Bill Text: NJ A2097 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Revises requirement for school district participation in Alliance for Competitive Telecommunications program and requires consultation with New Jersey Association of School Business Officials on certain training.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A2097 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2097-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Revises requirement for school district participation in Alliance for Competitive Telecommunications program and requires consultation with New Jersey Association of School Business Officials on certain training.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning school district accountability and amending P.L.2007, c.53 and P.L.1991, c.393.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2007, c.53 (C.18A:55-3) is amended to read as follows:
1. As a condition of receiving State aid, a school district shall:
a. examine all available group options for every insurance policy held by the district, including any self-insurance plan administered by the New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group on behalf of districts, and shall participate in the most cost effective plans;
b. take steps to maximize the district's participation in the federal Universal Service Program (E-rate) and the ACT telecommunications program offered through the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, unless, in the case of the ACT telecommunications program, the district is able to demonstrate to the commissioner that it receives goods or services at a cost less than or equal to the cost achieved by participants in the program;
c. participate in the Alliance for Competitive Energy Services (ACES) Program offered through the New Jersey School Boards Association, unless the district is able to demonstrate to the commissioner that it receives goods or services at a cost less than or equal to the cost achieved by participants in the program;
d. take appropriate steps to maximize the district's participation in the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) Program, with maximum participation defined by the commissioner; and
e. refinance all outstanding debt for which a 3% net present value savings threshold is achievable.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.53, s.1)
2. Section 13 of P.L.1991, c.393 (C.18A:12-33) is amended to read as follows:
13. a. Each newly elected or appointed board member shall complete during the first year of the member's first term a training program to be prepared and offered by the New Jersey School Boards Association, in consultation with the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and the Department of Education, regarding the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as a local school board member. The training program shall include information regarding the school district monitoring system established pursuant to P.L.2005, c.235, the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, and the five key components of school district effectiveness on which school districts are evaluated under the monitoring system: instruction and program; personnel; fiscal management; operations; and governance.
The board member shall complete a training program on school district governance in each of the subsequent two years of the board member's first term.
b. Within one year after each re-election or re-appointment to the board of education, the board member shall complete an advanced training program to be prepared and offered by the New Jersey School Boards Association. This advanced training program shall include information on relevant changes to New Jersey school law and other information deemed appropriate to enable the board member to serve more effectively.
c. The New Jersey School Boards Association, in consultation with the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, shall examine options for providing training programs to school board members through alternative methods such as on-line or other distance learning media or through regional-based training.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.53, s.17)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under current law, as a condition of receiving State aid each school district is required to take steps to maximize the district's participation in the federal Universal Service Program (E-rate) and the Alliance for Competitive Telecommunications (ACT) Program offered through the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials. The bill provides that, in the case of the ACT telecommunications program, the requirement will not apply if a district is able to demonstrate to the Commissioner of Education that it receives goods or services at a cost less than or equal to the cost achieved by participants in the program.
The bill also directs the New Jersey School Boards Association to consult with the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials when the board considers options for providing training programs to school board members through alternative methods such as on-line or other distance learning media or through regional-based training.
