Judge Says Interlaken Students Can Continue To Attend West Long Branch, Shore Regional Schools

Interlaken children will still be allowed to attend the West Long Branch School District and Shore Regional after an administrative law judge recently handed down his ruling.

Interlaken is a non-operating district and does not have any schools, but by state law, is a sending district to Asbury Park city schools.

The interim executive Monmouth County superintendent, wrote the Interlaken board March 12 that it ignored a directive last August that said the district was sending the children on a sending-receiving basis that was not approved by the state commissioner and that contract had to be rescinded. This forced the schools' boards to take action to allow the students to continue to attend the West Long Branch schools.

West Long Branch Interim Superintendent/Business Administrator Herbert Massa and that the schools' attorneys began arguing to allow the students to stay.

Massa said 17 Interlaken children attend the West Long Branch Public Schools and two attend Shore Regional.

Massa said Department of Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf must still ratify the judge's decision within 45 days of the ruling which took place on May 10.

Interlaken children will still be allowed to attend and enroll at Shore Regional and the West Long Branch School District until Cerf makes a decision.