This is not the first time Middletown has faced litigation over keeping schools open.
A previous federal lawsuit during COVID challenged school closures and narrowed to claims against the local district.
We break down the full case and embed the filing: publicrecordnj.com/reporting/mi...
The filing also asks the state to review district finances, including a $7,500 payment to consultant Ross Haber and whether proper contracts or authorizations existed.
It also references outside political spending tied to the 2025 school board election.
The petition raises several claims, including:
• Questions about the “Haber Closure Report” used to support the plan
• Alleged violations of NJ school-closure regulations
• Executive-session discussions about closures
• Agenda notice issues under the Open Public Meetings Act
Seven Middletown parents have filed an appeal with the NJ Commissioner of Education challenging the school board’s Feb. 26 vote to begin closing three schools.
The filing asks the state to void the vote and keep the schools open for 2026–27.
Full story + filing: publicrecordnj.com/reporting/mi...
What happens when someone files a “petition of appeal” against a NJ school district?
New guide: what the Commissioner can hear, service and deadlines, when cases go to OAL, and how final decisions get appealed.
Screenshot of ProPublica webpage titled “Explore Financial Disclosures From President Trump and 1,500 of His Appointees,” accompanied by this blurb: “Use this database to explore potential conflicts of interest for President Donald Trump and his team. The documents disclose positions officials have held outside government, their assets and their debts, among other things.” A search bar prompts the user to search for a person or financial holding.
THREAD: We just released a tool that allows you to search billions of dollars in wealth, ties to the most powerful companies in the country, and details of the personal finances of President Trump and over 1,500 of his appointees.
Here’s how it works 1/
Hundreds of public school districts operate in New Jersey.
Only two appear in lobbying disclosure records.
Middletown is one of them.
Full investigation (with records cited):
publicrecordnj.com/reporting/mi...
Read together, the records show connections across three disclosure systems that are rarely examined together:
• campaign finance reports
• PAC filings
• state lobbying disclosures
Campaign finance records from the 2025 Middletown school board election show:
• Donations from individuals connected to district vendors
• A PAC funding campaign mailers supporting the same slate of candidates
• The same campaign vendor appearing across multiple filings
Campaign finance records from the 2025 Middletown school board election show:
• Donations from individuals connected to district vendors
• A PAC funding campaign mailers supporting the same slate of candidates
• The same campaign vendor appearing across multiple filings
More than 500 public school districts operate across New Jersey.
Only two appear in state lobbying disclosure records.
Public filings show Middletown Township is one of them.
We reviewed campaign finance reports, PAC filings, and lobbying disclosures tied to the 2025 school board election.
🧵
Middletown residents used public comment at Monday night’s Township Committee workshop to press local officials to get involved in the school district’s proposed school closures.
publicrecordnj.com/reporting/mi...
BREAKING: ELEC has filed two enforcement complaints tied to Holmdel political fundraising and reporting.
One names mayor Rocco Impreveduto and his treasurer.
The other names the Holmdel NJ Republican Committee and its treasurer.
We reviewed the filings, the alleged gaps, and what happens next.
Still left unanswered:
How did inflammatory articles about Rodrick appear a Substack linked to Monmouth County Republicans?
Who provided years-old footage from a school assembly?
Was school administration aware of the political ties?
Case status scheduled for March 10. We will keep monitoring.
Rodrick claims that tenure charges were filed against him for actions he took as mayor. One consultant let go by the town is also a political consultant who worked on campaigns for Middletown BOE members.
Middletown denies those allegations and points to disciplinary records as cause.
NEW: Middletown school district filed a response in the lawsuit filed by Dan Rodrick, former teacher and current mayor of Toms River. He claims he was fired from his teaching job as political retribution by board members.
Now, Middletown declines those allegations, while leaving a lot open. 🧵
Still left unanswered:
How did inflammatory articles about Rodrick appear a Substack linked to Monmouth County Republicans?
Who provided years-old footage from a school assembly?
Was school administration aware of the political ties?
Case status scheduled for March 10. We will keep monitoring.
Rodrick claims that tenure charges were filed against him for actions he took as mayor. One consultant let go by the town is also a political consultant who worked on campaigns for Middletown BOE members.
Middletown denies those allegations and points to disciplinary records as cause.
Middletown BOE voted 5–4 to advance closure of Leonardo & Navesink Elementary as part of the 2026–27 budget.
The vote came after hours of emotional public testimony — and a visibly divided board.
Here’s what happened 🧵👇
Read our coverage of a wild night in the Middletown North Auditorium:
publicrecordnj.com/reporting/mi...
The vote doesn’t immediately close schools — it embeds consolidation into the upcoming budget plan.
What happens if the state delays or denies approval?
What are the true capital and transportation costs?
How does this benefit students?
The closure resolution was added to the agenda after executive session.
No detailed retrofit cost plan was presented.
State approval is still required.
The superintendent’s retirement was accepted the same night.
At one point, the Board President asked police to intervene during public comment.
Middletown BOE voted 5–4 to advance closure of Leonardo & Navesink Elementary as part of the 2026–27 budget.
The vote came after hours of emotional public testimony — and a visibly divided board.
Here’s what happened 🧵👇
12:39 AM ET and meeting is still going on.
Middletown BOE voted to close two schools without presenting any supporting data showing a financial nor educational benefit. No board member actually spoke on record advocating for plan. Hours of community comment, not one person supporting plan. Story TK tomorrow.
The debate now unfolds alongside the superintendent’s pending retirement. Our latest report reviews the budget record, strategic planning timeline, and what was presented publicly.
Read more: publicrecordnj.com/middletown-b...
At the Feb 19 workshop, the Board reviewed facilities data from the Ross Haber study and multi year deficit projections reaching $13.9M by 2029–2030 under status quo assumptions. No vote occurred, but direction must be set before the March budget introduction.
In March 2025, Middletown BOE raised taxes 10.1% to avoid closing schools and committed to a long term strategic planning process. Nearly one year later, consolidation and redistricting are back under discussion as a $3.2M shortfall emerges for 2026–2027.
Middletown BOE discussing closing schools to address $3.2m budget gap. In fiery discussion with board members and the public, superintendent of schools says "all options are on the table". No mention from board or administration that superintendent has resigned her position, effective June 30.
NEW: DOJ told a judge in New Jersey that it had violated court orders about 54 times between Dec. 5 and this week — the latest accounting of a phenomenon that used to be rare and is now rampant. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
