As reported exclusively earlier this week on TLS, the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services (OLS) issued a new report that, for the first time, recommended increased funding for the Lakewood Public School District.
The report, which TLS has now obtained in full, determined 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, also went on to recommend an LSTA style consortium for the districts surrounding Lakewood to help alleviate the transportation issues in the area.
One of the areas of greatest concern is Lakewood’s ever growing busing needs based on the state law that all children – public and Non-Public – are required to receive busing if they live a certain distance from school – 2 miles for elementary school children and 2.5 miles for high school students.
For the upcoming 2023-24 school year, there will be approximately 50,000 public and non-public school students bused in Lakewood – one of the reasons that the report indicated that Lakewood should receive additional funding thru a formula change, rather than receive additional loans.
The report goes on to note that the state does not fully provide reimbursement for the busing of non-public school students despite busing being required by State law because they attend private schools.
However, this coming school year, the problem will be even worse as all school districts have already submitted their budgets and only recently was the aid-in-lieu transportation amount for each non-public school student increased from $1,022 to $1,165 per student.
Therefore, the Lakewood Public School District will need to find anywhere from $1.5 million to $3.8 million additional dollars for busing private school students due to the increased amount required – but not fully funded – by the State.
TLS contacted Lakewood Board of Education spokesperson and attorney Michael Inzelbuch who stated “the Governor correctly raised the aid-in-lieu amount across the State due to increased gasoline costs and salaries dictated by the economy. However, it is only Lakewood who truly suffers due to the large number of students we must bus by law.”
“For example, while Howell must pay the increase, the overall dollar amount is a lot less as they may only have about 200 non-public school students, as opposed to Lakewood that has tens of thousands,” Inzelbuch continued. “Like the Audit Report states Lakewood needs additional funding using a revised formula,” he concluded.
Perhaps the residents of Lakewood who are exempt from paying their property taxes (for a variety of reasons), should reconsider, and do something to give back to the town, the county, the state, the country in which they are privileged to live…just like residents who are NOT exempt.
Which residents are exempt from paying property taxes? Something I don’t know here? Or have you accepted some anti-Semitic myth?
By sending their children to private school, they save the State of New Jersey $32,575 PER child, every year. Multiply that by the average ten children per family and we have $325,750 each year that the average Lakewood family which you claim doesn’t pay property tax saves the state. Let that sink in for a minute, and then try to explain to me in English how paying $10,000 a year in property taxes is giving back to the town, state, and country. You should mortgage your house, and donate the money to the government to pay your fair share.
What are you talking about? Unless I did not understand your post. You shift tracks at one point (“and try to explain”) so its somewhat confusing. First of all, the average family does not have 10 kids in school, and the average family does not have 10 kids. Many do but it is not the average! Either way, we are bickering over inconsequential numbers. Point taken. You cost the state significantly less than other residents. Fine. But if you don’t pay your taxes you still give nothing! Maybe a non private school resident gets more and pays less, but, if you give nothing you are taking and not giving. You have police, services, infrastructure, and all other benefits of Government. Someone has to pay the bill. If you haven’t paid taxes (any type of taxes) then, while you may be taking less that others, you are still taking without giving.
The brilliance of your math takes my breath away! Did you perchance attend public school? If I have the right to send my child to public school @ the cost of $32,575 per year, but instead send to a private school and foot the bill myself I am saving the government money. A penny saved, is a penny earned!
The state fixes the formula, not members of the BOE.
We pay over 10,000 in property taxes and so does every homeowner I know, so not sure what you mean! Of course in addition to private school tuition for our 5 children. The problem has been obvious for years and years. The funding formula doesn’t work for a city with a majority private school students. If I understand correctly, the Board of Ed only receives funding for public school students, then is required to ‘spread it’ to cover bussing, special ed, and other mandated services for private school students. If your city has the vast majority of public school kids, then this can work. (I know this must be an oversimplification, but I believe this is the crux of the problem.) If only the NJ state government had recognized the problem years ago. I’m glad to hear they are starting to understand. Hope our Board of Ed will soon get the help to finally fund all our kids’ needs and dig out from debt.
Many nights (at 10pm) I see a Lakewood School Bus drop off men, yes MEN, who are obviously coming home from work. Okay, the School Bus was being used when it would be sitting idle; but we are all paying the cost of this run.
If the school bus is dropping off men then the men are paying for it not the Bord of ED.
School buses can be rented out by adults to, not just used to drive kids to and from school.
It’s news to me that men work until 10pm and then hop on a school bus to go home. Newsflash, those ” men” that are keeping you up at night, are in high-school