular and instructional issues. The District Instructional Council acts as a "bottom up" approach to vetting curricular and instructional topics through a group of staff members representing various schools and grade levels, as well as special and general education teachers, novice and veteran teachers, related arts teachers and administrators. Workshop participants will understand how this forum provides input and feedback on programs, initiatives and proposals in a collegial manner, thus assuring buy-in and a strong sense of professionalism and cooperation throughout the district. Innovations coming out of District Instructional Council are then advanced through the schools and the Board of Education Curriculum and Instruction Committee.
This presentation reviews effective ways to use social media within middle school Language Arts classes, focusing upon the effectiveness of social media to build critical reading, writing, and discussion skills.
Point Pleasant Borough Schools‘ operating philosophy centers around the belief that educators are the engineers of student achievement. The district is committed to ensuring that all teachers - veteran and novice - are equipped with the tools to achieve and maintain the highest levels of effectiveness throughout their careers. An intensive three-year Teacher Induction Program, along with staff engagement in consistent and meaningful professional development opportunities, unite district faculty toward the common goal of improving student outcomes.
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The program will discuss ideas on how to incorporate physical movement and gross motor skills into daily routines to assist children's awareness and understanding of their bodies, and will includes ideas for music, movement, and activities. By incorporating these principles daily, students show increased self-control, concentration, and social development. These initiatives are designed to be used in conjunction with a pre-planned physical education program.
This presentation will discuss the Graphic Biography project, a literacy technology project for fifth-grade students at Edgar Middle School in Metuchen that asks students to explore the life of a famous person. The purpose of the project is to teach students how to acquire new knowledge even if they know nothing about a particular topic. Students are taught how to build knowledge with a reliable first source and then use that knowledge to scaffold additional knowledge on the specific topic. Along the way, they are taught how to ask good questions to further refine their internet- based searches and to find extra bits of information without getting lost in a sea of search results. This project was highlighted at the New Jersey Department of Education Kid Tech Day in Trenton on April 18, 2012. Kid Tech Day showcases exemplifying best practices in technology that lead to student achievement in a specific content area.
Join with others to examine how creativity and innovation can revitalize a school district. Hear examples of innovative models that exist in the state from superintendents, principals, teachers and students. Learn what is happening in all subject areas to make schools incubators of innovation. This session is an exploration of creativity. What is creativity in the schools? Where do we find it? What does it look like? Schools across New Jersey are doing exciting, innovative things and this session will highlight some inspiring examples.
This session discusses the Anti-Bullying Collection, a compilation of stories written for and by children that address common issues related to bullying. Fourth and fifth grade students survey teachers in the primary grades to determine which issues are common among their students. They also study published children’s books to learn about the story elements and text features. Each student selects a bullying issue and writes a children’s book to teach a lesson about it. After publishing, the student-authors read their stories to children in the primary grades.
Billy Riggs, an inspirational speaker, uses humor and the power of illusion to entertain and motivate his audience.
Riggs' positive message is one educational leaders will appreciate: "by formulating, nurturing, and communicating the proper belief system, you can quickly inspire and motivate students, faculty, and staff to exemplary status."
He has spread his positive message to more than a million people on five continents, presenting before Fortune 500 corporations, school officials, and federal and statewide government agencies. For 17 years, he has used television, radio, books, videos, and his website (billyriggs.com) to spread his message. "The Magic of Education" will teach educators the power of dreams, optimism, perseverance and focus in the face of criticism or opposition.
Rutgers University's Institute of Marine & Coastal Sciences and Education/Public Outreach Group has been focused on taking a systems approach to learning about the ocean using real scientific data. Our goal is to design easy-to-use curriculum activities and simple, intuitve computer interfaces for accessing online data. We will highlight our efforts to bring current research and data into the classroom and present out Real-Time Date Framework that categorizes the different levels of student engagement with data, provides examples of how different type of data fit into education, and shows educators a pathway to increase learner data literacy.
This session will provide board members with background information on gifted students: who they are, how they are identified, and ways to meet their needs. There will also be discussion of the New Jersey Department of Education district requirements for gifted student education, which is part of the NJQSAC monitoring. In addition, session participants will review the terminology of the field of gifted education, such as acceleration, compacting curriculum, cluster grouping and differentiated instruction.
Your property and casualty insurance cost can be controlled! NJSBAIG’s expert in-house panel of Loss Control, Claims and Member Services will discuss school board legal liabilities your district faces and ways to avoid liability in your district. Learn how to keep dollars in the classroom!
