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KeyPost A PUBLICATION OF

THE NEW JERSEY

ASSOCIATION OF

SCHOOL BUSINESS

OFFICIALS

NJASBO.COM | 609.689.3870 | MAY 2020

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IN THIS ISSUE:CELEBRATING THOMAS ELDRIDGE – SBA OF THE YEAR SBA OF THE YEAR

SLATE OF OFFICERS

BUSINESS “UNUSUAL”

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONFERENCE IN 2020

FEDERAL LEAVE LAWS

BEING MINDFUL

COUNTY PRESIDENTS

ASBO INTERNATIONAL REPORT

NJASBO 2020-2021 SLATE OF OFFICERS

Typically, a Distinguished Service Award recipient is at the office when NJASBO delivers the news that he or she is the SBA of the Year. But there is nothing typical about 2020!

Instead of the usual office visit, a caravan of cars and mask-wearing colleagues surprised Lawrence Township Public Schools Business Administrator/Board Secretary Thomas Eldridge at his home!

The NJASBO Board of Trustees has approved its Slate of Officers for the 2020-2021 school year.

Philip H. Nisonoff, Ed.D. PresidentPhilip H. Nisonoff, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Schools and Business Administrator/Board Secretary for the Emerson Board of Education, will serve as President for the 2020-2021 school year.

Philip joined Emerson in 1994, serving a stint as Interim Superintendent of Schools from December

2011 until June 2013. He also has been the Treasurer of School Moneys for the Demarest Board of Education since September 2001, and the Treasurer of the South Bergen Workers’ Compensation Pool since July 2015.

Before joining Emerson, Philip was a mathematics teacher, coordinator of management information systems, and a business administrator intern at the Galloway Township Board of Education from 1989 until 1994. He also spent two years at South River High School (1987-1989) as a mathematics and computer science teacher.

He holds a doctorate in education from Fordham University, and a master’s in Educational Administration/School Business Administration from Kean College Graduate School of Education.

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Sue Young and members of the NJASBO Executive Committee joined Lawrence Township Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ross Kasun, along with members of the district’s Board of Education and central office administrators and staff, in cheering, clapping, and waving signs and balloons. Everyone practiced social distancing during the celebration.

It was definitely a surprise for a Tuesday, as was the camera crew from 6ABC in Philadelphia, a cake, and special cookies provided by Betty Bright, Assistant Business Administrator for Hamilton Township School District.

Congratulations Tom!

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His bachelor’s degree in mathematics is from Rutgers University. Philip also was an adjunct instructor of School Finance for the Educational Administration Master’s Program at Fordham University Graduate School of Education.

For NJASBO, Philip is a past Chairman of the Legislative Committee and is a certified School Business Administrator Mentor. He is a past President of the Bergen County Association of School Business Officials and a former Executive Director of the Bergen County Banking Consortium.

Philip was appointed by Governor John Corzine to serve as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Special Education Review Commission for 2006-2007. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the South Bergen Workers’ Compensation Pool since 1998.

Philip is a past recipient of the Bergen County ASBO’s Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession, and the Distinguished Service Award in Recognition of Outstanding Leadership and Contributions to Education. He also has been the recipient of NJASBO’s Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession, and the Distinguished Service Award in Recognition of Distinguished Service to the Emerson School District.

Philip resides in Emerson with his wife Jennifer and four children: Tyler, Hunter, Spencer, and Sophie.

Diane S. Fox, CPA Immediate Past PresidentMiddle Township Board of Education Business Administrator/Board Secretary Diane S. Fox will serve as the Immediate Past President of NJASBO for the 2020-2021 school year.

Diane has been the Business Administrator for Middle Township since June 2012. But that was not her first time in Middle Township. She served as the fiscal officer for the district from 2000 to 2004.

Additionally, Diane also spent eight years (2004-2012) with the Cape May County Special Services School District, where she originally was the Assistant Business Administrator responsible for performing all business administrator duties for the West Cape May Board of Education. After three years, Diane became the Business Administrator/Board Secretary for the district.

Diane began her career in the private sector within the accounting department at Atlantic City Electric and was the managing partner for a small accounting office in Ocean City. She also spent summers managing a restaurant, which gave her insight into the vibrant, yet demanding tourism industry. Diane says these positions have helped in her role as a school business administrator, because “as you all know, the problems and issues that we face are never easy or the same.”

