New BOE policy clamps down on travel expenses School board members will have to account for expenditures BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent The Brick Township Board of Education recently introduced a revised policy that tightens the parameters for travel expenses and reimbursements among its members and staff. "The policy is not about traveling," said board member Cynthia McCarthy, chairwoman of the board's policy committee. "It's about getting reimbursed for it." McCarthy said that the policy was revised to comply with the School District Accountability Act, a law signed into effect on March 15 by Gov. Jon Corzine. The multifaceted law, in part, requires school boards to take greater responsibility for district travel, McCarthy said. The revised six-page policy delineates general travel requirements and restrictions, travel approval requirements, reimbursement requirements, budget for travel expenditures, overnight travel guidelines, and required documentation for reimbursement. "The policy is obvious, but there have been abuses in the past," McCarthy said. McCarthy declined to comment on whether or not any of those abuses occurred in Brick. The policy states that board members and employees will be reimbursed only for travel that promotes the delivery of instruction and is critical to the instructional needs of the school district or furthers the efficient operation of the school district; is educationally necessary and fiscally prudent; and is directly related to and within the scope of the board member's current responsibilities, and, for school district employees, the school district's professional development plan. Additionally, all travel must be itemized by event, cost, number of employees and school board members attending the event, and must be preapproved by a majority of the full voting membership of the school board. Board members and employees will be required to present an oral report at the next board meeting following the travel event that includes a description of the primary purpose for the travel, and a summary of the goals and key issues that were addressed at the event and their relevance to improving instruction or the operation of the school district. McCarthy pointed out that the board has been providing reports to the public, after former Board of Education President Sharon Kight instituted the practice last year. McCarthy said that the policy, which was unanimously adopted on first reading at the July 26 board meeting, is still being reviewed by the policy committee for improvements in its wording. "We want to make it as clear as possible," McCarthy said. A second reading of the policy and a final vote on its adoption is expected during the board's Aug. 30 public meeting.