This week, officials of the Lakewood Board of Education were served with an Order to Show Cause issued by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education seeking to remove the duly elected Board of Education, fire the District’s administration, and place the Lakewood School District under full State takeover.

“New Jersey has a long and proud tradition of home rule, under which municipalities retain local authority over their schools and other public institutions,” The Lakewood Board of Education told TLS exclusively. “The Commissioner’s actions represent a direct threat to that tradition by attempting to strip control of the Lakewood School District from the community it serves and transfer day-to-day operations to unelected, State-appointed officials—potentially for decades.”

The Board added, “Let us be clear: the Lakewood Board of Education will vigorously oppose this misguided attempt at State takeover. Our foremost responsibility has always been, and will continue to be, the educational welfare and well-being of all school-aged children in Lakewood.”

“Under the ongoing oversight and guidance of State monitors, the District has made meaningful and consistent progress in addressing the challenges it faces—progress that the State’s filing fails to acknowledge. While the State attempts to place blame on local leadership, the reality is that many of the District’s challenges stem from longstanding, systemic funding deficiencies caused by the well-documented failures of the School Funding Reform Act.

“State takeover is not the solution. Collaboration is. A cooperative approach between the State and the District would have produced far more constructive and sustainable results for students, families, and taxpayers alike. It is deeply disappointing that the State has instead chosen an adversarial path, without warning and without regard for the progress already underway.

“The Lakewood Board of Education remains committed to defending local governance, advocating for fair school funding, and ensuring that every child in Lakewood receives the education they deserve.”