schools - Shore News Network

$15 Million Stolen From Lakewood School District and There’s Still No News about Investigation

Breaking Local News ReportApril 5, 20250

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Somebody stole $15 million from the Lakewood school district earlier this year, and nearly two months after the heist, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office remains absolutely silent. Multiple attempts to get updates from the office have gone unanswered. At this point, nobody is talking, but millions of dollars are still allegedly ‘disappeared’. Over a month after the reported theft of $15 million from the Lakewood Township School District’s operating accounts, a troubling silence persists from both district officials and law enforcement agencies. The incident, which allegedly occurred over the Presidents’ Day weekend in February 2025, has left

Five School Employees Placed on Leave After Special Needs Student Tied Up With Tape

Breaking Local News ReportApril 5, 20250

BARNEGAT, NJ – April 5, 2025 – A troubling incident in a special education classroom has sparked an internal investigation within the Barnegat Township School District, leading to the administrative leave of five staff members. The event, reported by a staff member not assigned to the program, has raised serious concerns about student safety and staff conduct in the district’s specialized Autism Continuum of Educational Support (ACES) program. Superintendent Dr. Brian Latwis addressed the situation in a letter to families on April 3, detailing the district’s swift response. “We immediately placed on leave one teacher and four support staff members

Maryland High School in Lockdown After Shots Fired

Breaking Local News ReportApril 4, 20250

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — A high school in Montgomery County went into shelter-in-place mode Friday after police responded to reports of gunshots in a nearby neighborhood, authorities said. Key Points According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, officers were called to the 10300 block of Apple Ridge Road around 11:15 a.m. following a report of shots fired in the area. As a safety measure, Watkins Mill High School, located nearby, was placed under a shelter-in-place order while police investigated. Officials posted an update on social media around 12:30 p.m., confirming their presence in the area and ongoing efforts to gather

Embattled Middletown School Board Puts Closures on Hold, Will Drastically Raise Taxes Instead

Breaking Local News ReportApril 3, 20250

LEONARDO, N.J. — The Middletown Township Public School District has announced it will not move forward with previously considered school closures for the 2025–2026 academic year, following a revised proposal involving a tax levy increase, limited staffing reductions, and property sale agreements. Key Points In a letter issued Wednesday, Superintendent Jessica Alfone stated that the Board of Education, township administration, and local officials had agreed on a “collaborative effort to prevent the school closures,” opting instead for a plan aimed at long-term financial stability and continued high-quality education. The new proposal includes a school tax levy increase of 5.88%, moderate

Feds to Murphy: New Jersey’s temporary COVID school slush fund has been turned off

Breaking Local News ReportApril 2, 20250

TRENTON, N.J. — Federal education officials informed New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy that pandemic-era relief funds have ended, prompting a political clash over the future of school district budgets across the state. In a statement posted Monday, the U.S. Department of Education Press Secretary Linda McMahon criticized Murphy’s reaction to the funding changes, writing on social media, “@GovMurphy doesn’t know what he is talking about. New Jersey is continuing to receive all recurring federal education funds – but his COVID slush fund is over.” Key Points Murphy responded by accusing the federal government, under the current Trump administration, of initiating

The NJEA Must Face the Music on New Jersey’s Falling Test Scores

Breaking Local News ReportApril 2, 20250

New Jersey has long prided itself on its public education system, often ranking among the best in the nation. Yet, beneath this reputation lies a troubling reality: our students’ math and English test scores are slipping, and the post-pandemic recovery remains sluggish. The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the state’s most powerful teachers’ union, cannot sidestep its role in this decline. It’s time for the NJEA to take accountability and prioritize student outcomes over institutional self-preservation. Recent data paints a stark picture. The 2024 New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) show modest gains in math and English proficiency since the

Sen. Amato urges Governor Murphy to scrap 6% cap on school aid increases for 2026

