The New Jersey Board of Education voted Wednesday to return control of the Paterson School District to local officials.

According to reports, the board says the state intervened in 1991 when the district was engulfed in several scandals over financial irregularities and nepotism.

The school district has 29,000 students, about 3,900 employees and an annual budget of about $618 million.

When the state took over the district, dramatic changes were implemented. They included the elimination of art and music classes in favor of more academic instruction. AP wire services helped contribute to this report.