LAKEWOOD, NJ – In a stunning and emotional turn of events, Bnos Penina, a girls school in Lakewood, announced that it will cease operations this week, leaving dozens of families without a school for their daughters.
Administrators notified parents in a letter dated February 17 that the school will not be able to continue classes beyond Wednesday, February 18, and urged parents not to send students beginning Thursday, February 19. The closure, they explained, comes after months of mounting financial strain and unfulfilled commitments from within the parent body that had been essential to keeping the institution afloat.
The administration said the school’s financial model relied heavily on both tuition and additional pledges from parents who had promised to share in the fiscal responsibility of maintaining operations. However, as the letter explained, many accounts fell behind. “Had tuition obligations been maintained as agreed, we would not be in this position today,” the school wrote, underscoring the severity of the budget shortfall.
Compounding the problem were higher operational expenses caused by this winter’s sub-freezing temperatures, which drove up heating and maintenance costs. The situation reached a breaking point when the school’s landlord informed the administration that the building could no longer be used after Wednesday, effectively leaving Bnos Penina without a facility or a way to continue classes.
Financial struggles reach breaking point
Despite months of intense discussions, community appeals, and attempts to secure alternative funding, school officials said they were unable to find a sustainable path forward. “After much effort, many conversations, and every possible attempt to find a sustainable path forward, we have reached the painful conclusion that we will not be able to continue,” the administration wrote.
The letter also noted that the decision came after consultation with Torah authorities, emphasizing that it was not made lightly and only followed “tremendous thought, tears, and sincere attempts to avoid this outcome.”
- The Lakewood school announced closure effective Thursday, Feb. 19
- Administrators cited unpaid tuition and unmet financial pledges
- The school’s landlord ended its lease, leaving no facility to operate
Community reaction and next steps
The closure leaves families scrambling for alternatives as parents search for new placements for their children mid-year. Bnos Penina leaders expressed hope that parents might still come together to make continuation possible, though for now, operations will cease indefinitely.
“It is our sincere hope that our wonderful and loyal parents will step forward in a meaningful and immediate way to make continuation possible,” the administration concluded.
End of an era for Bnos Penina