Each presentation will be topical in nature, based on the typical cyclical pattern of HR issues that arise during the school year. We will continue to focus, as necessary, on post-pandemic re-opening school district human resource issues.
Attendees should be prepared to share their concerns and challenges, and come up with possible solutions, based on the experiences of others who face similar issues.
Sessions will be facilitated by:
Dr. Kenneth King, Assistant Superintendent (retired), East Orange Public Schools.
Patrick Duncan, Esq., Special Assistant for Labor Relations, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District.
Charity Comella, Director of Human Resources/Affirmative Action Officer, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. President, CJPRIDE.
Dr. Jennifer Sharp, Director of Personnel, Freehold Regional High School District. Vice President, CJPRIDE.
All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. Sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude approximately at noon. Zoom link and agenda will be e-mailed to registrants 48 hours prior to the session. Be sure to click the "add" button next to your registration option and allow the item to populate into your itinerary.
Part One: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 - Post-Pandemic HR Issues Continued: In Preparation for 2022-2023, Implications for School District Human Resources Practices. This virtual workshop (via Zoom) will guide participants through a wide range of human resources matters that all school districts will be encountering this year. Among these are dealing with ongoing staff leave requests; planning for last-minute resignations and retirements; supporting staff through mental health and other medical crises; negotiations and working under an expired agreement; planning an effective observation and evaluation schedule; staff monitoring and accountability in the instructional setting.
Part Two: Monday, October 17, 2022 - Being Federal, State, and Locally Compliant. This virtual workshop (via Zoom) will emphasize compliance with federal/state mandates: EEO-5 Reporting; Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act; "Pass The Trash;" NJQSAC; SGO; NJSMART Staff Reporting; NJ Mandated Trainings/Policies for Annual Distribution and Review; Comprehensive Equity Plan; Evaluation Policies; Creative Solutions to Ongoing Staff Issues; Power of Induction & Mentoring in Staff Retention; Compliance Catastrophes - When Something Goes Sideways!/HR Horror Stories & Hocus Pocus. Other topics to be addressed include Preparing for Negotiations; Anticipating the Need for Language Changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreement; Administering the Agreement in a Changing Environment; Unsettled Contracts; Scope of Negotiation-Case Law Impasse; Ethics Commission Opinions; Sidebar Agreements.
Part Three: Wednesday, January 11, 2023 - Critical Mid-Year HR Challenges. This virtual workshop (via Zoom) will guide participants through a wide range of Human Resource matters that all school districts will be encountering this school year. Among these are: staff discipline; renewal/non-renewal process; withholding of increments for tenured and/or non-tenured staff; and the negotiations process from start to finish. Here is the agenda for this session:
9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - The meeting will open. Registrants will be admitted into the Waiting Room.
9:30 a.m. - 9:35 a.m. - Program Overview - Zoom Protocols - Introductions
9:35 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. - NJASA Legislative Update: Melanie Schulz, NJASA Director of Government Relations
9:50 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. - Program Begins: Negotiations. Presenter: Patrick Duncan, Esq. Join us for an overview of the importance of salary guides to the Board and local association. A veteran salary guide developer will discuss the process the parties should follow to mutually develop salary guides. We will discuss the cost of increments, the scattergram, and column movement among many other aspects of salary guides and negotiations for New Jersey Public Schools.
10:50 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. - Break
10:55 a.m. - 11:35 a.m. - Program Continues: Staff Discipline. Presenters: Charity Comella, Dr. Jennifer Sharp. This portion of the program will prepare attendees for high stakes and inevitable staff discipline issues. Specifically, this session will contend with each of the following: Setting expectations for Staff Conduct and Professional Responsibilities; Investigating Personnel Concerns; Progressive Discipline? Not Always!; To Renew or Non-Renew...that is the question.
11:35 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. - Program Continues: Increments. Presenter: Dr. Kenneth King. This portion of the session will be devoted to a review and discussion of how, when and why to withhold the increment or increments of non-tenured and tenured staff.
11:55 a.m. - 12:00 noon - The program will continue, and the presenters will remain available to the attendees for questions and discussions of different challenges/issues they are facing.
Part Four: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 - End of Year Tasks, End of School Year Human Resources Issues. This virtual seminar (via Zoom) will focus on the theme of "Springtime 2023: It's Time for Hello (and Goodbye)."
9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - The meeting will open. Registrants will be admitted into the Waiting Room.
9:30 a.m. - 9:35 a.m. - Program Overview - Review of Zoom Protocols: Frank Borelli, NJASA Director of Professional Development.
9:35 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. - NJASA Legislative Update: Melanie Schulz, NJASA Director of Government Relations.
9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. - "Non-Renewal of Staff - Making Tough Decisions and Moving On." Presenters: Charity Comella, Dr. Jennifer Sharp, Patrick Duncan, Esq. Hello there! Transfers and the Request for Transfers (what if there was discipline?). As one door closes, another door opens...saying "Hello" and welcoming new staff for a new year. Job Fairs, recruiting with retention in mind. Is it time for goodbye? Understanding tenure, critical dates and timelines, procedures, and documentation. When is it OK to write references for non-renewed staff (timing matters)? When saying goodbye - do not forget that HR also stands for "Humanity and Respect," but what if they request reasons? What if they request a Donaldson Appearance? How do I prepare? Why all non-renewal decisions need data and documentation. Resignation and retirement and sick day payouts; importance of Exit Interviews. Negotiations Update: - New trends for a new year.
10:45 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. - Break
10:50 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. - Program continues
11:15 a.m. - 11:35 a.m. - "Withholding Increments and Managing Employment Decisions for Non-Certificated Staff Within the Framework of Chapter 66." Presenter: Dr. Kenneth King.
11:35 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. - Closing comments/Q&A - Frank Borelli
11:40 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - The program will continue, and the presenters will remain available to the attendees for questions, discussions of different challenges/issues they are facing.
Cost for Members:
Individual Session - $150.00
All Four Sessions - $500.00
Cost for Non-Members:
Individual Session - $200.00
All Four Sessions - $700.00
When registering, please remember to include the e-mail address of each individual registrant. Thank you!
For registration and itinerary changes please e-mail the NJASA Business Office at [email protected].