In addition to being a trustee for NJASBO and past President of the Cape May County ASBO, Diane also is a member of ASBO International, NJSCPA, and AICPA.

Diane received her bachelor’s in accounting from Stockton State College (now Stockton University). After encouragement from fellow business administrators, Diane went on to earn her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Thomas Edison State College. She now not only holds her CPA certificate and Business Administrator Certification, but also is a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO). Diane presently is in the dissertation phase for her doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a K-12 Education Focus from Grand Canyon University.

She lives in Cape May Court House with her husband Rodney and two children, Charles and Jennifer. Diane’s other daughter Elizabeth, her

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husband, and Diane’s two grandchildren live nearby, so there never is a dull moment in the Fox household.

Robert Colavita President-Elect Robert (Bob) Colavita, Assistant Superintendent for Finance/Board Secretary for the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, will serve as President-Elect for the 2020-2021 school year.

Bob first joined Hopewell Valley in 2002. He served as Assistant Business Administrator from August 2002 until June 2007, when he was promoted to Business Administrator/Board Secretary.

Before joining Hopewell Valley, Bob was an elementary school teacher for the Flemington-Raritan Regional School District, where he taught second-grade from 1996 to 1999. He then spent three years at the Bernards Township School District (1999-2002) as a fourth-grade teacher.

Bob also worked in the private sector for the Amerada Hess Corporation as a corporate accountant, and for the Haagen-Dazs Corporation as plant controller, when the facility was in Woodbridge, NJ.

In his off hours, Bob spends time assisting his father in the management of the family’s Christmas tree farm.

Bob holds a master’s in Educational Administration/School Business Administration from Rider University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the College of New Jersey. His bachelor’s degree in Business Administration is from Rider University.

For NJASBO, Bob has served on the Conference Committee for many years, as well as on the Budget Committee. He has been a frequent presenter and panelist at NJASBO and NJSBA

workshops and conferences. Bob also is a past President of the Mercer County Association of School Business Officials.

Bob is a seven-time recipient of ASBO Inter- national’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting. In addition, the Hopewell Valley Recre-ation Foundation has recognized Bob for his hard work and efforts in support of its mission.

Bob resides in Yardley, PA, and enjoys spending time with his family in a myriad of pursuits, and watching his children compete in sports.

Richard Kaz First Vice PresidentRichard Kaz, Business Administrator/Board Secretary for the Northern Burlington County Regional School District, will serve as First Vice President for the 2020-2021 school year.

Richard began his Business Administrator career at Northern Burlington in 2002, which is a regional district (grades 7-12) serving the communities of Chesterfield, Mansfield, North Hanover, and Springfield Townships, along with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Before joining Northern Burlington, Richard worked in the Moorestown Township Public School District from 1997 to 2002, as Assistant to the Superintendent with responsibilities for human resources, budgeting, public relations, and transportation.

Richard also worked in private industry as the Chief Financial Officer for The Association of Independent Growth, Inc. (TAIG), a Philadelphia nonprofit organization. He helped lead TAIG from a $300,000 annual budget to a $13,000,000 annual budget during his 13 years with the organization.

For NJASBO, Richard has served on several committees, and was NJASBO’s NJSIAA

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representative for two years. He currently is the co-chair of the Public Relations Committee. Richard is a three-time recipient of ASBO International’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting. He also is a past President of the Burlington County Association of School Business Officials. Richard is a member of the board of trustees for both the Burlington County Insurance Pool Joint Insurance Fund and the School Pool for Excess Liability Limits (SPELL) Joint Insurance Fund.

Richard earned a bachelor’s in accounting from Niagara University (NU), where he played four years of club ice hockey. He also attended Rowan University, where he earned a School Business Administrator Standard Certificate.

He founded the Parish School Advisory Council for St. Mary of The Lakes Catholic School in Medford, NJ, served on the Parish Finance Committee, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6520. Richard also coached youth ice hockey for more than 20 years.

Richard and wife Sarah have been married for 34 years and raised three boys, Richard III, Christopher, and Peter.

Gail Libby Second Vice PresidentGail Libby, Business Administrator for the Mount Olive Township School District, will serve as Second Vice President for NJASBO for the 2020-2021 school year.

Gail began her school business career in 2003 as Business Manager and Assistant Principal at the Stepping Stone School. Gail joined High Bridge School District as the Business Administrator/Board Secretary in 2011. In 2013, she served as the Business Administrator/Board Secretary for the Lopatcong Township School District. Gail joined the Hackettstown School District later in 2013, where she served as the Business Administrator/Board Secretary until 2019.

