VIDEO: Attorney Michael Inzelbuch: The State of Special Education In Lakewood

VIDEO: It has been a little over a year since the Board opted for another law Firm (Schwartz Simon Edelstein and Celso) to replace long term attorney Michael Inzelbuch, and it appears that the delivery of special education services for both public and non public students within the district have become a bigger problem than ever before. Since June, 2013, the Board has opted to replace the Firm of Schwartz Simon with another state wide Firm after reportedly the very Firm that was to reduce costs, in fact, rang up higher bills and lost numerous cases.

TLS spoke with Michael Inzelbuch, Esq and two of his Lakewood public school clients (see the attached video).

In addition, Mr Inzelbuch made it clear that he is “not interested at this time ” to return to Lakewood. Mr Inzelbuch also shared with TLS two recent Court Decisions where his clients prevailed and obtained services from the district that were denied. (see documents here and here) .

Lastly, Mr. Inzelbuch provided the following written statement

“Lakewood, where I live, work, and went to school (LHS 1983) is a great place with a lot of dedicated and talented staff both in our public and private schools. The Board also has some talented and caring members. However, what has occurred due to a host of factors is what once was “organized chaos” has become “DISorganized chaos” both in the public and non public domains. Reportedly staff are being instructed to deny public schools students much needed services, African Americans are being denied services reportedly because of the fear of “over classification”, and children who have IEPs for schools based on need, as opposed to arbitrary lists, are being told that they no longer can attend. In fact, I am preparing a civil rights claim as it relates to the failure to treat Latino students in a fair fashion. As far as non public schools I am very excited that choices continues to “open up” for special ed and Title 1 services but, unfortunately, services have not improved over the last year based on my discussions with parents, staff, and with 2 vendors “TOK” and “Psych Ed”, scrambling unfairly for payment from the Board. As to the new law Firm (as of June 2013) one need only review the most recent Decision of the Office of Administrative Law obtained earlier this week to see what they are about, or at the very least some of the lawyers who work there. G-d bless Lakewood.”

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34 COMMENTS

  1. And to think I was just about to register my child in the prestigious Lakewood Public Schools. How could I now after seeing this so convincing video!

  2. I think that all of the board members should fall on their faces in front of MR. INSBACH and beg him to return as their lawyer, with a huge raise in salary. They are loosing so much money because of all the gaiva they have. When he was their attorney he won all of the cases for the district, so what if he was controlling – that’s how you win cases – being controlling and knowing what’s going on. Btw when he was the board attorney he helped out the mosdos more than anything.

  3. Not wanting to bust anyone of the previous posters comments, but I am
    Not quite sure why this video was posted on TLS.

    Was this video:

    A: A paid ad for the law firm of Michael Inzelbuch?
    B: Someone’s personal agenda with the School District?

    While TLS should report news items, it is MHO that these items are not TLS news-worthy.

    What one person allegedly told the young lady from Costa Rica is pure hearsay. Notwithstanding Michael’s assertion that others verified the statement, I still think that it is hearsay.
    ( Since this is an open forum, can an attorney respond if I am correct that this is in fact hearsay)
    Even assuming, for argument sake that the statement was in fact made, and it is not hearsay, Would Michael be happy if during his tenure as board attorney a Public school employee made a foolish insensitive comment and someone posted that unfortunate statement on a public website, would Michael approve? Is it the correct thing to do. Should we post all skeletons and put everyone in a bad light because of one person.

    Of course not. It was a terrible thing that the person said, but should not be posted.

    If Michael was successful in Court, I tip my hat and say, hooray for Michael, but please don’t use TLS to post these items that are hearsay, or at the least, disrespectful to all the wonderful Public School employees. Please Don’t bash a whole institution because of the statements of one individual.

    As for the Uzi’s, this can happen in any district. It is not a Lakewood issue. It is heartwarming that they got the school of their choice, but please, it is not fair to do a hatchet-job on Lakewood based on these two items that could have happened anywhere, even in the best district.

    PS: I am not employed by the district.

  4. Thank you David for your words of wisdom and for speaking the truth. Many Lakewood Board of Education employees are hardworking and do not deserve the negative light and bad taste this leaves on people’s mouths.

  5. Dear David :

    Please read what I wrote ,in part , to wit “there are many fine staff in Lakewood.” I , unlike most would know that as a LHS graduate .

    But please do not address what you don’t know
    1. What is going on here is not the norm. As someone who has and continues to represents children and staff in more than 60 districts from Newark to Marlboro from Passaic to Ocean and alot in between it is not the norm

    2. As to when I represented Lakewood again you are incorrect . When it came to the attention of the Administration or myself as to aberrant comments or actions swift action was taken such as racist remarks by the few “bad apples ” or when a teacher opted to lose his cool with a student . This despite the pressures of Lakewood politics .

    Take your head out of the sand and STOP implying what was NOT said .Focus on the issues that is effecting all of us , public school kids have rights whether they can vote or not , whether they live on 14th street or east 4th , and whether they look like me or not .

