School Board Notes – March 3, 2026
Dr. Lily Laux Confirmed as Commissioner of New Jersey Department of Education For NJSBA Education News anytime, visit the NJSBA website homepage, and scroll down the page to News and Resources.
Asbury Park Press
Ocean Gate School to close at end of June
The borough’s Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday, March 3, to close the school and send its roughly 140 students to Berkeley Township elementary schools.
Chalkbeat
Trump education policy: closing Education Department, maintaining federal power in schools
Since taking office, the Trump administration has offered a consistent message: It’s getting the feds out of the way of schools by trying to abolish the Education Department. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has vowed to “break up the federal education bureaucracy,” “return education to the states,” and “empower local leaders.”
MyCentralJersey.com
Somerset Hills school bond vote could lower taxes
Voters in Bernardsville, Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone will go to the polls on Tuesday, March 10, to decide the fate of a $38 million bond referendum that seeks to fund upgrades for all three schools in the grades K-12 Somerset Hills Regional School District. Also covered on newjerseyhills.com.
NJ.com
2 NJ schools are closing, enraging parents. ‘There is no plan,’ board member says – (MSN.com)
The school board voted 5-4 to direct officials to craft a budget anticipating the closure of Leonardo Elementary School and Navesink Elementary School during a tense and confrontational Feb. 26 meeting.
NJ Spotlight News
Q&A: Why are NJ’s poor schoolkids lagging behind Mississippi’s?
The Magnolia State spends less than half of what New Jersey does on education, yet its fourth-graders do better on standardized reading and math tests.
Lawmakers propose ways to improve ‘shameless’ state budget process Proposed changes would establish more transparency to Trenton’s late-June budget-approval process.
TAPinto.net
The assembly, hosted in the Mt. Horeb all-purpose room, focused on fostering inclusivity and helping students understand that differences, both visible and invisible, are what make each person unique.
Redwood Elementary School Students Take Second Place in African-American History Contest
This is the inaugural year for the contest, which was established to highlight New Jersey African American history.
Paramus Celebrates School Social Workers Paramus Public Schools are honoring its staff for National School Social Work Week.