For her own education, Gail earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Caldwell College. She also holds a master’s in Taxation from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a master’s in Project Management from The George Washington University. Additionally, she holds New Jersey certifications for Business Administrator and Principal, has a Low Pressure Boiler License, and is a Qualified Purchasing Agent.

Gail worked in private industry from 1987 until joining the Stepping Stone School in 2003. She served as a junior accountant at Ricoh Corporation, a senior accountant for Dun & Bradstreet, and was a financial manager for AT&T.

She has been an adjunct online instructor since 2002 for Northampton Community College, where she teaches Personal Finance, Income Tax Accounting, and Managerial Accounting. From 2003 until 2007, Gail also was an off-campus instructor for incarcerated persons in Pennsylvania, teaching Personal Finance.

Gail has been an active member of NJASBO since 2003, and has been on various committees including Legislative, Conference, and Budget, among others. She is a member of the Morris County ASBO and was a member of the Hunterdon-Warren County ASBO from 2003 to 2019, where she was Treasurer from 2013-2017, and Warren County President for 2017-2019. Gail also is a member of ASBO International. She continues to serve as a member of the School Alliance Insurance Fund (SAIF), where she currently is Board Chairperson. She also has served as SAIF Vice Chair and Secretary. Gail also is the Chair of the Claims Committee and is the SEL representative for SAIF. She also has been the Chair of the Safety Committee.

Lopatcong is home for Gail and her collie Gabriel, where she enjoys cooking, baking and playing the piano. She also is a distance bike rider, an avid hiker, weightlifter, and participates in CrossFit. She claims to be a life-long Pittsburgh Steeler fan.

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IS BUSINESS “UNUSUAL” THE NEW USUAL?

The work life of a Business Administrator often is marked by challenges, but few – if any – can match up to those encountered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Lucy often said in the Peanuts cartoons, “Good grief, Charlie Brown!”

Good grief, indeed – schools are closed, teachers are holding classes online, parents are teachers, teachers are trying to parent their own children, bus drivers are delivering meals, lunch room staff are trying to keep students fed while standing six-feet apart, and the Business Administrators are trying to stay in compliance with state regulations and still keep everything rolling along.

But those BAs, as we have seen in the past, are a resilient bunch and have embraced new ways of operating in this time of business “unusual.”

Virtual Meetings Virtuosos Since early March, when much of the world of education moved online, business administrators had to quickly embrace “virtual” board meetings and budget hearings.

James Edwards, Business Administrator/Board Secretary for Brick Township Public Schools, said his recent public budget hearing was probably one of the smoothest meetings ever.

Edwards said the budget hearing always has been broadcast on YouTube, and typically there might be 20 people in the room and 20 to 30 watching from home. He said that because they are on camera, some people have “gotten a bit

confrontational”, because they have the spotlight. This year, with everyone watching on YouTube, Edwards said it was the fastest budget meeting in the district’s history!

Brick administrators always present a PowerPoint on the budget and talk through each page. This time, however, they did a voiceover for the presentation. “All we did was play the presentation,” said Edwards. “We asked for questions at the end, but with no one in the room to be on camera, we really didn’t have any. Honestly, I don’t want to go back to doing it the ‘usual’ way.”

Edwards said a community member suggested posting the PowerPoint presentation on the district’s website before future meetings. “We probably will do that because it was a great idea.”

Roundtable to Rectangular ScreensEsther Pennell, Business Administrator/Board Secretary for the Clearview Regional High School District (Gloucester County) feels the district may be heading into unchartered territory in communicating for a planned bond referendum. Pennell will use Google Meet to connect citizens who will provide valuable feedback as the district gears up for its referendum communications campaign.

Typically, this process takes place face-to-face with 15-20 people engaged in discussion. Because of ongoing restrictions, Clearview’s group will share screen time in sessions of 6 to 8 people, relying on strategic guidance to keep the conversations flowing.

Pennell said the district is determined to gather opinions during the informational campaign, even though the typical “round-table” discussions will now take place on rectangular screens.

Reinvented Bid ProcessesThe Stay-At-Home Bid ProcessThis spring, several BAs made some adjustments for accepting and opening bids for projects in their districts.

