The New Jersey Department of Education has announced moments ago it will provide a state-aid to the Lakewood School District in an effort to restore the jobs and programs cut from the budget.
“The New Jersey Department of Education will provide a state-aid advance in the amount of $8,522,678 to the Lakewood School District to ensure a thorough and efficient education for the public school students of Lakewood, the Department of Education said.
The state-aid advance will allow the Lakewood School District to:
•Reinstate 127 teaching staff positions including 106 classroom teachers, 14 basic skills teachers and 7 literacy and math coaches;
•Restore boys and girls athletics programs for the fall, winter and spring seasons (soccer, track and baseball), as well as extra-curricular activities such as band and orchestra;
•Secure the provision of summer school programming, critical for some students to meet graduation requirements;
•Purchase new K-5 science text books, needed to meet the New Jersey Student Learning Standards; and
•Ensure the district can meet the costs for one-to-one aides who are essential to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
The announcement comes a day before a planned protest in Trenton by Lakewood High School students.
UPDATE 7:10 PM. Attorney Michael Iznelbuch responded to the announcement, saying this was too little, too late.
“It’s too little too late,” Inzelbuch said. “It’s not enough. We don’t need bandaids or loans. Public school teachers and kids are not beggars. We need a long term solution.”
“Also, while I am a Lakewood graduate, I still know that $8 million doesn’t equal $15,000,000.”
With regard to tomorrow’s protest, Inzelbuch says, “While it’s up to the superintendent, I’d say go. The only reason they’re announcing it today, is because they’re afraid of the truth.”
Yes an advance that has to be paid back. That mean higher taxes
Is this a loan or a grant?
What about the libraries and librarians?
I was thinking the same thing, it is great for all that will be reinstated, but what about the school libraries and librarians that were all cut?
Please do not accept a loan
It’s a loan!
Not only do we have an existing $2,000,000 outstanding loan to the state, but we will owe them another $8 million that we don’t have. This is absurd!
If the state can make a carve out exception to save Atlantic City, so should they do it for Lakewood!
As for the protest, please provide time and details for those that want to join.
Will there be busses for the frum community?
Are any yeshivas participating.
We need to do one MASS protest once and for all.
How much if the 8 million goes to the public schools?
As a last ditch effort to avoid bad publicity, the State is going to loan Lakewood money.
Don’t take the bait, Trenton is finally feeling some heat.
come on MR I, there are many teachers who are crying tears of joy right now that they have a job for next year that’s a huge thing
ANd there are MANY taxpayers crying every night of the year for the pressure they have to try and pay for more than their fair share. The teachers and their jobs are NOT the issue here. Please stop with the hand wringing about their jobs…
Good.immigrant children’s future should not be destroyed to save a few bucks for property owners.
Go to Trenton. See if they can look you straight in the face. That’s what they’re afraid of. Go kids. All of you.
DEJA VU !…and again, and again…
Tell Trenton to take the stupid loan (moderated). When they are ready to get serious about the public education for the children of Lakewood with a real financial commitment, then we can talk.