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Toms River board rejects NJDOE directive, authorizes Chapter 9 preparations and orders services to continue
Summary
The Toms River Regional School District Board unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the New Jersey Department of Education's directive to delay programming, directed staff to continue services (including extended school-year programs), and authorized district officials to consult bankruptcy counsel to begin Chapter 9 procedures.
The Toms River Regional School District Board of Education on June 30 unanimously approved a resolution rejecting a New Jersey Department of Education instruction to delay programming and expenditures and authorized district officials to consult bankruptcy attorneys to begin Chapter 9 proceedings if necessary. Board President Mrs. Lamb read the statement and said the board "cannot and will not acquiesce to the State Department of Education's direction."
Board members moved and seconded the resolution and approved it by roll call: Matarazzo, Jubert, Coyne, Contessa, Egan, Kidney, Capone and Lamb recorded votes of "Yes." The motion to approve the resolution was made by Board Member Egan and seconded; the clerk called the roll and the resolution passed.
The resolution, read into the record by Mister Burns, quotes correspondence from Assistant Commissioner David Corso that warned the board it "is prohibited from expending any funds or operating any educational programs past today's date until a budget for fiscal year 26 is approved." In response, the board's resolution formally rejects that directive, directs the superintendent, administration and staff to continue all activities necessary to ensure uninterrupted educational services (explicitly including extended school-year programs scheduled to begin the next day), and authorizes consultation with counsel about Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy code.
Mrs. Lamb emphasized the dual rationale: a duty to students and a fiduciary duty to taxpayers. "The State may order us to delay services, but we will continue to do what's right for kids," she said. The board's action signals that, despite the Department of Education's warning, district leadership intends to keep programs running while pursuing legal and financial options.
The board also noted it will continue efforts to engage the Department of Education in resolving the funding dispute. The meeting opened public comment but no members of the public spoke before the board adjourned.
