[EXCLUSIVE VIDEO BELOW] Despite the valiant and ongoing efforts of Lakewood Board of Education members, it appears that at least 8 Child Study Team (CST) members jobs are at jeopardy, yet again.

In a saga that has been ongoing for months, these 8 CST members have again received notices that their jobs made be eliminated at the upcoming Board meeting due to an alleged Budget shortfall.

TLS has learned that for this Wednesday’s meeting of the Board of Education additional Child Study Team members, Administrators, employees, and Special Education Director Ray Doro have received notices (in addition to the 8 CST members whose jobs are at risk and received notices) allowing Board members to discuss in detail the overall status of special education in Lakewood, New Jersey and specific employees actions , or lack thereof.

As the attached June 21st email correspondence of noted special education attorney Michael I. Inzelbuch, Esq. to Commissioner David Hespe, State Monitor Azzara, and Superintendent Winters indicates, it appears that the problem in Lakewood extends far beyond the firing of 8 CST members but includes serious allegations of discrimination, failure to provide legally dictated services, and inappropriate placement decisions involving the district’s public school children .

According to Inzelbuch he is considering, in addition to the countless lawsuits he has filed against the district on behalf of individual public school children who have special needs, requesting a review by the United States Department of Education of the school district and New Jersey Department of Education.

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The following is the letter sent:

Dear Commissioner Hespe, State  Monitor Azzara, and Superintendent Winters:

Good early morning.

I forward this communication to your attention so there is no “misunderstanding “  as to what strongly appears to be occurring , or not occurring, in  Lakewood, New Jersey.

I am not here to blame anyone,at this time.

I am not here to  advise nor suggest, at this time, what the District or State should do, or not do, as to District  personnel/professionals or State personnel .

BUT — I am here to formally notify you that it strongly appears that  many  classified public school children in Lakewood are being “dissed ” (a Lakewood word we used when I attended Lakewood High School ) , to wit,

1.      Many children  are not being offered appropriate programs/placements whether the recommendations are for in district or out of district options  ;
2.      Many children who currently attend our public schools are not receiving an appropriate education ;
3.     Many children based solely on their nationality /race/ religion  appear to be  treated like     “groups ” and /or chattel (instead of individuals) ,especially many  students of Latino origin who it is assumed don’t know better and /or are intimidated from challenging the “junta”  ;
4.      Public school  special education  classes are reportedly being “rearranged”   based on ethnicity  and/or religion in an attempt to thwart/impact prospective or current litigation matters .Reference is made ,for example , as to what has been allegedly occurring at the Linden Avenue trailers with the transfer of certain students to Spruce Street so other children of a differing ethnicity /religion can be offered placement at Linden Avenue    ;
5.     Many children are not being provided appropriate program/placement options. One example, the “offer them anything but SCHI or Center “ approach despite said programs /placements being the only available truly appropriate NJDOE approved options for certain  students due to the intensity of their individualized needs that could not be met in a public school setting .
6.      Many children are not being evaluated in a timely fashion with the district utilizing outside Agencies /Commissions that has only further delayed essential evaluations from being completed .
7. Individuals / who are not IEP Team members reportedly dictate placement and/or are engaging in what can only be described as a “pre approval process “
8. Who is to blame ?

I have my opinion supported by facts   but it is apparent that the scapegoats who allegedly were part of the problem in the past  who are long gone ( such as Helen Tobia ) cannot  legitimately be blamed for the current dismal situation.

While all of the above has  and continues to enhance my pecuniary gain as  an  attorney who has the privilege of representing hundreds of public school children of all religions, nationalities, and ethnic groups — the time has come to take meaningful  action and develop a long term plan  to end this sad state of affairs.

I beg of you to take meaningful  action to help the children of Lakewood .

Better to spend precious tax  dollars on kids than attorneys like myself .

CHILDREN are our FUTURE , however,  there does not appear to be much of a future for students who are classified in Lakewood, New Jersey

[TLS]