The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) copy cost amount is currently in transition. The Appellate Court indicated the copy cost effective July 1, 2010 shall be the “actual cost.” However, on June 28, 2010 the New Jersey Legislature unanimously approved A559 indicating a $.05 per copy charge for letter copies and a $.07 per copy charge for legal copies. This legislation will take effect upon the Governor’s signing or forty-five business days after June 28, 2010. Therefore, school districts should be charging the “actual cost” of copies effective July 1, 2010 pending the effective date of A559, when approved. Strauss Esmay’s updated Policy and Regulation Guides 8310 will be provided to school districts when A559 becomes effective.
 

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs – Division of Local Government Services just released Local Finance Notice 2010-3 at the end of January revising several long-standing procedures regarding changes to political contribution forms requirements affecting non-profit organizations and several other school district procurement issues. Unfortunately, one change to political contribution forms will require a revision to Policy Guide 6360 that was included in January’s Policy Alert 188. It is recommended school districts hold any updates to Policy Guide 6360 pending receipt of a new Policy Guide 6360, which will be included in Policy Alert 189.
 

In a Memorandum dated April 27, 2009, the New Jersey Department of Education provided guidance to school districts regarding H1N1 Influenza. In reviewing this Memorandum and the guidance regarding H1N1 Influenza, the requirements as outlined in Strauss Esmay’s Policy and Regulation Guides 8451 are consistent with the provisions as outlined in the April 27, 2009 Memorandum. Strauss Esmay will make any policy and regulation revisions as needed in the event the guidance from the Department of Education or other State agency is updated.
 

Strauss Esmay has installed several new password security measures. The only new measure that will affect the authorized user requires a user to “LOGOFF” to end a session on ELANOnline or DISTRICTOnline by clicking the “LOGOFF” button located at the top right hand corner of the screen. Failure to logoff a session in this manner will not permit the authorized user to sign into a subsequent session of ELANOnline or DISTRICTOnline until twenty minutes have expired. Therefore, all authorized users should logoff after signing-in to ELANOnline or DISTRICTOnline using the “LOGOFF” button at the upper right hand corner of the screen to avoid a twenty minute delay to log-in to a second session. Thank you for your cooperation in this new procedure.
 

All PASS school districts should be sure to register one person to Strauss Esmay’s new E-LERT system. This new system will provide important school policy and regulation information via e-mail to one person designated by the school district. If your district has not registered an E-LERT contact person, the E-LERT Registration Form may be downloaded from the Events tab and returned by fax to 732-255-1502.
 

Strauss Esmay Associates formally announces and offers professional development services for school districts looking to provide professional development and in-service programs to Board members, administrators, teachers, and support staff. Strauss Esmay offers in-service programs in school policy areas such as:

• School Ethics Act
• Inappropriate Staff Conduct
• Sexual Harassment
• Pupil Residency
• Family Leave
• School Law Review for Administrative Staff
• School Law and the Teacher
• Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying

Click the Professional Development tab above to access more details on Strauss Esmay's Professional Development Services.
 

Reviews on Strauss Esmay’s DISTRICTOnline are excellent. DISTRICTOnline provides a school district the option to have its Policy and Regulation Manuals on the Internet and provides easy access for district authorized users and the district editor. School districts should contact Strauss Esmay Associates to arrange a DISTRICTOnline demonstration.
 

Strauss Esmay Policy Alert Support Service (PASS) school districts are realizing the value of using Strauss Esmay’s ELANOnline. The district has access to Strauss Esmay Policy/Regulation Guides linked to N.J.S.A. 18A, N.J.A.C. 6 & 6A, and all New Jersey School Digest cases indexed by policy number. ELANOnline documents can be searched, viewed, and printed, while districts can easily download Policy Alert documents in a MS WORD format. ELANOnline access is included in a district’s PASS subscription and ELANOnline information sheets are available by contacting Strauss Esmay offices for those districts not yet using ELANOnline.