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Timothy Havlusch, Business Administrator/Board Secretary for the Hackettstown School District, accepted bids for HVAC repairs at the Willow Grove Elementary School from his home. Because bids could not be hand-delivered during this time of social distancing, Havlusch conducted a virtual bid opening through Google Meets. All of the vendors were invited to attend the virtual meeting; the district’s architect and another Hackettstown School District staff member also attended virtually.

“I had to hold each envelope up to the camera to make sure everyone could see that the bids were all sealed,” said Havlusch. Then he opened each bid and read the dollar amounts aloud. He said the process worked well. “Everyone could see everything was sealed and then I just read out the information. It went off pretty smoothly and was all recorded.”

Five-In-One-Day Bid Process

On April 22, James Edwards participated in an- other “first” – conducting a livestream bid opening for five different projects. “I anticipated it would take about half an hour for each bid opening,” explained Edwards, “but there were a lot of bids and it took a lot longer.” In all, Edwards said there were 35 bids across the five projects.

Edwards was in the Professional Development room at the district where there are “lots of cameras” that made the livestream relatively uncomplicated, at least from a technology standpoint. He said it was easy for anyone to watch the opening, they just had to “click on a link on the website.” About 40 people were watching

the proceedings, according to Edwards.

The Department of Community Affairs provided guidance on procedures governing virtual bid openings. Edwards said the process required him to flip through each page of the bid and announce the content. Each page of the bid must be scanned and then posted on the website so everyone can see the contents.

“Actually, this has led us to change requirements for future bids,” explained Edwards. “Going forward, we do not want bids to be bound, and they must be organized by the order of the check list.” Edwards said that one of the bids had been bound with a book binding. “I had to get maintenance to come up with a circular saw to cut the binding off of that bid so we could get to the pages and scan it,” said Edwards.

Parking-Lot Bid ProcessNJASBO President and Middle Township Public Schools Business Administrator/Board Secretary Diane Fox assisted the Middle Township Board of Education in the first bid opening since, as Fox described it, “the Great Lockdown of 2020.”

What was so different, noted Fox, was “it was held in the parking lot out of the trunk of my car.”

Fox said the bid opening was scheduled for 2:30, but by 2 p.m., she only had one bid! “Was I going to get any more bids? Well, I looked out in the parking lot and there were five pick-up trucks out there. I received a bid from every vendor that picked up bid specs!”

Having bids was not Fox’s only concern. “My other fear was about conducting this out of the trunk of my car – would the WIFI extend so I could still conduct the Zoom opening as well as the in-person parking lot opening? Would the wind and rain hold off long enough to get this completed? And finally, would they be reasonable bids?”

Fox said that despite her concerns, the bid opening went off without a hitch, and the rain waited until she was back in the building. “And

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the bids came in almost at budget – surprise!” exclaimed Fox.

She said the next opening is at the end of May or early June. “Next time, if I have the manpower, I

will set up a table and possibly a tent. Since this looks like it will continue for some time, we are all getting to be experts at adapting to new ways to do things. No more ‘that’s the way we always did it!’”

STEALTH MISSION HONORS SENIORS

A business administrator’s daily responsibilities range from budgets to buildings and grounds, but “stealth missions” likely have never been included in the job description. However, these unprecedented times call for unprecedented responsibilities.

Barnegat Township Business Administrator Steve Brennan (sporting the red beard mask) recently took part in a "stealth mission" to spread joy to the 250 seniors in the Barnegat High School Class of 2020. Armed with yard signs, t-shirts, and masks, they visited the homes of their students to let the teens know they are supported and loved.

In what may have been one of the best kept secrets in Barnegat School District’s history, when Brennan, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Latwis, Board of Education President Michael Hickey, and a host of other administrators, put the word out on Facebook for parents willing to accept the mission as a masked Bengal Bandit. A host of cars fanned out

through the community, planting yard signs and dropping off t-shirts at every high school senior’s home.

A note reminded the Class of 2020 that they always will be Bengal Strong: "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass," it reminded. "It is about learning to the dance in the rain."

Brennan said that “being the father of a high school senior myself, I see firsthand the disappointment these students are dealing with. To work hard their entire life and not get the reward they endeavored to accomplish throughout their school career is quite a heartbreaking story.”

He added that although budgets, reports, and Board meetings are an exhilarating feature of being a business administrator, “being part of such a creative team that put together a small, but thoughtful, gesture to let the students know that they are not forgotten is truly the most rewarding part of working in a great community.”

