Membership: More Than You Pay For.
June 18, 2010
By now you should have received your membership renewal packet in the mail. In it we remind you why it pays to be a member of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. We remind you that as an active member:
You are represented by the Association if you face legal issues in your role as a supervisor, principal, assistant/vice principal, or in other administrative positions.
You have experts here to advise you on pension and benefit issues. We assure you that we’re here when you’re facing job losses, and to advocate on your behalf in Trenton.
Membership makes good financial sense. And today, good financial decisions are critical. Where else can you get this array of services, this comprehensive assurance, this sort of expert advice, for $800?
We get many letters of thanks from members who find themselves in a tough spot. Here are a few sighs of relief from your fellow NJPSA members:
What members are saying
"Among the many very sound reasons to belong to the NJPSA …there is an opportunity to have truly outstanding legal assistance at no personal cost to oneself."
"I just wanted to say thank you for your assistance over the past few days as we worked on the ratification of our contract extension…Thanks to you and everyone else who helped us out…"
"I want to thank you for spending so much quality time with me ... I have followed your advice and met with the Acting Superintendent in my district, to inform him that NJPSA and their legal team has assured me that I have tenure in this district as a supervisor (at the least) and quite likely as a Principal."
"These are frustrating times—full of stress and hectic. People are quick to complain and slow to compliment.
After 36 years in public education I find retirement being “thrust upon me” by Governor Christie. I have a son who still has a few years of college to go and I’m not really ready to retire. Of course, I have questions about the August 1 deadline, the 1.5% health give-back, and the new retirement formula, so as a member of NJPSA I contacted your team.
I couldn’t believe how professional both Karen LaFata and Chuck Stein were with me. After a brief phone conversation with Karen, I was amazed to receive a follow-up email in less than one minute (especially since I hadn’t given Karen my email). She provided me with a quick link for following all the everyday happenings surrounding NJ Educators’ Retirement Reform. Furthermore, she contacted Chuck and had him call me.
Chuck Stein was equally professional and he really helped to provide some support at a time when my retirement decision is difficult and pressured. His phone call came shortly after my conversation with Karen. Although I missed his first call (I was out of my office and it went to voicemail), he was very prompt in getting back to me. His advice was sound and comforting.
Now, at least for the time being, I am sitting on my decision to await pending changes that might affect my pension at retirement. I thought you should know that these two folks are stellar and that I am glad I’m a member of NJPSA."
"Today I had the most pleasant experience with NJPSA, and I just had to tell you about it. In particular, I would like to formally mention, Ms. Karen LaFata for going above and beyond in order to help me.
NJPSA provides membership services that I often take advantage of in order to save money or to find a trusted name. Recently divorced, there were paperwork issues like updating beneficiaries and reinstating eye insurance coverage that I needed to take care of this week. Ms. LaFata, promptly and thoroughly responded to all of my questions and provided me with the necessary documents via email. Unfortunately in the turmoil of the year, I missed the open window for the EyeMed insurance. Without knowing all of this or even being asked, Ms. LaFata took it upon herself to make a call and get me in for this term with the company. People going above and beyond these days is too often a rarity. I am quickly finding out how financially daunting raising two young girls on one salary can be. It may not sound like a big deal for most, but having eye insurance for the three of us has just saved me hundreds of dollars and allows me to schedule eye appointments sooner rather than later. Quite simply, this one simple of act of kindness and professionalism meant more than you can imagine. I hope that you also commend Ms. LaFata for her efforts. NJPSA is lucky to have such a patient, committed and proficient employee."
Helping Members Make Tough Financial Decisions
The question of retirement has been moved off the back burner for many NJPSA members this year as events in Trenton forced members to think about it in ways they hadn’t before.
The decision to retire—when, why, and all the implications thereof, must be carefully considered. Hasty decisions made today can have far-reaching consequences. And often it takes real experts to identify those consequences.
As your advocates, the NJPSA staff wants to make sure you always make decisions based on the best available information. To that end, in FY 2009, NJPSA staff held 240 individual, personalized retirement sessions for members and helped hundreds of members in group sessions over several live workshops.
In these sessions, scenarios are played out to determine, for example, what impact retiring earlier versus staying and contributing more to healthcare or taking a wage freeze would actually have on post-retirement income. Advice from NJPSA retirement and pension experts has been invaluable to members facing such decisions.
A Network 8000 Strong
A professional network is essential today, and as an NJPSA member you have 8000 fellow members to network with, share best practices with, get introductions, and learn about what’s going on outside your district.
Your Voice in Trenton - NJPSA Government Relations
Members of the NJPSA Government Relations Department are your advocates in Trenton, lobbying for legislation that supports sound educational policies, that protects the rights of students, teachers, and administrators, that provides fair financial support to schools, and much more. Here’s a sampling of what they’ve accomplished this year.
