School Board Notes
School-Board – Notes-Aug. 25, 2026
Lead Story: SEHBC Fails to Adopt Plan Year 2027 Active Employee Rate Increases For NJSBA Education News anytime, visit the NJSBA website homepage, and scroll down to News and Resource.
Asbury Park Press
Lakewood NJ courtesy busing fees more than double after subsidy cut (SportsBookWire.usatoday.com)
Families of non-mandated private and religious school students in the township are scrambling to adjust to a steep financial shock after the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority announced that courtesy busing fees will more than double for the upcoming 2026–27 school year.
Toms River North students paint their parking spots
It’s a long-running tradition at Toms River High School North: incoming seniors gather in early August to paint and personalize their parking spots in the student parking lot prior to the start of the new school year.
Courier Post Cherry Hill
Voters to decide $4.56M Collingswood schools referendum (MSN.com)
On Aug. 19, the Collingswood Board of Education unanimously approved a $4.56 million operational referendum, where voters will have a chance to approve higher property taxes to pull the school district out of financial deficits in November.
New Jersey schools rank best in the nation for attendance, study finds (MSN.com)
Of the approximately 1.3 million students enrolled in New Jersey schools during the 2022-23 school year, 217,387 were chronically absent, according to ProfileTree, a website design agency that analyzed U.S. Department of Education data.
NJ.com
80% of South Orange-Maplewood teachers’ aides won’t return this fall
When special education students return to their classrooms in South Orange-Maplewood Public Schools next week, most of the teacher aides who supported them throughout the school day last year will not be there.
NJ Spotlight
Q&A: Rethinking ‘summer slide’ among poor school kids
Researcher says a lack of supervised activities over the long break may have little to do with achievement gap.
TAPinto.net
East Brunswick Adopts Bell-to-Bell Cellphone and Internet-Enabled Device Restrictions
East Brunswick students will face new bell-to-bell restrictions on cellphones, smartwatches and other personal internet-enabled devices when they return to school in September, following a unanimous Board of Education vote Thursday, Aug. 20.
Franklin Schools Could Spend Nearly $44K on Lock Pouches as Cellphone Ban Takes Effect
With Franklin Township students preparing to return to classrooms under a new bell-to-bell cellphone policy, the Board of Education will consider spending nearly $44,000 on phone lock pouches during its regular meeting Thursday.
What to Know About Westfield Schools’ ‘Bell-to-Bell’ Ban on Cell Phones, Devices
At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Westfield Board of Education approved a new policy to bring the district in line with state law regarding the use of cell phones and other personal internet-connected technology in the classroom.