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    njasa logoNEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

    Press Release: For Immediate Release

    Contact: Anne H. Gallagher, NJASA Director of Communications, 609-599-2900, ext. 126 agallagher@njasa.net
     
    • Chief education officers – school superintendents – school leaders and NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza are available for interviews related to the NJASA Regional Summits. Upon request, digital photos can be provided.
     
     
    NJASA Summits Serve Double Duty
    Reflect the Mood of the State
    Open New Channels of Information for School Leaders
     
     

    TRENTON, N.J., March 19, 2010 In his opening remarks at the New Jersey Association of School Administrator (NJASA) Annual Regional Summits, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza addressed the “double whammy” that New Jersey’s public school districts are experiencing from the reduction of $475 million in surplus funds and the proposed five percent decrease in 2009-2010 budget monies.

    The Summits, sandwiched around Governor Chris Christie’s budget speech during this week of March 15th, offered a Legislative Session and an Executive County Superintendents’ Panel Discussion that provided a welcomed opportunity for chief education officers and school leaders of nearly one third of New Jersey’s diverse school districts, to exchange perceptions, concerns and ideas regarding the current state of New Jersey’s fiscal crisis. Needless to say, smiles and pleasantries were out and a high level of concern, frustration and anxieties were in.

    An additional Summit feature was several exceptional speakers with exciting topics that were the perfect ingredients to whet the appetite of chief education officers and school leaders in their search to open new channels of information.

    Some of the agenda topics offered included: the New Federal Focus, Implications for Curriculum Development, the New Special Review Assessment (SRA), and the

    New Health Plan for Diabetic Students.

    According to NJASA Executive Director Bozza, “The intention of the Summits’ small group sessions was to provide insights for school leaders in the daily management of their respective school districts. Idea-sharing in this environment is a very positive and rewarding professional development program.”

    Summit attendees were also able to expand their reference libraries by taking back to their districts numerous hand-out materials and access to electronic files and password- protected Internet sites.

    The NJASA Regional Summits, proven tried-and-true programs, were held at Kean University, Union, on March 15th and The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Mays Landing, on March 17th.

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    About NJASA: The New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) is an organization of Chief Education Officers and school administrators leading school districts in New Jersey’s 21 counties. The Association’s mission is to ensure a superior statewide system of education. Through ongoing professional training and education, the association shares knowledge about best practices both from an educational and administrative perspective among its members. Its goal is to move education forward by ensuring the highest quality of instruction for all of New Jersey’s children.