N.J.S.A. 18A:1-1. Definitions 18A:1-1. As used in this title, unless the context requires another meaning, the following words and phrases shall have the following meaning: "Academic year" means the period between the time school opens in any school district or under any board of education after the general summer vacation until the next succeeding summer vacation; "All purpose regional district" shall have the meaning assigned to it in subsection a. of section 18A:13-2; "Board" means the board of education; "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Education; "County superintendent" means the County Superintendent of Schools; "Department" means the State Department of Education; "District" means a school district; "Employee" includes the holder of any position or employment; "Employment" includes employment in a position; "Full membership" of any board or body means the number of members of the board or body when all the members' seats are filled and a "majority of the full membership" of any board or body means a majority of such number; "Higher education" means that education which is provided by any or all of the public institutions of higher education as herein defined and any or all equivalent private institutions; "Limited purpose regional district" shall have the meaning assigned to it in subsection b. of section 18A:13-2; "Local school district" means any school district comprising within its territorial boundaries the territory comprised in one or more municipalities, except a regional school district; "Private school" means a school, under college grade, which does not derive its support entirely or in part from public funds; "Public institution of higher education" shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 18A:62-1; "Public school" means a school, under college grade, which derives its support entirely or in part from public funds; "Public school system" means the system of public schools of the State; "Residence" means domicile, unless a temporary residence is indicated; "School nurse" shall mean and include any school nurse, school nurse supervisor, head school nurse, chief school nurse, school nurse coordinator or any other nurse performing school nursing services in the public schools; "State board" means the State Board of Education; "Teaching staff member" means a member of the professional staff of any district or regional board of education, or any board of education of a county vocational school, holding office, position or employment of such character that the qualifications, for such office, position or employment, require him to hold a valid and effective standard, provisional or emergency certificate, appropriate to his office, position or employment, issued by the State Board of Examiners and includes a school nurse and a school athletic trainer. L.1967, c.271; amended 1994, c.48, s.34; 1999, c.87, s.1. 18A:2-1. Power to effectuate action Whenever under any provision of this title the validity of the action of any person, official, board or body is made dependent upon the approval or disapproval, consent or refusal to consent or determination of, or is to be exercised pursuant to any rule to be made by, any other person, official, board or body, the latter shall have power to approve or disapprove, consent or refuse to consent, to make such determination or promulgate any such rule, notwithstanding that such power is not specifically conferred thereby or by any other provision of this title. L.1967, c.271. 18A:2-2. Payment and disposition of fines imposed under this title In every case of conviction or violation of any provision of this title, when a fine is imposed, the defendant may pay the fine, together with the cost to the officer before whom the conviction is had, and such officer shall receive the same and unless otherwise provided by this or any other law he shall remit the amount of the fine within 10 days thereafter to the custodian of school moneys of the district where the offense was committed, for the use of the public schools thereof. L.1967, c.271. 18A:17-15.Appointment of superintendents; terms; apportionment of expense 18A:17-15. The board of education of a Type I district and of any Type II district, now having or hereafter authorized to have a superintendent of schools, may, by contract appoint, for a term of not less than three nor more than five years and expiring July 1, a superintendent of schools by the recorded roll call majority vote of the full membership of the board. A superintendent of schools may be appointed for a like term also in any other Type II district or in any other two or more Type II districts as follows: Application for the establishment of the office of superintendent of schools for a district or for two or more districts which determine to share a superintendent shall be made to the county superintendent of the county or the county superintendent of each of the counties in which such district or districts are situate and if said application is agreed to in writing by such county superintendent or county superintendents and shall be approved by the commissioner and the State board, the board of education of such a district so applying may appoint a superintendent of schools for a single district in the manner hereinbefore provided or may appoint a superintendent for two or more districts in the manner provided by section 4 of P.L.1996, c.111 (C.18A:17-24.1). L.1967, c.271; amended 1991, c.267, s.1; 1996, c.111, s.2. 18A:17-15.1 Required provision of superintendent's employment contract. 7.An employment contract entered into between a board of education and a superintendent of schools shall include a provision that explicitly states that in the event that the certificate of the superintendent is revoked the contract is null and void as of the date of the revocation. L.2007, c.53, s.7. 