The use of mobile devices such as iPads, Androids and iPhones in education have made today’s classroom is a more dynamic environment than ever before. Teachers and students can take part in interactive lessons and devise new educational strategies. But how can your district ensure that that it is able to take full advantage of these revolutionary technologies? Promedia will discuss topics such as: district readiness for mobile devices; the role of mobile device management systems such as JAMF Casper Suite; and developing a strategy for your district.
Challenging behavior is the language students use to communicate when demands of their environment are misaligned with their social, emotional, or adaptive capacities. Ramapo for Children, which provides direct service youth programs for children with a range of emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties, as well as training programs for adults, has helped hundreds of schools increase teacher satisfaction and keep students in the classroom by focusing on skills that bridge the gap between teachers’ formal training and the challenges of managing a classroom. Session participants will learn about exercising positive leadership, building relationships with children, structuring productive environments, coaching social and emotional skills and actively intervening as needed.
School districts can reduce printing costs by 30 percent or more through managed print services (MPS), the active management and optimization of document output devices. This presentation will discuss how MPS analyzes the current printing environment, and how districts can efficiently and securely collect usage data from their print fleet in order to cut costs, improve employee workflow and optimize infrastructure.
Session participants will learn about the total costs of managing today’s office technology and the requirements of the New Jersey Department of Archives and Record Management (DARM).
SMART technology can play a role in improving instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by engaging students in inquiry, discovery, and learning. In this session participants will learn how to successfully combine STEM concepts, proper pedagogical knowledge, and technology to help to make the material easier to understand and more engaging.
NJSSC is a network of prominent leadership organizations working together to educate key stakeholders on the best sustainable practices, technologies, and green curriculum that will help create healthier schools at lower costs and promote academic achievement.
This session will discuss the importance of teaching the basics of personal finance to students as well as strategies for presenting information on credit, savings and budgeting to children.
Many students who are failing, need credit recovery, are homebound or need summer school programs are looking for alternatives their local school doesn’t offer, such as a complete or blended online/at home education. Learnbeyond augments a school’s offerings without major cost and enables a district to retain students rather than losing them to a private or virtual school. This session will cover Learnbeyond’s e-learning tools, content and capabilities.
Empower your students to own their economic success-while meeting New Jersey's Core Curriculum Content Standards in financial literacy-at no cost to your school district. Junior Achievement Finance Park is an innovative, hands-on program that focuses on important elements of money management and career exploration. Participants will have a better understanding of the CCCS 9.2: Personal Financial Literacy, and see how their districts can take advantage of the partnerships JA has built with businesses and educators across the state of New Jersey.
School facility improvements have been a struggle in recent years, as districts have operated under significant fiscal challenges. But there are creative alternatives to accomplish these necessary tasks. The presentation will discuss these new choices that can help districts accomplish goals with minimal upfront capital outlay.
School districts work hard to ensure the quality of the core school day and to see that it meets both both state education requirements and student needs. Can you guarantee that same high quality experience in your before- and after-school programs? Two superintendents will share their insights on building strong out-of-school time experiences for students through their partnership with a national leader in extended learning programs.
Rutgers University has established a standards program for carpet to make sure carpets being selected for use meet the school’s guidelines for proper wear and ease of maintenance and that they are manufactured from materials that help create a healthy environment. This information will be helpful to schools so they can get the best return on the limited funds they invest in floor coverings.
Springfield Board of Education is in the midst of a $3.5 million upgrade of its athletic fields at a 9.38 acre tract, adjacent to the high school. The township and the school board plan to construct two synthetic turf athletic fields in an area currently occupied by both tennis courts and a natural turf baseball field. The board, along with its appointed engineer, coordinated extensively with the township on the design and funding of this project, a new community resource. The program presenters will discuss how funding was secured, as well as the details of and the lessons learned from the project.
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Students learn best when engaged in the material being presented and every educator’s challenge is to find innovative ways to promote student engagement. By adapting curriculum to incorporate a student-centered approach, teachers can promote student engagement and enable students to take control of their own learning experiences. This workshop will provide examples of creating student-centered learning activities which can be adapted across various disciplines. It will highlight units that have stimulated student interest though cross-curricular, differentiated, and service-based learning projects.