Breaking Local News ReportApril 1, 20250

TRENTON, NJ — Senator Carmen Amato (R-9) on Tuesday called on Governor Phil Murphy to eliminate the 6% cap on school aid increases in the upcoming fiscal year, arguing it prevents adequate funding for districts that have suffered aid cuts since 2018. Key Points: “Our schools should not be forced to operate under an arbitrary cap that limits resources to students and teachers,” Amato said in a statement. He criticized the cap for failing to address the funding needs of districts that have experienced net losses in state aid between FY 2018 and FY 2025. Amato joins a growing number

New Jersey school district orders metal detectors after student brought ghost gun to class, made threats

Breaking Local News ReportApril 1, 20250

WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — A 17-year-old student at Woodbridge High School was arrested on March 18 after being caught with a loaded ghost gun on campus, prompting school officials to accelerate the installation of metal detectors at local high schools. The student was taken into custody after administrators were alerted to a threatening text message. A subsequent search uncovered a ghost gun—a firearm lacking a serial number—raising immediate safety concerns across the district. The teen now faces juvenile charges, including unlawful possession of a weapon and making terroristic threats, authorities confirmed. The student’s identity has not been released due to age.

As Many New Jersey Districts Mull School Closings, Newark Spent $2.8 Million on Expensive Catering

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 31, 20250

NEWARK, N.J. — Your school district might be faced with closing and selling schools to close their budget gap, but the prime beneficiary of New Jersey school state aid is living high on the hog. The Newark School Board authorized spending up to $2.8 million in taxpayer money for catered meals at meetings and events, drawing sharp criticism from a Republican state senator who accused the district of reckless spending. Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) slammed the move, citing it as another example of what he called the district’s “obscene spending habits,” which have included travel expenditures and recreational staff events.

New Jersey janitor sentenced to eight years for tainting school lunches with bodily fluids

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 30, 20250

BRIDGETON, NJ — A former school custodian who admitted to contaminating food with bodily fluids and chemicals at a New Jersey school was sentenced Friday to eight years in state prison, prosecutors announced. Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, of Vineland, pleaded guilty to second-degree official misconduct and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He must serve at least five years before becoming eligible for parole, according to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae. Impellizzeri was arrested following a New Jersey State Police investigation into videos he recorded of himself while employed at the Upper Deerfield School District. In the footage, he

Governor Murphy on Middletown 10% Tax Increase and School Closures: The Math Doesn’t Lie

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 30, 20250

Middletown, NJ, March 30, 2025 – Residents of Middletown, New Jersey, are confronting a proposed 10.1% school tax increase as the Middletown Township School District grapples with a $10 million budget shortfall for the 2025-2026 school year. The plan, presented as an alternative to closing three schools, has ignited fierce debate in this Monmouth County community, known for its sprawling suburban landscape and highly regarded public schools. The district will apparently not be getting any help from its most popular resident, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who said his school funding formula is working as intended. While Murphy has ignored

Middletown Announces Plans to Demolish School and Build a Community Park

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 29, 20250

MIDDLETOWN, NJ – The Township of Middletown is set to acquire the site of the former Mater Dei Prep High School, a once-beloved Catholic institution that closed its doors in 2022, with plans to demolish the aging school building and convert the 20-acre property into a public park. This week, rumors spread that the township was purchasing the school to build a commercial and residential center. That rumor was unfounded. The decision, announced by the Parish of Saint Mary on March 27, marks the end of an era for the New Monmouth section of the township and the beginning of

Convicted Mafia Hitman Who Killed Six People Visits Lakewood

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 28, 20250

Lakewood, NJ – Lakewood residents reported the sighting of a convicted mafia hitman in their city who confessed to at least six murders and dozens of violent assaults. We confirmed that former mob murderer John Alite was, in fact, in Lakewood. Alite visited the campus of Georgian Court University where he met with Mitch Little, a professor at the university and the retired chief of the Toms River Police Department. “Chief Little and myself with the students of Georgian University after my address to the class! God bless them the opportunity and the futures of all to a successful future,”

