Residents press board for ABER/Haber study, question interim payment and transparency

Several residents used the public comment period to press the Middletown Township Board of Education for clarity about a district study performed by Ross Haber/ABER and about a payment the district made before the final study was delivered.

Community members and board members said the consultant had earlier suggested options would be presented and residents reported seeing wording in emailed communications referencing an "interim report" or progress update. The board’s administration said the consultant provided progress communications and that the district made an interim payment at the consultant’s request; administrators and the president told the public they are following up and expect more information soon.

One resident said she had filed OPRA requests for records documenting information withheld from the public and asked the board to provide a log of withheld items; the district representative said they were working on responses. Speakers urged that the final study and any options be presented publicly and that the board not pay the final invoice until the report is delivered and reviewed.

Board administration said the consultant had been working since the summer and the district provided a mid‑term payment; the administration said it had no options to present yet and would continue to press the consultant for a firm delivery date. The board president said the final study will be released to the board and public simultaneously when it is received and that he would follow up with the consultant before the end of the week to get a date for presentation.