Tag: #middletown

Five candidates have filed petitions to run for two open seats on the Middletown Township Committee in the June 2, 2026 primary, according to the latest candidate list produced by election officials. The field includes a contested Republican primary and a two-candidate Democratic slate for the seats to be decided in November.

The race comes at a moment of transition in local government. One incumbent is not seeking re-election, the current mayor is running for county commissioner, and a sitting board of education member is seeking higher office. The Republican primary, in particular, reflects a split between county-backed candidates and an independent challenger.

Middletown operates under the Township Committee form of government, with five members elected at-large to staggered three-year terms. The committee reorganizes annually in January, selecting a mayor and deputy mayor from among its members for one-year terms.

Seven parents have filed a Petition of Appeal with the New Jersey Commissioner of Education challenging Middletown Township Board of Education’s plan to close three schools: Leonardo Elementary School, Navesink Elementary School, and Bayshore Middle School.¹

Beyond the immediate dispute, the filing raises broader transparency and accountability questions in local school governance, particularly regarding reliance on outside consultants and the availability of supporting documentation when major restructuring decisions advance.

The filing asks the Commissioner to void the board’s closure resolution and order interim relief, including directing the district to keep the schools open through the 2026–27 school year, along with additional disclosure and oversight measures.²

Procedurally, the filing begins an administrative appeal with the Commissioner of Education, who has authority to resolve disputes arising under New Jersey’s school laws. The Commissioner may decide the matter directly or refer it to the Office of Administrative Law for a hearing before an administrative law judge. The petition states the parents are seeking administrative review through the Department of Education and, “if necessary,” judicial review in the appellate courts.³

This is not the first time the school district’s operations have been challenged in court in connection with keeping schools open.