New Jersey bill seeks to reverse Murphy-era school aid caps that devastated dozens of suburban districts

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 27, 20250

TRENTON, N.J. — Senator Latham Tiver (R-08) announced Thursday he will co-sponsor legislation aimed at fully restoring state education aid to New Jersey school districts that have lost funding since fiscal year 2018, challenging the 6% cap on aid increases imposed under Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration. The proposed legislation, introduced by Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), would remove the current limit on annual aid increases for fiscal year 2026, allowing districts like Evesham to recoup larger shares of lost funding. Tiver said the bill is designed to address what he called an “arbitrary restriction” that has disproportionately impacted many communities. Key

Off-duty NYPD school safety agent cuffed for assault in Queens

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 26, 20250

QUEENS, N.Y. — An off-duty NYPD school safety agent was arrested Tuesday night in Queens and charged with assault, police said. Shafkath Tabassum, 30, was taken into custody at 10:17 p.m. within the confines of the 115th Precinct. She faces one count of third-degree assault, according to the NYPD. Key Points: Tabassum, a school safety agent, was off-duty at the time of the alleged incident. The NYPD did not provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Police said the investigation remains ongoing. No information was released regarding the victim or the context of the alleged assault. The 115th

Middletown schools announce plan for 10% tax hike days after meeting to close multiple schools

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 24, 20250

LEONARDO, N.J. — Things for Middletown residents could be getting worse. Just days after announcing plans to close three schools, Middletown Township Public School District is now considering a tax hike of over 10% under a new state incentive program aimed at boosting district revenues. In a letter sent to families Monday, Superintendent Jessica Alfone said the district recently became eligible for a New Jersey Department of Education tax incentive program. If approved, the program would allow the district to raise an additional $8.37 million — a 5.2% increase in revenue from local taxes — along with a potential $418,648

High school basketball coach fired for yanking player’s ponytail after state title loss

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 22, 20250

NORTHVILLE, N.Y. — A high school girls basketball coach was fired after he was caught on video yanking a player’s ponytail following his team’s loss in the New York Class D state championship game. Northville Central School District confirmed that head coach Jim Zullo was terminated after the postgame confrontation with senior Hailey Monroe, who appeared to have her hair pulled by the coach while the team lined up to shake hands. NEW: High school basketball coach fired after yanking a girl's ponytail following their loss in the New York Class D state championship game. Good job on the girl

Four Plead Guilty in New York City Public Schools Bid Rigging

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 22, 20250

**New York, NY** – Four defendants, including the companies Transcend BS LLC and Clark & Garner LLC and their respective owners, admitted guilt in a bid rigging case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case involves procurement consulting services for New York City Public Schools.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Transcend BS LLC and its owner, Victor A. Garrido, based in Peekskill, New York, along with Clark & Garner LLC and its owner, Donald Clark Garner II, from Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to violating Section 1 of the Sherman Act. This violation involves manipulating bids related to contracts for services with New York City schools.

Court documents reveal that from November 2020 to at least January 2023, Garrido, Garner, and their companies submitted false bids, making Transcend appear as the lowest bidder. The scheme resulted in over $707,000 in work orders for NYC Public Schools, with an estimated loss of $141,511 suffered by the NYC Department of Education.

Beyond the bid rigging, Garrido and Garner have agreed to repay the New York State Department of Labor for improperly received unemployment benefits. They previously worked for NYC Public Schools before establishing

Middletown mayor disagrees with school board decision to shut down schools

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 21, 20250

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — Middletown Mayor Tony Perry met with the township’s Board of Education members to discuss the district’s controversial budget proposal that could result in the closure of two elementary schools and a major reconfiguration of local education facilities. The Middletown school board, under the leadership of President Frank Capone and Vice President Jacqueline Tobacco, has come under fire for a series of recent missteps culminating on Tuesday with hundreds of residents being locked out of a meeting. At that meeting, it was announced the district would be shutting down three schools. Perry made it known today that he

