The Northern Valley Regional school board has its sending districts’ approval for the creation of a position that would help the districts comply with state and federal mandates.
The position, called a compliance coordinator, will help the district meet rules pertaining to health, safety and environmental concerns.
Education officials from the seven sending districts approved the part-time position, with a $40,000 salary.
The high school and its seven sending districts will share the cost of the position, which will oversee various rules and regulations that the districts must comply with.
"All districts must be in compliance with various areas required by state law such as PEOSH requirements, the hazardous communications plan and blood-born pathogens," explained Doug Barrett, Business Administrator for Old Tappan Public School district. Barrett said the compliance coordinator will make sure everyone is complying and set up training opportunities for all the districts.
"It is another way to share services and save taxpayer dollars," Barrett said.
Northvale School District Superintendent Sylvan Hershey said the compliance coordinator position will benefit "all our K through eight districts as well as the high school district because there are a lot of regulations and contacts that need to be made. Policies and procedures need to be developed and this can be done by one person for all the districts."
He agreed with Barrett that it is an example of "good shared services" and said the position creates a benefit for the districts that they did not have previously.
Norwood Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Rose pointed to the increased mandates for inspections and the heightened concern with safety issues in recent years. He said it is beneficial to have a "higher level of expertise and coordination to make sure we are properly protecting the children."
When the position was initially discussed in November 2007, Northern Valley Regional Business Administrator Raymond Jacobus said it would streamline the process of ensuring that all the districts comply with the laws. He also said the district could save on the expense of training seminars if all the districts use common vendors and share training sites.
Given the sending districts’ approval, the regional board should approve the position at the meeting Feb. 25.
