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Lakewood board appeals state monitor denials, approves hiring of financial consultant
Summary
The board passed resolutions appealing the State Monitor/NJDOE denials related to retaining an education financial consultant and approved hiring Robert Finger (capped at $20,000) through legal counsel; the board also sought written guidance from NJDOE on the use of Special Revenue funds for general fund needs.
At its Jan. 22 meeting the Lakewood Board of Education adopted several resolutions formally challenging actions by the State Monitor and the New Jersey Department of Education and authorized the retention of a financial consultant to assist with budget and legal matters.
The board voted to appeal the State Monitor’s and NJDOE’s prior denial of the board’s Jan. 8 resolution to retain Robert Finger as an education financial consultant. The appeal resolution stated the board believes Mr. Finger’s experience, including prior testimony in Alcantara v. New Jersey Department of Education, is needed to support the district’s preparation of the 2025-26 budget, state-aid loan request and related responses. The board said it had identified funding in a legal account and proposed a cap of $20,000 at $110 per hour.
Following that appeal, the board approved a separate resolution to retain Robert Finger as financial consultant with compensation not to exceed $20,000, to be paid via General Counsel Michael I. Inzelbuch’s statement of services. The meeting minutes record the board’s intent to pursue administrative or legal remedies if the State Monitor or NJDOE override the hire.
The board also passed a resolution appealing the denial of a Jan. 8 board resolution concerning the use of Special Revenue funds for General Fund expenditures, calling for written NJDOE authorization and requesting state aid advances to address a cash-flow deficit. The resolution directs the superintendent, business administrator and legal counsel to pursue legal and administrative remedies if necessary.
State Monitor Louise Davis was identified in the minutes as having denied certain prior items on Jan. 17; the board’s resolutions explicitly contest those denials and request reconsideration from the NJDOE. The board’s approvals were adopted as recorded in the superintendent agenda votes; the minutes do not record any public commentary in opposition at the meeting.
Next steps listed in the minutes include filing appeals and seeking written guidance from NJDOE; administration and legal counsel were authorized to act on the board’s behalf.