State Lawmakers Call Meeting After Embattled Middletown School Board Announces Three School Closures

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 21, 20250

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — Monmouth County lawmakers are calling for an urgent meeting with Gov. Phil Murphy and Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer following a controversial Middletown Township School District proposal that would close two elementary schools to address a multimillion-dollar funding shortfall. The incident unfolded this week as hundreds of parents lined up outside a scheduled board meeting and were locked out. Police were called and the Middletown School Board refused to reschedule the meeting for a larger venue. In the aftermath, residents of Middletown called for the removal of School Board President Frank Capone and Board Vice President Jacqueline Tobacco.

Somebody Stole $15 Million in Lakewood and Local Authorities Have Clammed Up

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 20, 20250

LAKEWOOD, NJ – If you’re arrested for shoplifting in most towns in New Jersey, your name could show up in a weekly police blotter within days. But if you steal $15 million from a public school district, prosecutors, attorney generals, and police public information officers clam up, especially if that theft happened in Lakewood, New Jersey. The Lakewood Public School District finds itself embroiled in yet another chapter of financial controversy as questions mount over the theft of $15 million from its operating funds and the state’s refusal to reappoint its longtime school board attorney. More than a month after

Bill Spadea vows to reopen Middletown schools if elected governor, warns of morally bankrupt board members

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 20, 20250

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea is promising to intervene in the ongoing turmoil within the Middletown school district, vowing to reopen three shuttered schools if he wins the election. In a post on social media, Spadea addressed parents, teachers, and students directly, stating, “When I’m Governor we will get these three schools open. Our Department of Education will be a protector for parents and kids when local boards fail.” Spadea also voiced support for school board members Mark Soporowski and Joe Fitzgerald, while taking aim at Middletown Board of Education President Frank Capone and Vice President Jacqueline

They’re Hiding Information From Us: Middletown Residents Locked Out of School Closure Meeting

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 19, 20250

MIDDLETOWN, NJ—Tensions are boiling over in Middletown as parents, teachers, and community members protest the Board of Education’s decision to close three local schools. Last night, the board held a meeting at which the district announced it would be closing three schools. Hundreds of parents were locked out of the meeting, and the school district called cops to provide security. The district’s controversial plan to shut down Bayshore Middle School, Navesink Elementary, and Leonardo Grade School has sparked accusations of secrecy and mismanagement. Residents claim the board attempted to conceal critical details and rushed the vote without proper transparency. A

Financially Underwater Middletown Announces Closure of Three Schools – Police Called to Keep Parents Out

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 18, 20250

Middletown, NJ – Things got a bit heated in Middletown Tuesday night as parents were locked out as others shouted in frustration over the announcement that multiple schools are now facing closure. The Middletown Township Public School District has unveiled a dramatic proposal to close three schools—Leonardo Elementary, Navesink Elementary, and Bayshore Middle School—as part of a broader effort to address a looming financial crisis. Superintendent Jessica Alfone announced the plan, dubbed “Middletown Reimagined,” on Tuesday, citing a $10-million budget deficit and a significant drop in state aid as the driving forces behind the decision. According to Jersey Coast Emergency

Anti-Choking Devices to be Added to New Jersey Schools if New Bill Passes

Breaking Local News ReportMarch 18, 20250

TRENTON, NJ — A bill that would require schools to have portable anti-choking devices and train staff in their use has passed the Senate Education Committee, lawmakers announced Monday. Sponsored by Senator Kristin M. Corrado (R-40) and Senator Parker Space (R-24), the legislation, S-908, mandates that anti-choking devices be available in school cafeterias, nurses’ offices, and other designated areas. School nurses and employees would also receive training, and the Department of Education would reimburse schools for related costs. “Every second counts in an emergency, and this bill ensures that schools are prepared to act swiftly and effectively,” Corrado said. “No