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE By Susan Young

As I am writing this column, the Assembly Appropriations committee is meeting, and the Senate Budget & Appropriations committee will meet tomorrow. Senate and Assembly voting sessions were scheduled for Thursday, May 14. Several impactful bills are being considered as part of this cycle. To ensure you have the most up-to-date information we are linking to a Legislative Summary as of May 18, 2020 on our website. Keep in mind, however, that the Governor still will need to take action on any bills that are passed. We will note the status on our website.

It is important to provide context for new legislation and offer an overview of our current position.

CARES ActWe begin with the Federal legislation because, as you will see, it affects some state actions. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Stability Act (CARES Act) includes $30.9 billion in emergency funding for the US Department of Education. Some $30.75 billion of that total is earmarked for the Educational Stabilization Fund that includes elementary, secondary, and higher education. From that point, the funds are carved up for different purposes.

Approximately nine percent of the total – or $13.5 billion – is for elementary and secondary education, which will be distributed to states using the Title 1 formula. That distribution results in approximately $310 million directed to New Jersey. The federal guidelines allow the state to set aside 10 percent; if that occurs, it would reduce the available district funds to $279 million. Compare that amount to the 2019-2020 NJ Title 1 allocations totaling $333.8 million and you will have an idea of the funds you may be able to expect from this source.

Now for the strings. • Those funds are contingent upon a general

commitment for the entity receiving the funds “to the greatest extent practicable, to continue to pay its employees and contractors during the

period of any disruption or closures related to coronavirus.”

Governor’s Emergency Education Relief FundThe second group of education related funds that will flow to the states are from the fund entitled the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund. The total fund is approximately $3 billion, but New Jersey’s share is estimated to be $69 million. These funds can be allocated based solely at the Governor’s discretion based upon his assessment of those local educational agencies most significantly impacted or for emergency education services. Of course, your district may or may not see any portion of these federal funds.

State LegislationState legislation has been evolving on a daily basis. The most significant laws that have attracted our attention are those dealing with the certainty and funding of tax levies and the payment of employees and contracted service providers. S2273, which proposes a new health benefit structure, is still lurking in the shadows and can be brought forward at any time. Top these off with several bills attempting to clarify or rectify provisions of the previously enacted laws, and the guidelines change frequently.

A newly proposed bill introduces a job sharing (furlough) program. This would take advantage of Section 2108 of the CARES Act whereby the Federal government would reimburse the state for its unemployment claims through December 31, 2020, under a program run in accordance with its guidelines. This program has several benefits over straight unemployment in addition to the federal reimbursements. Employees would retain their health and pension benefits, where with straight unemployment they would not. It is unclear at the current time how this program would intersect with the Educational Stabilization fund Section 18006 criteria which states that entities that receive funds under the Education

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Stabilization Fund, shall to the greatest extent practicable, continue to pay its employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to coronavirus. Additionally, this bill looks to take advantage of the CARES Act, Section 2104, which provided an additional $600/week for unemployment claims through July 31, 2020. Given the uncertainty of future cash flow, it is important to at least consider the implications these provisions could have for your district. It is important to note that this must be agreed to by the union if A4132, which passed both houses on May 14, is signed into law by the Governor.

Finally, there are the plethora of Executive Orders that are directing our schools and our lives. From a specific financial perspective, districts may want

to review Executive Order 123 with their insurer or broker. The Executive Order allows for a delay in making health benefit payments. Should districts have cash flow concerns this may be an option to consider.

PauseAs many of you have heard me say over and over, the best advice NJASBO can provide at this time is to pause.

The specifics of how the federal and state laws intertwine change on a weekly basis. If you have the luxury of waiting to react to the daily changes, we would encourage you to do so. NJASBO will continue to keep you updated as these unusual times unfold.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONFERENCE IN 2020

In the last issue of KeyPost, we were just starting to realize the significance of COVID-19, how it was changing the world we knew, and its impact on our lives. Many of the things we had become accustomed to have changed dramatically, including the much-anticipated Annual Conference held the first week in June.

We made the difficult decision to restructure the conference in April. We’ve been working on a Virtual Conference with webinars from some of your favorite presenters to be held the first week of June. Most of these webinars will be “live”, but if you can’t make the “live” event, recordings of the webinars will be available on our conference app to view at your leisure.

