Reporting

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.

Alex Zdan is continuing to gather county endorsements as he seeks the Republican nomination for United States Senate. Recent reporting by the New Jersey Globe states that the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization has endorsed his candidacy. That county joins Burlington, Essex, and Passaic in supporting the former News 12 reporter in his bid to challenge Senator Cory Booker in November.

Zdan previously sought the Senate nomination in 2024. During that campaign he secured several county endorsements before withdrawing after news reports disclosed a prior arrest for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.

Public reporting and campaign filings indicate that Zdan remained politically active after ending that campaign. During the period between the 2024 race and his current 2026 bid:

• Zdan formed Authentic Leadership for America (ALFA PAC), a political action committee registered with both the Federal Election Commission and the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
• He joined TV Asia as a political contributor and launched a program titled Inside the Headlines with Alex Zdan.
• Politico reported he briefly explored a congressional run for the seat held by Rep. Herb Conaway (D-NJ-3).
• TAPinto reported he sought consideration for appointment to the Robbinsville Township Council but was not selected.
• Before ultimately entering the 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Federal campaign finance reports and promotional materials associated with ALFA PAC provide additional insight into that period. Together, these records show modest fundraising activity and a series of public events involving Republican officials and conservative advocacy organizations.

Public Record NJ has previously reported on Zdan’s connections within the county party organization in an earlier analysis of the Monmouth County GOP and the disappearing Alex Zdan articles. This article reviews those filings and related public records to document Zdan’s political activity between the end of his 2024 Senate campaign and the start of his 2026 bid.

In New Jersey, many disputes about whether school districts are following state education laws are handled through an administrative process at the New Jersey Department of Education, not in a traditional courtroom. Most of those cases are decided by the Commissioner of Education, the state official who interprets and enforces school laws.

For parents and community members, the key point is that this process has formal rules. Deadlines, service requirements, and the written record built through filings can shape whether a dispute is heard on the merits. These cases are commonly called “school law petitions” or “petitions of appeal.”

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission has issued a consent order final decision against Daniel T. Rodrick, the mayor of Toms River, resolving an enforcement complaint tied to his 2023 mayoral campaign filings.

The final decision, issued February 17, 2026, matters because it is the Commission’s formal resolution of the enforcement case. It closes the pending complaint and sets the penalty amount, rather than presenting a preliminary allegation. The matter was handled as an administrative enforcement action under New Jersey’s campaign-finance law.

The Commission dismissed the Count One allegation that Rodrick failed to report three expenditures totaling $32,021.38, but imposed penalties for late reporting of contributions, accepting two excessive contributions, and incorrect reporting of a contribution. The final decision states the Commission reduced a $7,207.36 penalty to $5,765.89 and acknowledged receipt of the payment. The case is captioned as a “Consent Order Final Decision” in ELEC v. Daniel Rodrick, C-G 15080102-G2023.¹