The Murphy administration is seeking a state takeover of Lakewood Board of Education, David Wildstein is reporting, a move that could strip the local school board of power and install a state-appointed superintendent, citing years of deficits, unpaid state loans, and soaring busing and special-ed costs.
The action, Wildstein reports, expected to be initiated through an Order to Show Cause just days before Governor Phil Murphy leaves office, follows more than a decade of multi-million-dollar deficits, and long-standing concerns about governance and oversight.
If approved, the takeover would place Lakewood on a path similar to prior state interventions in districts such as Camden, Newark, and Paterson, where state control lasted more than a decade, while also carrying political implications for local and state leaders as the Sherrill administration prepares to take office.
State takeovers of local school districts are fairly rare, but when they do happen, they can remain in place for decades.
It’s unclear yet how this will affect local special education, busing and property taxes.
I think this move will minimize Chillul Hashem and help us keep the Chazal of “Al Tisgaru B’umos “ a bit better.
Thats my humble opinion.
(No , I am not a huge fan of taking services from the government as the default position)
I give everyone a Bracha that all their needs should be met B’ruchniyos Uvigashmiyos.
Sounds like you don’t have any children in need of special services. Thank Hashem for that and Daven for those who do.
Finnaly there might be a school that the askonim couldnt get you thrown out of
This is why We need to Fix the Formula! and NOW
I thought that was the whole point of the state monitor! What changed?
Nothing changed! Hence the State takeover.