Recognizing that we all look forward to getting together, the Conference Committee has set tentative plans in place for an “in-person” mini-conference, Sunday, October 18 – Tuesday morning, October 20. This, of course, will only be held if permitted by the Governor and will follow guidance for a safe conference.

Originally, the mini-conference was scheduled to coincide with the NJSBA Fall Workshop, but as you know by now, that Workshop will now be a virtual event. Our sessions will not be held at the Convention Center, therefore, we are hopeful the NJASBO mini-conference will proceed. Look for further details in the coming months.

In addition to unrivaled professional development, we all look forward to the camaraderie of our legendary annual conference. Although this year will be a “Different Kind of Conference,” we’ll adapt. Between the virtual June event and anticipated in-person events in October, NJASBO will offer the same level of Professional Development to our members.

Stay well and stay positive.

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THE MAZE OF EXISTING & NEWLY ENACTED FEDERAL LEAVE LAWS By Susan Young

The Coronavirus pandemic has touched most aspects of our working and personal lives. As if working remotely while home schooling children and utilizing less than adequate home technology resources all while being hunkered down with lousy weather isn’t enough, now there is an added layer of federal legislation with which to contend.

The Federal Government has enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, effective April 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020. This Act created the Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Childcare Leave programs, which apply to government employers and unionized employees. Our New Jersey districts are in an interesting situation. A3904, which became P.L. 2020, C. 27, currently (as of May 12) states that public school employees shall be entitled to compensation, benefits, and emoluments… if the school facilities remained open. This law would negate the use of the new Federal leave programs at the current time. Please be aware that a bill is pending (as of May 13) to revise P.L. 2020, C. 27.

Let us imagine, however, a reopening or partial reopening of schools. What happens if an employee’s childcare is not available? What if the employee’s child is attending a school with a different schedule? What if the employee, or a loved one, is quarantined? How will you pay them? Will you pay them? Be prepared to consider the implications of these new Federal laws.

The two new Federal leaves, depending on the circumstances, can both be utilized as well as in addition to potential state benefits. Each of these also has its own pay rates and maximums, so it is

imperative to be aware of the type of leave being requested by the employee.

Emergency Childcare LeaveSimply put, the Emergency Childcare Leave provides an additional reason to the circumstances in which leave can be requested under FMLA, and makes it available after the 30th day of employment. It provides for caring for a child(ren) if the child’s/children’s school or childcare provider is closed; if the employer agrees, it can be intermittent. It does not, however, extend the 12 weeks allowed under FMLA, but it does require an employer to pay the employee. The first two weeks of leave are unpaid; the following 10 weeks are paid at two-thirds of the employee’s wages with a maximum of $200 per day or $10,000 in total.

Emergency Paid Sick LeaveThe Federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave provides for up to 80 hours (full-time employees/pro-rated for part-time) paid leave to care for themselves or a loved one for coronavirus quarantine, illness, or symptoms, or for school/childcare closures impacting the employee’s son or daughter. Payment is from day one and is accessible from day one of employment.

The required payment is the amount of the employee’s full wages with a maximum of $511/day and a total maximum of $5,110 if the leave is for the employee. If the leave is for someone other than the employee’s own care, the payment is two-thirds of wages with a maximum of $200 per day, or $2,000 total. This leave is in addition to any existing leave; the employee cannot be required to use their existing accrued sick leave before using this emergency paid leave.

Helpful ResourcesWe have provided some additional resources that may help you with the specifics of individual circumstances: COVID-19 Scenarios and Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

These are interesting times.

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BEING MINDFUL CAN HELP DURING BUSINESS UNUSUAL By Maria Parry

I used to be jealous of individuals who said they worked from home. I used to dream and think how awesome it would be to not need to drive to an office/meeting, make my own hours, not be disrupted by outside chatter/individuals, the list goes on. Be careful what you wish for!

These past eight plus weeks, amid the changes in delivering educational services, holding board meetings, and figuring out what lies ahead for our profession, I found myself – on some days – feeling either the walls were closing in or I was alone on a desert island (damn you Stephen King…).

I have figured out (somewhat) that now more than ever, boundaries are necessary for the ever present, and never ending, workflow of a school business administrator.

I am very fortunate to have office space and equipment that enables me to function at home. I am in awe of my colleagues who have family members that need the same amenities and do not have the real estate to provide as such. Although it is easy to write about setting timelines for using equipment/data/space - it can get complicated.