    Lakewood is love but live cant be blinding

  6. Now for my comment on the video; seems to me that this is pure revenge on the district. What else is Mr. Inzelbuch trying to do aside from badmouth the district? I do believe he is generalizing instead of honing in on the specific employee who made the inappropriate comment to Ms. Soto and ensuring that corrective action is taken, likely the suspension or firing of this employee.

  7. If you don’t want a lawsuit, the simple (more cost-saving) solution is to adhere to the child’s lawfully mandated rights in the first place. Otherwise, the taxpayers will end up paying the high legal and other costs for your illegal mistakes.

    The question then becomes, who is providing the unsound legal advice to those in positions of administrative authority that is costing us so many dollars??

  8. Michael, I thank you for taking the time to respond.

    Unfortunately you failed to address two outstanding items of my previous post.

    A: With all due respect, if have an issue with an employee that made an extremely insensitive remark, you have two choices: Either bring it to the attention of the Superintendent and have the district handle it internally, or, go to the Courts if you are still unsatisfied.
    Why do you bring it up here on TLS? What do you gain?
    Also, why are you putting ethnicity into this for no reason:
    I quote your post: “public school kids have rights whether they can vote or not , whether they live on 14th street or east 4th , and whether they look like me or not ”
    Guess what? We ALL AGREE!!!
    And I’m sure, so does the district.
    My gripe with video was that this forum, the world wide web, is, IMHO not the right place to bring up these type of grievances.
    It is totally inappropriate to begin the entire video on what was allegedly said (hearsay notwithstanding) by ONE individual.

    It was one person !!!

    What one employee allegedly said is not indicative. Why do we need this broadcasted to world?
    Let the employee be admonished. But, for what purpose does it belong on TLS?

    B: you also indicate that swift action was taken when you were running things. If so, wonderful. But you never responded to my post whether would you have wanted that “aberrant” individuals peccadillos posted on the web.

    I’m sure not.

    In summary, I posted my earlier comment so that you would reconsider that maybe this is not the correct forum for these allegations. And that, possibly, in the future you would not post these instances for the world to see.

    I did not “IMPLY” anything. It was you that brought up the insensitive remark of the employee. Why?

    Congratulations on your student placement and please let’s keep the discussion civil and on-point.

    You won a victory for a student. That’s great!! Please don’t turn it into 14th vs. East 4th.

    Without any direct knowledge, I’m sure many 14th street individuals were denied placement as well. And trust me, my head is not in the sand!!

    It’s just not right to turn this particular child’s placement into 14 vs. E4!

    As the poster @ 10:33pm eloquently stated: we “do not deserve the negative light and bad taste this leaves on people’s mouths”

    Therefore, Please reconsider whether this is the correct forum for these allegations. You must admit these assertions leave us all with a bad taste.
    I Thank you

  9. The big issue is who is running things in special education? Are the child study team members “bullied” into making decisions for fear of retribution??? As we are able to elect board members, the district iseforced to accept administration who in fact bully teachers and support staff. Like stated above, there are wonderful teachers who give so much of themselves for these special needs students. The thanks they get is often being moved around the district or negative observations. Perhapsvthese lawsuits will assist the board members and attorney into taking a hard look at the causes.

  10. It’s amazing how MI gets his video on here. I’m so glad David brought up the obvious questions as to why this video was posted on here. I wonder was it a paid ad? There are different opinions on MI and TLS won’t post all the opinions just the positive ones.

  11. David

    Please call me to discuss
    7329050325

    By the way I did report the employee to the superintendent . No response .

    Also –feel free to come to Lakewood schools — the junta is NOT helping the kids despite all the hard work of 99% of the staff.

    Also — right now I have over 20 Lakewood students and staff as clients and there seems to be a pattern .

    We lawyers call it institutional discrimination

    Say what you want but as I was in Coutt again today on another Lakewoid student who was denied services .

    Better yet — can I call you — what’s your full name and number ?

  12. can anyone figure out why david feels this is not newsworthy?

    only the other side of the story is newsworthy, only when tls says how everything is all fine a dandy its news worthy?

    thank you TLS or covering this, all of us parents, tax payers, and community members deserved to know what is going on.

    Thank you to the true news source TLS.

  13. Michael:

    What I’m not understanding, and I mean this with no disrespect, is the following question:

    While you were board attorney, did ALL students get the placement they wanted?

    Did everyone get the schooling that the Uzi’s got?
    Did all parents that needed a child in Schi, did they receive the schooling and placement of their choice?

    Was there no litigation pending before you when you were attorney?

    You indicate that “right now I have over 20 Lakewood students and staff as clients and there seems to be a pattern.”

    Are you saying that in Lakewood of yore, all was hunky-dory?

    I think it would be a good guess to say that when you were Attorney there were issues as well. And I’m sure the attorney before you had issues too.

    There are always people that need services that do not get it. And these people will be upset. And it is their right!!

    I’m sure that you have people upset about placement in Short Hills NJ and as well in Newark.

    Therefore, again, I appreciate your response, but I do not think that it is appropriate to bash Lakewood School District without hearing the District side.

