TLS has learned that the Lakewood District Superintendent Laura Winters has made it clear in correspondence to Acting Commissioner Dr. Lamont Repollet, that the Lakewood School District is not seeking any additional loans as to an anticipated $28 million dollar deficit, but rather is seeking a grant based on the district’s unique needs and diverse population (see attached).
TLS spoke with General Counsel to the Board, Michael Inzelbuch, who stated, “The State Monitors and Administration as well as independent experts have made it emphatically clear that the district has a revenue – not a spending issue. They have also made it clear that borrowing additional monies is not the answer.”
The budget, which affect all children in the district, both public and nonpublic, must be finalized by law in May.
28 million dollar deficit? THAT should be the primary concern. Any explanation how that happened? Were modifications made for the future???
The state views us as a 6,000 student population when we have 36,000 students in need of various services. While the extra 30,000 are responsible for basic tuition on their own… the needs of those students for transportation and special education are required to be covered by law… but not entirely in the state’s funding mechanism. Thus… the increasing deficit every year as the non-public school student body increases more and more.
A unique approach that actually makes sense. Good luck to all of us! I cannot read the actual letter you posted. Does it identify what the repercussions are if the State says no?
Michael why wasn’t it sent to the Govener also????
@Commenter If that is the case or even part of the case, to have a known, fixed budget for 6000 yet to go ahead anyway to provide services for an extra 30,000, with no money to pay, only to ask for a bailout after the fact, cannot contintue. (It doesn’t even make sense.)
Based on your viewpoint, someone needs to sit with the state so they see our school district as it really is.
Going to the ATM machine of the taxpayer is no solution simply because there are professionals who failed to be proactive.
“Houston, we have a problem!”
To the Story. We have gone to the State for many years and explained this formula problem to them. They know about it but don’t want to fix it . At some point ,tgey will have no choice . I guess the time is coming soon .
@ Moshe You went to the state and they “don’t want to fix it”. At “some point” they will have no choice? This is part of what I am talking about.
@TheStory
The state doesn’t just “fix things”. They have a formula in place. They don’t change it just because someone told them about Lakewood. It’s just not the way it works.
Eventually the only choice will be for the district to say they can not provide the education any more and just tell the state to take over. In the past ,the state considered that an empty threat . I think that today even the state realizes that there is no more fat to cut out of the budget and even they will not be able to run the district for less money. I think there is almost no other choice left than to tell the state to take over . We have nothing to lose anymore.
@ Hunch. I know that. I was facetiously commenting on another post underscoring my point for professionalism.
This matter is huge, and requires an investigation because the premise, that NJ clearly said, “No. we will not fund you for 30,000 students. We will only fund for 6,000”, and that we went and mobilized a staff and obtained supplies for 30,000 students with no monies to pay, hoping for tens of millions of emergency money, us just not plausible on all sides, and cannot be repeated. We are talking about an entire school system.
@Hunch. Follow the thread. The view of the state not wanting to “fix it” was not mine.
Moshe, be careful what you wish for. You think that you have nothing left to lose if the state takes over, but will they willingly pay thousands to schi for non-certified teachers to offer services? Will they determine that non-accredited schools don’t deserve funding or busing?
And if they stop courtesy busing, how many families will sit in gridlock to drive their children to school? How many parents will lose their job because of that?
I understand your feelings, but I can promise you that there’s still a lot to lose.