Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) The following words and terms used in
this section shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise:
1. "Activities" means
events or functions provided or held for the benefit of students, dignitaries,
and other "non-charter school" employees (for example, parents) that are paid
from public funds.
2. "Dignitary"
means a notable or prominent public figure; a high-level official; or one who
holds a position of honor. A dignitary, for purposes of this section, is not a
charter school employee or board of trustees member.
(b) Allowable expenditures for non-employee
charter school board of trustees activities shall include:
1. All reasonable costs, including light
meals and refreshments, directly related to activities that benefit students
and are part of the instructional program, including expenditures for field
trips and extracurricular programs that are not solely for entertainment.
Nothing in this subsection shall preclude boards of trustees from using student
activity funds or accepting donations to support student activities that are
solely for student entertainment;
2. All reasonable costs directly related to
activities of dignitaries and other "non-charter school" employees (for
example, parents), including light meals, refreshments, and any other directly
related expense. It is expected that expenditures for this purpose will be
minimal and infrequent;
3. All
reasonable costs of commencement and convocation activities for students;
and
4. Expenditures related to
charter school employees to the extent such employees are essential to the
conduct of the activity.
(c) A charter school board shall, at a
minimum, take actions regarding student activities as follows:
1. Pre-approve field trip
destinations;
2. Establish dollar
thresholds for awards to recognize special accomplishments; and
3. Establish a budget supported by general
fund revenues for each category of activity in a non-discriminatory manner (for
example, football, boys soccer, girls soccer, photography club). Student
activity funds are excluded.
(d) Pursuant to
N.J.S.A.
18A:11-12 and New Jersey Department of the
Treasury, Office of Management and Budget Circular 16-11-OMB, Travel
Regulations, and 11-09-OMB, Entertainment, Meals, and Refreshments, the
following costs shall not be permitted using public funding:
1. Receptions, dinners, or other social
functions held for or honoring any employee or group of employees of the
charter school (for example, breakfast, luncheon, dinner, or reception for
retirees or award recipients). This does not prohibit charter schools from
honoring employees without a social function or using public funds to support
reasonable costs of employee recognition awards (for example, teacher of the
year awards, years of service awards). Use of public funds for reasonable costs
of employee awards is a local discretionary expenditure;
2. Meals or refreshments served to guests at
any athletic event or other games or contests; and
3. Expenses for alcoholic
beverages.
(e)
Documentation required to support activities, meals, and refreshments at
charter school events shall be:
1. A
description of the activity;
2. The
purpose/justification of the activity, expressed in terms of the goal(s) or
objective(s) of the charter school;
3. The make-up of the group participating in
the activity; and
4. The names and
titles of board members or employees included in the group.