18A:17-16. Appointment and removal of assistant superintendents 18A:17-20.1. Reappointment of superintendent. 4. At the conclusion of the term of the initial contract or of any subsequent contract as hereinafter provided, the superintendent shall be deemed reappointed for another contracted term of the same duration as the previous contract unless either: a. the board by contract reappoints him for a different term which term shall be not less than three nor more than five years, in which event reappointments thereafter shall be deemed for the new term unless a different term is again specified; or b. at least one year prior to the expiration of the first or any subsequent contract the board shall notify the superintendent in writing that he will not be reappointed at the end of the current term, in which event his employment shall cease at the expiration of that term. L.1991,c.267,s.4. 18A:17-20.2. Dismissal of superintendent 5. During the term of any employment contract with the board, a superintendent shall not be dismissed or reduced in compensation except for inefficiency, incapacity, or conduct unbecoming a superintendent or other just cause and then only in the manner prescribed by subarticle B of article 2 of chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. L.1991,c.267,s.5. 18A:17-20.2a Required actions relative to early termination of superintendent's employment contract. 6. a. Prior to a board of education entering an agreement for an early termination of an employment contract entered into with its superintendent of schools pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.18A:17-15, that includes the payment of compensation to the superintendent as a condition of separation from service with the district, the board shall submit the agreement to the Commissioner of Education for approval. The agreement shall be submitted by certified mail, return receipt requested. The commissioner shall evaluate the agreement and have the authority to disapprove the agreement if the payment of compensation as a condition of separation from service is found to be excessive. The determination of the commissioner shall be made within 30 days of receipt of the agreement. As used in this subsection, "compensation" includes, but is not limited to, salary, allowances, bonuses and stipends, payments for accumulated sick or vacation leave, contributions toward the costs of health, dental, life and other types of insurance, medical reimbursement plans, retirement plans, and any in-kind or other form of remuneration. b.The Commissioner of Education shall adopt regulations in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to establish the allowable parameters of early termination agreements. L.2007, c.53, s.6. 18A: 17-20.3 . Evaluation of superintendent's performance 6. a. Every local board of education having a superintendent shall evaluate the performance of the superintendent at least once a year. Each evaluation shall be in writing, a copy shall be provided to the superintendent and the superintendent and the board shall meet to discuss the findings. The evaluations shall be based upon the goals and objectives of the district, the responsibilities of the superintendent and such other criteria as the State Board of Education shall by regulation prescribe. Any contract entered into pursuant to N.J.S.18A:17-15 shall provide for an evaluation pursuant to this section and may provide for additional evaluation criteria or procedures which shall not be inconsistent with the regulations of the State board. b. The New Jersey School Boards Association shall establish a training program for local school board members on the evaluation of superintendents pursuant to subsection a. of this section. Every newly appointed or elected school board member shall complete the training program within six months of commencement of his term of office. L.1991,c.267,s.6. 18A:17-20.4. Tenure rights not affected 8. Nothing in this section or in this act shall affect any tenure rights which shall have already accrued to any superintendent prior to the effective date of this amendatory and supplementary act. A superintendent of schools promoted from within a district shall retain all tenure rights accrued in any position which was previously held by the superintendent in the district. L.1991,c.267,s.8. 18A:17-20.5. Appointment of administrative principal 9. In any district not having a superintendent of schools, the board of education shall appoint an administrative principal for the district. In a district having two or more schools the board shall appoint the principal of one of those schools as administrative principal, and in a district having only one school, the principal of that school shall be so appointed. The appointment of an administrative principal shall be made by contract for a term of not less than three nor more than five years and expiring July 1, by the recorded roll call majority vote of the full membership of the board. Reappointment of the administrative principal shall be governed by the same provisions as set forth in section 4 of P.L.1991, c.267 (C.18A:17-20.1) with respect to superintendents. The administrative principal shall have all the powers, authority, privileges, rights and duties set forth in N.J.S.18A:17-20 and sections 5 and 6 of P.L.1991, c.267 (C.18A:17-20.2 and 18A: 17-20.3 ) with respect to superintendents. No administrative principal hereafter appointed shall have tenure in any other position in the district; but nothing in this section or in P.L.1991, c.267 (C.18A:17-20.1 et al.) shall affect any tenure rights which shall have already accrued to any individual who was appointed as or functioning as an administrative principal prior to the effective date of P.L.1991, c.267 (C.18A:17-20.1 et al.). L.1991,c.267,s.9.