    Also, I reiterate, in the event you had, as board attorney, litigation with a parent when you were representing the School, would you want the attorney representing the student to air his grievances on the Scoop?

    Michael, as you can see from the comments, you are well-liked by many people in Lakewood. Although my comment was respectful, most posters were on your side of this issue (although I am not sure why 🙂 Therefore i do not understand why is it necessary to use the Scoop?

    I understand you say that you attempted a resolution with the superintendent. However, I still stand by my previous statement that this posting leaves a bad taste.

    Therefore, I requested previously that you reconsider whether this is the proper forum.

    Thank you once again for your previous responses and I look forward to continuing our civil discussion as long as we are welcome on the Scoop.

    David

  14. Its amazing how one sides this site is. Inzelbuch mutsve paid u big bucks for this. And I am sure there ate loadsof comments u didn’t post because you don’t agree with them. Sick.

  15. David

    I await your call ? Again, my number is 7329050325.

    David ?

    Regardless if your name is David or Chris or Jemel — let me respond

    When I was attorney for the then Board there were many lawsuits and we won everyone –won meani g in accord with expert opinion and the law. Not always liked –threatened –but the staff was in the right even though I often could not sleep at night .

    Yes –

    As to students –not one case was lost and not one case was pursued nor settled unless and until a third party expert often selected by or known to the parents reviewed the matter from
    an educational perspective

    Yes –there were people who were upset and wanted the BEST for their kids BUT each matter was independently reviewed and a team of experts made the decision –not me –not Ms Tobi a –not Ms Winters –not a singular CST member –but a true educational collaborative effort

    As to short hills or Newark –there is nothing like this I have encountered other than perhaps one Board in Monmouth County –but even there the denial of services was to All —not based on who can vote , who can speak English , not who knows who .

    The scoop –like it or not –is read by the players –and the time has come to get out the truth –all is not honkey dorey in the hamlet of Lakewood and their is a pattern of denial of FAPE

    Bad taste — get real — Lakewood staff is GREAT — I know as a student and a resident and a lawyer –BUT –despite protestations to the contrary — kids wirh needs are worse off now –ask the many child study team members who allegedly have been told to do as told –not what they feel is appropriate .

    Today I was in court again as to a Lakewood public school student who was correctly offered services by the child study team but did not get same reportedly because of the unilateral action of an administrator

    I will not continue our discussion on the scoop but I look forward to your call whatever your real name is

    The scoop — the parents and quadrants need to know it does not matter who the lawyer is this week or who is in charge in the current Wild West that ALL kids have rights as I told the more than 18’parenrsi have met wit and will be meeti g with on Sunday —

    Really — come and visit Lamewood schools and speak with the special. Educators who are dedicated but allegedly scared , harassed , Etc

  16. David Bless you for responding respectfully and to the point. I agree why bash the district and an employee based on hearsay…lets hear the other side of the story..what does the district have to say. Good for the superintendent for not responding, they should not feel that they have to jump and almost sure they will address what they feel needs to be addressed. This was so inappropriate of this attorney to post these cases here and why would parents agree to this as well. What are they thinking? Hope all works well for everyone. David continue with your civil discussions and it doesn’t matter who you are you make a lot of sense.

  17. hey david how bout call MI and let us all knw here how the conv went….how bout a word for word documentation of it. I would be curious to see that.

  18. To those questioning why their comments were not posted.

    The option to post anonymously is limited to those who wish to have a civilized conversation. Attacking someone personally, defamation, accusations and cursing – no matter who they are directed to – cross the line and are therefore blocked.

    If you believe your comment met our commenting criteria but was still blocked, feel free to contact us.

  19. Finally, Michael Inzelbuch is precisely where he belongs: on the outside, attacking the District for denying entitled special services, not on the inside, orchestrating the District’s denial of such services.

  20. Dear” Finally”
    I looked for your name and could not find it –but better yet –please call me or stop by my home in the evening ,1414 14 th street

    During the approximately 12 years of service (and yes earning a handsome fee) many parents and quardians did and with the collaborative efforts of the Administration ,the Child Study Teams , and the then Board hundreds of kids regardless of color ,religion, ability to speak English , public or non public received creative and truly individualized services supported by the law and educational experts .

    But then again –you could of been 1 of the parents who wanted something that was BEST for your child but not merely appropriate as the law requires or something based solely on personal preferences which is your right but not the districts obligation .

    Regardless –let’s talk

    Michael

  21. Dear Finally,
    I had to add a comment. Michael Inzelbuch is the best advocate for children regardless which side he is on. His first concern is the child. He has personally enabled my child to be all that he/ she can be. My Husband and myself can never put into words the impact that Michael has had on our lives. Those who attack Mr. inzelbuch for his ” antics ” and or “salary” both of which Mr. I nzelbuch owns and does not deny would hope that if they had a child with needs Michael Inzelbuch would neither be on the inside or outside but ” on their side”. I also feel a need to mention that the ” community ” fails to mention that Mr. inzelbuch is a very generous man who believes in paying it forward. Why doesnt anyone comment on all the mitzvahs?

Comments are closed.