JACKSON – The sale of the Rosenauer Elementary School, which closed last year due to the financial shortfall, is underway, officials said.
“We are pleased to report that we have a fully executed contract for the sale of the Rosenauer Elementary School at the agreed-upon price of $13.1 million. We are scheduled to close on the sale in early June,” School District spokeswoman Allison Erwin said in a statement.
“We are aware of the information circulating about a lawsuit filed by the prospective buyer (Bais Yaakov of Jackson) regarding their perception of the terms of our agreement. That lawsuit has been withdrawn,” she said. “Recognizing that real estate transactions are complicated, we are pleased to report that we have come to a full agreement on all terms.”
Bais Yaakov is an arm of the Lakewood-based Bais Faiga School, which is an all-girls’ component of the Lakewood Cheder School.
The School Board told Bais Yaakov that it was moving in a different direction on March 10. On March 19, Board members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing district executives to rebid Rosenauer to other bidders and explore alternate uses for the property if an agreement wasn’t established. An agreement however was reached on March 28.
A lawsuit was filed in Ocean County chancery court last month by Bais Yaakov alleging that the township Board of Education (BOE) had amended the terms and conditions of the group’s agreement to purchase the school for $13.1 million.
There was a back and forth between the district and the buyer of the 62-year-old building regarding such issues as the deposit and the mortgage contingency period.
The school was closed and put up for sale to meet a fiscal shortfall in its 2024-2025 school year due to a reduction in state aid funding that the school district has been experiencing since 2017 after Trenton revised its state aid formula S-2.
Those fiscal challenges persist and the district has also seen a decline in enrollment which has also impacted its state aid funding. This led to the district merging two middle schools and realigning its high school students from two high schools to one.
School Merging Committees
Several committees have been formed to help with the transition process involved. Those committees have held meetings recently.
The Middle School Merging Committee, which includes staff and PTN volunteers held its first meeting and discussed various ideas to support students as they transition to the new middle school. The Christa McAuliffe Middle School will close next year as part of the school district’s strategic plan restructuring.
Plans by the committee include opportunities for students to interact before the end of the school year and strategies for acclimating them to the new building. The committee also explored creating small communities within the school to foster a positive and supportive environment for all students.
The Upper Elementary Merging Committeewill focus on planning transitional activities to help students adjust to their new school and take advantage of the opportunities available to them. Additional volunteers are being sought.
Spelling Bee and DECA Winners
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli noted some good news during a recent Board of Education meeting noting a spelling bee held within the district that had 25 students competing in this year’s event.
“I am so impressed by these students and their strong skills in spelling that many of us as adults may struggle with and thank you to the staff who coordinated and ran that event,” the superintendent said.
She also noted the DECA student winners from the Jackson Memorial High School chapter of New Jersey DECA who “joined 4,600 high schools in competing in the areas of business, finance, hospitality and marketing in an annual competition in career development. The winners will advance to an international competition in Orlando Florida. We have some students that will be attending that.”
In Need Of Bus Drivers
Pormilli stressed that the district is still in need of bus drivers. “If you know anyone interested, please pass along the information and ask them to apply.”
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