This program will discuss the iPad Explorers Club for fifth-grade students at Valley Road School. During the seven club meetings, which incorporate various activities and discussions, the students learn about different applications that are available for the iPad. The topics include outer space, geography, photography, ocean life, art, math, and dinosaurs. At the conclusion of the students’ time in the club, they write about their favorite application and explain how it can be brought into the classroom.
This session will examine the benefits of using models to increase understanding of complex systems in middle school science. Edgar Middle School has been working jointly with faculty from Rutgers University for several years to pilot a curriculum developed by an interdisciplinary group of biologists, educational psychologists, and computer scientists. The curriculum provides students with computer-based tools (simulations, models, and resources) that allow student learning through evidence gathering, model revision, and inquiry-based group collaboration.
This session will discuss a program that involves the entire school and staff, as well as parents. Each marking period, the staff is asked to nominate a student they feel has demonstrated an extraordinary act. We match their act with a trait or characteristic the staff tries to model and teach to the students each day. A committee reviews the nominations and prepares for a celebration. The student's parents are made aware through a letter that their child has been nominated and that he or she will be presented with a certificate. The nominated student is kept in the dark until the morning of the announcement.
The families and staff meet before school for the celebration. Our principal then introduces and explains in detail why the student was nominated. The student is then given a certificate and a special button to wear with pride. The “Making a Different program” provides wonderful moments for teachers and families to be a part of something important.
Metamorphosis is an interdisciplinary project that highlights the application of art and math curriculum and focuses on scale, proportion, geometric concepts, tessellations and measurement. Funded by a local non-profit organization, students recreated the artist M.C. Escher's mural, Metamorphosis, on a hallway wall in the building. Using a 1-to-4 ratio, students enthusiastically learned how to apply textbook principles to a real-life situation. This session will include a slide show highlighting phases of the project, and will also provide tips on creating a math scavenger hunt using the painting, and pre-project lesson outlines.
This presentation demonstrates how an eighth-grade general music course has evolved in order to reach the “other 80 percent” of students who are not in chorus, band or orchestra. The curriculum includes the use of technology in composition, whereby students create ringtones for their phones; the creation of a multimedia advertisement and jingle, as a cross-curricula with language arts persuasive writing; covers present-day issues such as teen hearing loss and discusses the tangle of copyright law as it pertains to the internet. Students in this course also learn how to play songs on piano and/or guitar.
This presentation will acquaint attendees with “Operation Superpower,” a fresh new approach to arts outreach, music appreciation and bullying. Meet three Julliard students who will deliver “Operation Superpower, ” an interactive superhero-themed classical music experience for students in grades ranging from primary through secondary. Operation Superpower can be presented as a school visit, in school assembly or in a subscription concert with a local symphony orchestra.
This session will focus on the necessary skills of reading readiness in kindergarten. The main focus will be on the importance of recognizing high-frequency words, identifying letter sounds and displaying phonemic awareness with the use of iPads.
School gardens can encourage good nutrition, wellness, healthy eating, outdoor activity, environmental awareness and more. Gardens can be integrated into the science curriculum. A board of education’s policies can be a force to get a vigorous school garden program going and growing in your district. Find out how school gardens are taking root in the Garden State.
This session will demonstrate how to create a safe space for students to communicate, resolve conflicts and help students acquire skills to communicate effectively in a structured setting. Having children sit down face-to-face and teaching conflict resolution skills in a formal manner helps students use the same skills in a less structured social setting. The center features guidelines, character education literature and visual solutions. Initially created for preschool but able to be tailored to any grade, the 'Talk It Out Center' would be a valuable addition to any classroom to teach respect and the importance of conflict resolution in a healthy safe environment.
In 2007 the release of the groundbreaking report on the state of arts education in our schools – “Within Our Power: The Progress, Plight and Promise of Arts Education for Every Child,” documented the status and condition of arts education in the state. The findings and recommendations contained in the report became the road map for providing access to and equity in arts education for all of our children. This presentation will delve into the 2011 update to the Census Report reviewing changes in the last five years regarding policy, resources, students, teachers and community as well as new recommendations for creating change.
The Hungry Writer’s Club, which meets during students’ entire lunch and recess period four times a month, has encouraged children to write, helping them develop writing strategies and skills. It allows students to express their thoughts and ideas while learning a variety of different writing techniques. Students have the opportunity to publish and share their completed stories. Second-graders and kindergartners also have the chance to work together as writing partners. The club ends with a Publishing Party to celebrate the completed writing pieces. The club also serves as a way for other teachers to come in and observe the format of a writer's workshop.
