Lakewood School Board Decides to Sue State and Hires Consultant Despite Block

The Lakewood school board has voted to sue the state over funding issues and reappointed a consultant previously blocked from returning

Lakewood School Board Decides to Sue State and Hires Consultant Despite Block
Lakewood School Board Decides to Sue State and Hires Consultant Despite Block

Lakewood: The school board is making some big moves lately. They’ve decided to sue the New Jersey Department of Education. This is their strongest push yet against the state’s oversight.

They’re claiming the state made false findings in a review and didn’t provide enough funding for special education. It’s a serious matter for them.

In another twist, they’ve brought back Robert Finger as a consultant. He was blocked from returning just a couple of months ago, but now he’s back on the payroll at $110 an hour. The board thinks he’s crucial for their budget planning.

The current state monitor, Louise Davis, didn’t stop this reappointment, but she’s keeping an eye on things. The board is also looking to take legal action against former Education Commissioner Kimberly Markus. They believe her report about the district was full of inaccuracies that hurt their reputation.

The board is feeling the pressure, especially with a $104 million state loan hanging in the balance. They’re anxious to know if they can use those funds, as they’re worried about covering payroll.

It’s a bit of a mess with state monitors too. They’ve had three different monitors since July, and it seems like there’s no end in sight. The board is trying to navigate through all this while keeping their students’ needs in mind.

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