School Funding and ARRA
New Jersey’s finances, like many states’, served as a backdrop for change in 2009 as local districts, municipalities, states and the nation grappled with the revenue difficulties wrought by recession. Throughout the year, declining revenues forced adjustments in spending. In fact, districts were forced to forgo a state payment going into the state’s current fiscal year in order to balance last year’s budget. Declining revenues also forced the State to trim its pension contribution for another year, which NJPSA strongly opposed.
From conversations with our federal delegations to participation in discussion on the Race to the Top grant application to filing formal comments on proposed regulatory changes, NJPSA worked tirelessly on behalf of members and students. 2009 did see a significant advancement in the area of school finance. The New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA) in yet another decision in Abbott v. Burke, so long as the Legislature continues to fully fund the formula. This decision establishes an important framework for funding discussions in fiscal year 2011-12.
The Election
2009 also proved to be a year of significant political change at the state level. NJPSA kept our members informed throughout the 2009 election cycle, launching a web page providing our members with voting records of Assembly candidates, as well as the position statements from all candidates on education issues in the pivotal gubernatorial race.
Following the election of Governor Chris Christie, NJPSA was invited to serve on his Educational Transition Team to plan for the work of the incoming Christie Administration. NJPSA President, Frank Palatucci, represented the perspective of NJPSA members on a broad range of issues including school funding, mandate relief tenure and seniority, and school choice. His work, in collaboration with Government Relations staff, led to many positive recommendations in the final Transition Team report.
Regulatory Change
NJPSA also focused its efforts on advocating for change in the renewal of the “Accountability Regulations” which caused severe restrictions in professional development options and school employee travel. With the change in administration, and our work on the Transition Team, the Christie Administration has made a commitment to review the adverse impact of these regulations on students and schools.
Mandate Relief
NJPSA was also involved with the Transition Team and the Legislature in advocating for mandate relief. Throughout the year we testified before several legislative and executive branch bodies, presenting data from our members on the most burdensome laws and regulations affecting our schools.
Student Health and School Safety
From ensuring that districts notify each other of a student’s felony charges to student diabetes treatment, the Legislature focused on requiring schools to do more with less in 2009. NJPSA was there to advocate for members every step of the way. NJPSA successfully lobbied the Legislature to improve legislative language in the following:
- Limitations on a district’s obligation to comply with enhanced reporting requirements when 18 year old students transfer to a new school;
- Increased flexibility in how parents receive notification of soil contamination;
- Key amendments to legislation concerning the treatment of diabetic students in school including immunity language for staff, requirements that self-administering students comply with school and state regulations concerning the handling of medical waste; and staff training of voluntary delegates who administer glucagon in an emergency by the school nurse;
- Limitations on the regulation of temperature and climate in school buildings;
- Language clarifying legislation concerning school fire and security drills which limits the length of the security drills to the time required for a standard fire drill;
- Key changes to proposed legislation that would require criminal background checks on school volunteers; and
- The inclusion of a NJPSA representative on legislative taskforces such as special education funding, traumatic brain injury and educational security.
On these and other bills, NJPSA lobbyists met with legislators, issued Action Alerts to members, and testified on each bill throughout the legislative process. NJPSA members played a role by testifying before legislative committees and the State Board, contacting their legislators and serving on NJPSA committees.
Bullying, Cyber Safety, and Drop-out Prevention
From bullying to drop-out prevention, NJPSA successfully advocated for a seat at the table on legislative taskforces and commissions. In 2009, NJPSA Past President Pat Wright ably represented the association on the NJ Bullying Commission which developed detailed recommendations on the prevention and response to bullying in New Jersey Schools.
In response to the growing issue of cyber safety in schools, NJPSA’s advocacy team developed and disseminated a Cyber Safety Toolkit for member use. This one-of-a-kind toolkit was shared with members, legislators, law enforcement and policymakers to assist leaders as they navigate the uncharted waters of students and cyberspace. NJPSA lobbyists utilized the toolkit to promote our members’ concerns with key legislators on cyber safety legislation.
NJPSA also partnered with the New Jersey Graduation Campaign, an affiliate of America’s Promise Alliance, on an initiative to prevent dropouts and increase high school graduation rates. A coalition of education stakeholders, government officials, business owners, community leaders, parents, and students, released the group’s proposal, “Cradle to College and Workforce Pipeline for all Children” in 2009 based upon many recommendations that NJPSA put forth. The proposal serves as a drop-out prevention blueprint for New Jersey in the future. As 2010 begins, the NJPSA Government Relations team will continue to rise to each advocacy challenge facing our members.
Active Member Benefits
The following are just some of the benefits provided to members in the Active member category:
- Legal Services and Labor Relations*
- Legislative Representation
- Educational Research
- Professional Development
- The School Leadership Institute
- Retirement Counseling
- NAESP and NASSP Affiliations
- Salary Survey
- Term Life and AD&D Insurance*
- NJPSA Star Advantage - complimentary workshop (begins with Fall workshops)*
*Does not apply to retired, aspiring, or private school members.
Keep your vital benefits active. Join or Renew Now!
Fill in the membership materials you receive in the mail and send back to us, or check here next week for the 2010-2011 application.