Going into the office, if it is something you can do, is an easy solution for maintaining your own space. All of your files and supplies are there, with the bonus of getting you out of the house to give space to everyone else. However, if you can’t get to your office, there are a few things I have learned so far:

• Keep your schedule. Try to maintain the same wake up/go to sleep time. If you set your wardrobe out for the week, continue to do so even if it is just jeans and a sweatshirt. If your hours (and I am attempting to type this with a straight face) are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., try to stick to it. Take your lunch. Sticking to your routine will make you feel more productive and that you’re not “wasting the day”. I found a good article that might help.

• Don’t work on weekends. Please allow me to introduce myself, I am Mrs. Farberware. I used to think that weekends meant a way to get “caught up” etc. Not now. Friday afternoon to Monday morning, unless it is important, I am trying my hardest to not work. This has been a very difficult switch – but it is important for your sanity and productivity. Those 48 hours allow me to focus on my family and myself. When I feel the urge to look at an email, a file, etc., I take a step back and look around to see if there is something else that I can focus on rather than starting something with work. The truth of the matter is that it is never “five minutes”. Anything we do as a business administrator is a minimum of 45 minutes. This has been a personal accomplishment to control this bad habit of many years.

• Stay positive. Stay positive. Stay positive. Toilet paper is not extinct, and neither are cheese puffs. Take a moment in your private thoughts to thank the individuals who don’t have this excess of hours, to wish courage to those fighting to stay well, and peace to all who are unsettled.

• Everyone reacts differently. How you are handling these upside-down times may not be the same as other colleagues or your family members. This doesn’t mean you are right, and they are wrong – it’s just different. And for that reason, while we are still trying to get paperwork out the door, answer board members, complete time-sensitive material, I am conscientiously staying positive and not reacting negatively if I don’t get a response back quickly or receive an email that I may perceive to be curt.

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Yes, there will be some individuals who are not familiar with Zoom or don’t have a computer that is up-to-date for a video meeting or to check their messages/email, all of which can test your nerves. Reach out to your colleagues and friends just to see how they are doing, ask if they have the same scenario and how it was resolved. Attend your county/state meetings to say hello and see what is going on. Having someone to vent to also is helpful. You are probably not the only professional who feels this way.

• The future is now. This is a prime opportunity to self-evaluate to see if you still have passion for this game. Is your mind made up that after we can resume activities, you will take that vacation that you dreamed about? Will you spend more time with loved ones who you have not been able to see in person these past few weeks?

Will you move to a larger/smaller home? Have your priorities shifted? What about a career change – is something else calling you? Take the time to write or talk about your thoughts/plans or even research something that interests you. The outcome may be that you have a better understanding of what lies ahead for you rather than reacting to the present and dwelling on the past.

Hopefully you are reading this while enjoying the warmer weather as the world slowly takes the pause button off. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to your fellow business administrators – #WeAreAllInThisTogether. That is what NJASBO is all about.

Maria Parry is the Business Administrator for the Monmouth Regional High School District and may be reached at mparry@monmouthregional.net.

GETTING TO KNOW OUR COUNTY PRESIDENTS

Our County Presidents play a tremendous role for NJASBO, but not all of our members get the chance to meet and get to know them. To change that, we are highlighting them in KeyPost!

Timothy Havlusch Hunterdon/Warren County“…we tend to see the entire operation from a completely different perspective, much the same way a catcher does…. It is a matter of perspective.”

Timothy Havlusch has been the Co-President (Warren) of the Hunterdon/Warren County ASBO since 2019, previously serving as Treasurer from 2016 - 2019.

Currently, Timothy is the Business Administrator/Board Secretary for the Hackettstown School District, a position he has held since 2019. Previously, he spent four years as the Business Administrator for the Great Meadows Regional School District, plus an additional eight years in other school districts.

According to Timothy, one of the best parts of being a BA is the “vast amount of unknown in what a given day may bring.” He said although there is a cyclical nature to the role, things change. He said a good example of this is the current situation with COVID-19, the tremendous amount of upheaval it has caused, and the impact it will have going forward for all districts.

On his role as a Business Administrator, Timothy said his “chosen career and being able to provide

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the support for tomorrow’s great minds and ideas, even if behind the scenes, is rewarding.”

One of the greatest challenges in being a Business Administrator, according to Timothy, is “Being able to competently translate the ‘Educational Plan’ of the district along with the inevitable 'Trenton-speak', and to boil it down in a way that can be readily explained and understood by the general public.”

