Lakewood officials support state takeover of school district
The New Jersey Department of Education has taken the first step toward a full state takeover of the financially troubled Lakewood School District. the Department of Education said the township had failed to root out “pervasive, endemic educational and operational failures” first flagged more than 15 years ago and had continued to mismanage its resources at the cost of its students according to the report
As part of the process, the state filed an order to show cause against the district, marking the formal beginning of potential full state intervention. See order HERE
Bob Singer acknowledged the Lakewood school district’s challenges but said it is too early to know whether a state takeover will fix them. If approved by the State Board of Education, the takeover would place the district under state-appointed leadership, including a new superintendent and business administrator, while the elected school board would remain in an advisory role with additional members appointed by the education commissioner. (NJ monitor)
A joint statement by Assemblyman Avi Schnall, State Senator Robert Singer, Mayor Ray Coles and the Lakewood Township Committee issued Wednesday supported a state takeover
" Lakewood is one of the most unique school districts not only in New Jersey, but in the entire country. More than 50,000 children attend private schools in Lakewood, while approximately 5,000 students are enrolled in the public school district nearly 90 percent of whom are English Language Learners (ESL). No other district in the state comes close to this demographic reality, and New Jersey’s school funding formula was never designed to account for such a system.
As a result, the Lakewood School District faces an annual structural deficit of more than $100 million. This is not the product of mismanagement or lack of oversight. It is the direct consequence of a funding formula that does not reflect Lakewood’s unique circumstances and statutory obligations.
Recognizing this mismatch, the State has for many years provided loans to help fill the district’s budgetary gap and keep schools operating. During that same period, more than a dozen state-appointed fiscal monitors have reviewed Lakewood’s finances in depth, each charged with identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for cost savings.
Without exception, every one of those monitors reached the same conclusion: Lakewood’s challenge is not a management issue it is a revenue issue.
If the State of New Jersey believes that assuming a more direct role in Lakewood’s school district will finally lead to a sustainable, long-term solution to this structural problem, we welcome that effort. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Department of Education and with incoming Governor Mikie Sherrill to resolve this issue once and for all.
Our priority has always been and remains the students. The students who rely on the Lakewood School District deserve stability, resources, and an education system that is properly funded and designed for their needs. We welcome this opportunity."
Haragta V'yerashta
ReplyDeletePlagiarising the platform of Aaron Lang
Despicable politicians couldn't even acknowledge the work of R Arthur Lang
ReplyDeleteBug difference, Aron Lang want to save the tax payers and make the state pay it's fair share, the state will simply raise taxes thru the roof. I hope Aron Lang continues with his lawsuit, because it doesn't matter who runs the district, it matters who pays for it.
ReplyDelete(Hopefully the state will dump the administrative employees who got us into this mess)
The report says the town didn't raise enough taxes, while they gave out tax money for the district this takeover will cost us dearly.
ReplyDeleteit will be a huge tax burden, is this what we put Avi schnall in for?
ReplyDeletealso there goes our bussing welcome to state sponsored traffic jams, if you think traffic is bad wait till you see the carpool traffic of thousands and thousands of kids getting to school.
Fix the formula before state taking over.
lets recall Avi
It's very telling how bad this takeover is as they did it like cowards a few days before Murphy leaves and didn't let the next give do it. This will be a disaster for taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteIf you thought local government was corrupt then just embrace the state level. They let it happen, because they don't care about the local Berel Schmerel.
ReplyDeleteIf you invite a bear to lunch, don’t be surprised if it decides to stay for dinner.
ReplyDeleteDon’t think the state will stop with the BOE, they are going to stick their fingers in a lot of places we don’t want them.
In NY They're running from Mamdani and now we cld run from NJ.
ReplyDeleteWe are just weeks before the NJ Supreme Court looks at the matter. We are at the end of the road. Dahmer pulled a fast one. The state is going to say they are trying something new so that the SC should not interfere. The monitor argument was a loser. B"H they already filed their response to our petition to the SC but if they take the case, I'm sure they will plead that the state takeover will fix the problem. A Lang
ReplyDeleteAron you are a tzadik. The oilam appreciates all that you have done for us. The few people who say they represent us and end up taking all the funding for their pet projects, The Twp committee who appoint boards that dont look out for us have a special place waiting for them. You and others who only want what is best for the taxpayers and renters and all of Lakewood will be well rewarded. Oilam hofuch ro'isi.
ReplyDelete