The new Common Core State Standards have arrived. Meanwhile in every district there are rising expectations for academic achievement and an increased focus on accountability. Joining media instruction together with curricular areas subject to assessment can help ensure every area of your K-12 instructional program is aligned to the Common Core. This presentation will demonstrate how the Jackson school district is designing its new “e-Library” to improve performance on standardized tests.
Participants will also learn about the value of the e-Library in strengthening the home-school and community-school connection, about the district’s Nook and iPad pilot programs and how the new Destiny library management system has created a more interactive and efficient culture in the media center.
Participants will be introduced to the Common Core Standards for nonfiction literature and to criteria for selection and use of nonfiction texts for reading instruction in the primary grades. Effective strategies for using nonfiction decodable texts for beginning reading will be demonstrated, as will ways to support student application of effective decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension skills and strategies through the use of a variety of nonfiction materials appropriate for early readers.
The program will demonstrate how students and parents can participate in a community service project together.
Attorneys participate in a scripted presenation of a board of education meeting featuring all the key players, as well as legal issues to discuss. After the presentation, participating attorneys will move from the Exhibit Floor Stage to one of the 7 Exhibit Floor Learning Lab locations for a 30 minute sessions presentated twice on a topic of their choice.
This interactive session will use selected hands-on activities from Projects' WILD, WET, Aquatic WILD and Learning Tree. Each mini-session will focus on a specific environmental resource or problem (forestry, wildlife, aquatic systems and water) for participants to examine, interpret and manage. Participants will learn how to employ field investigation methods with students for exploring and assessing the local environment, and discover how to guide students in meaningful dialogue and decision-making.
We invite you to join us for this afternoon’s session which is designed to help women in or aspiring to positions in educational leadership.
Most involved in public education agree that school districts in the state of New Jersey are facing more changes today than in any period of time in recent memory. Successfully managing changing expectations is the key to thriving as a school leader. Please plan to join the members of the Women’s Caucus for an informative session in which leaders in education and business will share successful strategies for not only adjusting to change but to flourishing under conditions of uncertainty. A distinguished panel will address the issue of managing change and then lead those in attendance in a networking activity designed to widen the circle of contacts for participants. Participants are asked to bring business cards to the session.
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Discover ready-to-use investigations for students to use at their school to learn about water and energy conservation, indoor air quality, waste and recycling and the outdoor environment. Students will understand "how to think, not what to think" about local issues and become empowered to take positive action on behalf of the environment. Session participants will learn how to take this program back to their school and use immediately. Handouts will be provided.
This session is designed to orient participants to the requirements of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. The session will focus on the provisions of the law, including the requirements for harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) policies, district and school staff functions, and HIB reporting and investigation procedures. Attention will be given to HIB best practices research, school climate improvement and action planning. Time will be provided for participant questions.
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Demonstration will feasture recycling inplements and samples, slides, photos, models and lessons/handouts. Talk will focus on how to set-up a recycling program and the role of the board.
Does your district feel overwhelmed by issues raised by the use of social media? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other outlets continue to grow and districts do not not want to be left behind. This session will discuss the legal implications of the use and misuse of social media.
This presentation will provide an overview of the Open Public Meetings Act and the Open Public Records Act and review how board members’ use of email and text messaging to discuss board business is governed by those laws. Recent and pending legislation amending the laws will be examined.
This session will examine how boards of education go about conducting hearings on issues such as student discipline, residency, and Donaldson appeals. The discussion will focus on procedures, time allotment, live testimony and documentary evidence. Participants will learn the types of questions boards should ask of their staff and of parents and students. Another important component that will be reviewed is the role of the "Hearing Officer," who is usually the board attorney.
This session will detail the legal limits of disciplining students for conduct away from school grounds, and will discuss the recent court decisions regarding the Ramapo and Haddonfield school districts. Topics reviewed will include the nexus between the conduct off school grounds and the school day, what constitutes discipline and privilege, and how random drug testing may assist boards in ensuring their student athletes do not engage in alcohol or drug use.
State school facilities aid is on hold. School districts are proceeding with smaller, essential projects anyway and finding that low interest rates and construction costs may offset lost state assistance. Districts may combine needed capital improvements with savings from energy savings projects, refund or retire debt from earlier projects, or use other budget strategies to make facilities improvements possible. Projects may include current and capital fundings, small bond issues, equipment leases, facilities leases, energy savings, financing shared service programs or county improvement authority financing on several of these. Program participants will learn about various alternative financing plans, and will be better equipped to make informed decisions on choosing the most effective financing program to meet a district’s needs.