He said that for the most part, BAs are the equivalent of a catcher on a baseball team. “We generally do not come from the ‘classroom’ side of education to the Business Office and, as such, we tend to see the entire operation from a completely different perspective, much the same way a catcher does. If you ask a baseball team lined up in the field where right field is, they will all point with the left hand…. except the catcher, who will point with his right hand. It is a matter of perspective.”

A member of ASBO International, Timothy has been a member of NJASBO’s Education Committee, and currently is a member of the Technology Committee. He earned a BA from Seton Hall University and Business Administrator Certification from Saint Peters University.

When he is not fishing and golfing, you might find Timothy brewing his own beer.

Dana Sullivan Union CountyThere were many challenges overseeing the construction of a ground-up elementary school, including having to bring in a forensic archeologist to deal with historic remains. “But we got the job done ahead of schedule and under budget.”

East Hanover resident Dana Sullivan is the current President of the Union County ASBO, where she also held other leadership positions, including Secretary and Vice President. Dana is a Past President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary for the Essex County ASBO, as well.

Dana, the School Business Administrator for Westfield Public Schools since 2012, was recognized for her exemplary service to the district in 2019, with NJASBO’s Distinguished Service Award for long-term, continuous, and exemplary service. Dana has been active with NJASBO as a co-chair of the Education Committee and has served on the Conference Committee. She is an NJASBO-certified mentor who has worked with nine aspiring Business Administrators.

At Westfield Public Schools, Dana has helped pass two bond referenda. She also has been able to deposit $15.7 million in reserve accounts since 2012 by reducing operating costs, including self-insuring health insurance for all employees, closely monitoring expenses, installing solar panels at no cost to the district, monitoring workers’ compensation claims to reduce premiums, and creating special education programs so students can stay in-district.

Before joining Westfield, Dana spent 19 years at Montclair Public Schools, first as the Assistant Business Administrator and then as the Business Administrator. While at Montclair, she played a pivotal role in implementing the Baldridge model of quality, which uses a systems approach to management.

According to Dana, her best moment as a BA came when she was tasked with overseeing the construction of a ground-up elementary school. She said there were many challenges including purchasing four contiguous parcels of land and having to bring in a forensic archeologist to deal with historic remains. But, Dana said, the district was able to get the job done ahead of schedule and under budget.

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Dana said the greatest challenge as a BA is “trying to successfully strike the balance between the needs of the district and the needs of the taxpayers, even though they are very often aligned.” She said that increasing costs, coupled with the mandate to keep the district at the forefront of educational leadership, requires developing unique ways to find savings or alternative ways to maintain or expand programs. “The district is fortunate to have a very supportive board and community as a whole,” said Dana, “so if a solution or approach makes sense, there’s complete buy-in, which is great.”

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Dana holds a master’s degree in educational administration and a bachelor’s in accounting from Rutgers School of Business. A Certified Public Accountant, she also is a Certified School Business Administrator, Chief School Administrator, Public School Accountant, Registered School Business Administrator, and Qualified Purchasing Agent.

In her spare time, Dana enjoys taking vacations, working out, and reading.

ASBO INTERNATIONAL OFFERS RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ON COVID-19 By Anthony N. Dragona, Ed.D.

As a member of the ASBO International Legislative Advocacy Committee, recent weeks have been filled with information, discussion, and requests for ASBO International to support programs and legislative issues relating to the COVID-19 government response and fiscal support to your schools and community.

ASBO International maintains a compendium of current resources to help guide us through these unchartered waters. These resources are updated as necessary and always available at your fingertips. ASBO International is supporting its members with the tools, information, and resources to enable them to appropriately respond to COVID-19 and protect their students, staff, and communities.

The resources available at the link above are too numerous to outline here, but include public health recommendations and more, as well as Federal guidance from:

• Health and Human Services • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Office of Head Start • Department of Education • Department of Agriculture • Internal Revenue Service • Department of Labor • Federal Emergency Management Agency • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency • Federal Bureau of Investigation • Federal Communications Commission • Environmental Protection Agency

I also encourage you to log into the ASBO International Global School Network and add your voice to the ongoing conversation and sharing of valuable resources from colleagues across the country and around the globe. Truly, it brings to life the saying we have heard so many times, “We are all in this together.”

Stay safe and be well!

Anthony N. Dragona, Ed.D. is the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary for Union City Board of Education. He can be reached at adragona@ucboe.us.