Letters: N.J. school boards group gives Christie ideas an A
The New Jersey School Boards Association supports many of the education proposals presented by Gov. Christie's transition team ("Christie advisers call for tough new school rules," Thursday). Clearly, public schools and taxpayers would benefit from the easing of state regulations, as well as changes in labor law that would strengthen school boards' position in bargaining. Unfortunately, the article does not cite NJSBA's support for these types of changes. That's a serious omission, since we represent 588 local boards of education.
For example, there was no reference to the fact that NJSBA welcomes the proposal to restore a local school board's ability to implement its "last, best offer" when contract negotiations are fully exhausted. This is a concept prevalent in public-sector labor law in other jurisdictions, and one that would help balance the bargaining process in New Jersey. Nor did the article cite our agreement with the transition team on troublesome and costly legislation that would require arbitration over an expanded number of personnel decisions.
NJSBA's recommendations on these and other labor-management issues are reflected in the team's report. In addition, my staff and I met in person with the team's subcommittee to discuss the micromanaging, unnecessary, and burdensome parts of state regulations, and the school-district monitoring process. Many of the transition team's recommendations would alter the status quo. For the New Jersey School Boards Association, such an event would be welcomed.
Marie S. Bilik
Executive director
New Jersey School Boards Association
Trenton