This program will address the topic of public participation at Board of Education meetings. Issues considered will include attempts to restrict the content of public comments, limitations on the length of comments, and suggestions for dealing with the public at meetings. This 30-minute program will be presented twice during the hour-long time slot.
This session will spotlight revisions in the state’s tenure law and the new timelines and standards for attaining tenure. Presenters will also highlight the key legal principles involved in observation, evaluation and development of corrective action plans for non-tenured and tenured staff. The proposed statewide evaluation rubric will be discussed, as well as the new requirements related to teacher mentoring and targeted professional development. The presentation will conclude with a review of the new process for inefficiency charges as well as due process revisions applicable to all tenure charges.
New Jersey's continued population growth and expanding competition for water progressively strain the state's limited water resources. Curtailing unnecessary water waste in our everyday life is essential for maintaining a safe and reliable water supply in the foreseable future. The NJ Water Champions Project works with youth to raise tehir consciousus about water conservation so it becomes standard practice.
School districts have many attractive ways to address the high costs of energy today that go beyond solar systems. New Jersey has been at the forefront of energy programs and offers several programs for districts to consider, some at little or no cost to the district. This session will address how a district can make sense of all these options and provide districts with a blueprint to use in developing a comprehensive long-range energy plan to meet individual energy needs.
Highly successful educational foundations can bring millions of dollars of revenue to tackle critical academic, artistic and athletic needs that are lacking support in the school district. Foundations will become even more important to ensure every student’s success. With school districts budgets not being able to support fundamental learning opportunities critical to student, foundations will be asked to help share the burden. But foundations need proper alignment of priorities. The session will demonstrate how online academic courses supported by the foundation will broaden the horizon of students in all academic areas, and how foundations have supported “students-at-risk” programs.
With school districts budgets not being able to support fundamental learning opportunities critical to student, foundations will be asked to help share the burden.
NJSBA’s governmental relations department monitors pending legislation, works with state legislators, advocates for boards of education before state and federal lawmakers, and works with other state and federal education associations, as well as individual board members.
Legislators and NJSBA's governmental relations staff will provide information on the legislative issues currently impacting public education in New Jersey. The session will also include a question and answer session.
Learning Ally, formerly called Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, has accessible educational materials, support and services. Session participants will gain a deep understanding of the needs of diverse learners, be introduced to the range of effective educational solutions available, and discover how Learning Ally works with boards of education to assist schools, parents, teachers and students.
This session will introduce participants to the NJ Sustainable Schools Consortium (NJSSC), which is a network of leadership organizations, private companies, programs, and services promoting the greening of NJ Schools through collaborative action and the leveraging of resources. Participants will learn about sustainable best practices, polices, technologies, and green curriculum that can assist districts in creating healthier schools at lower costs, with improved student achievement. It will feature programs such as Green Ribbon Schools, Green Schools Leadership Institute, NJ Sustainable Schools Conference, Project Learning Tree – Green Schools!, and more, that are ready to assist districts in implementing a green strategic plan. The session will feature a panel of experts from EIRC, NJASA, and the Egg Harbor School District.
Due to the recent signing by the Governor on Sept 21st, 2012, of Senate Bill 1753 and Assembly Bill 2313, the NJBPU has new responsibilities. It would be our intention at your workshop to explain NJ BPU's new responsibilities and ways that we can help school districts through the process, to enjoy energy capital improvements, without the use of referendum. While developing and energy savings program certain improvements can be made with grants, as well as using the saved energy costs to make these same improvements.
PLEASE NOTE: Separate registration for this program is required.
Learn about recent developments in existing law and emerging issues. Practicing school board attorneys will draw upon research and their own experiences in addressing the latest court decisions, administrative rulings, and statutes and code that affect public education and school district governance.
Topics for the School Law Forum include:
COST (Registration fee includes a continental breakfast and buffet lunch.)
REGISTER NOW - Registration may be done online, but only by the school business administrator. Business administrators wishing to register officials from their districts should complete the following online form. Please have a scanned purchase order ready to attach to the registration. For questions regarding registration, email the NJSBA Call Center at callcenter@njsba.org.
Reelected/Reappointed Board Members in the first year of any succeeding term – Legal Update
Please Note: Pre-registration for mandated training is not included with the general workshop registration. Registration is required through your district office.
