In this appeal, the court addressees an issue of first impression –– whether a school district merged with another school district under N.J.S.A. 18A:8-44 has standing to withdraw from that district to join a newly formed all-purpose regional school district pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:13-47.11.
Oceanport Board of Education and Shore Regional High School District Board of Education appeal from the September 22, 2023 decision of the Commissioner of Education which determined the Borough of Sea Bright had standing to withdraw from their districts and to petition the Commissioner for approval to join the all-purpose Henry Hudson Regional School District pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:13-47.11.
Following the court's review of the record and applicable law, including the legislative history behind the enactment of N.J.S.A. 18A:13-1 to -81, it concluded the Commissioner's decision correctly interpretated N.J.S.A. 18A:13-47.11 because it comported with the statute's plain language and purpose. The court further concluded N.J.S.A. 18A:13-47.11 was passed as part of a larger statutory scheme following the enactment of N.J.S.A. 40A:65-1 to -35 and N.J.S.A. 18A:8-43 to -51, to provide financial incentives to encourage shared services, financial accountability, and consolidation and regionalization of school districts. The court affirms the decision of the Commissioner since it was supported by the record and was not arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable.