In a new report, the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services (OLS) is recommending that the Lakewood Public School District “be considered a district confronted by severe financial distress,” which would allow for the district to receive additional stabilization aid from the state.
The report also sates, “the Lakewood Public School district, which is severely underfunded, would benefit greatly from additional aid, similar to what the state Legislature did for Atlantic City.”
The report goes on to say that the district could benefit from an increase in stabilization aid.
“This is a product of 20-plus years of work by state Senator Bob Singer (R-Lakewood), the Lakewood Township Committee, Superintendent Laura Winters and the Board of Education, R’ Ahron Kotler and the Vaad,” Board of Education attorney Michael Inzelbuch told TLS.
“We were fortunate to have the state auditors here in the district for approximately two years, who truly wanted to explore fiscal necessities and funding shortfalls,” Inzelbuch continued, adding that its “now up to the Legislature to implement these recommendations.”
In addition, the OLS is recommending in their report that, due to the high number of nonpublic school children receiving transportation aid, the Legislature pass a bill which would create a LSTA style consortium for the districts surrounding Lakewood.
A bill creating the aforementioned consortium has passed the Assembly unanimously and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Wow! it took the state 20 years of work ti figure out that the Lakewood schools are underfunded???
Now what??
Our numbers have gone way down for public schools.I feel sorry for all of the other towns. This all does not make sense.
i lived in lakewood for the last 35 years and all my children went through lakewood schools and i am very greatfull. lakewood public school numbers are amazingly high! my son graduated and many of his friends from surrounding towns wanted to attend lakewood public school. Graduation rate is higher than any district. Great job Laura Winters and the jewish board.
I don’t think that’s true,being a fellow Lakewood graduate.LAKEWOOD public schools have been goin downhill and they keep taking reducing staff and cutting extra curriculum activities.
Extra curricula activities shouldn’t be the burden of the local tax payers & doesn’t reflect the quality of the education being offered by the district. Parent’s should take responsibilty for any extra activities they feel would benefit their children.
Good job to the Board members and senator singer and Meir Lichtenstein
Finally, a recognition of the obvious. The State must be cognizant of the “sleeping lion” – 42,000 plus non public kids who by law are transported and come to the district when they have significant special needs and then rightly so go out of district at HUGE but legal costs determined by State
We have enough supplies and staff, the only problem is the money is coming from LOANS.
We provide a “Thorough and Efficient“ education.
Now it’s time for State to forgive loans and pay with increased aide.
We need Legislature to do so.