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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2024Jefferson Township Public Schools Announces Closure of Cozy Lake Elementary School and Sale of Central Office Due to Ongoing Budgetary Challenges
Jefferson Township, NJ – Jefferson Township Public Schools has announced significant changes to its facilities as part of an effort to address the district's ongoing budgetary challenges. Due to the debilitating loss of state aid and limited growth opportunities within the community as a result of the Highlands Act, the district will be closing Cozy Lake Elementary School at the end of the current school year. In addition, the district’s Central Office building will be placed on the real estate market.
Since the adoption of New Jersey's S-2 funding formula in 2018, Jefferson Township Schools has experienced a cumulative loss of nearly $45 million, with annual losses now exceeding $11 million. Despite significant efforts to reduce costs, including administrative, instructional, and support staff cuts, the district is facing a $3 million shortfall heading into the 2025-2026 school year. Rather than addressing the flawed funding formula, the State gave struggling districts the ability to counteract the loss of aid by raising the school tax levy by up to 9.9% at the expense of the local community. In order to avoid placing an undue burden on the taxpayers of Jefferson Township, the difficult decision was made to close Cozy Lake Elementary and sell the Central Office building.
“This is not a decision we made lightly,” said Jeanne Howe, Superintendent of Jefferson Township Schools. “We’ve been forced to make deep cuts across the district, but despite these efforts, we have not been able to close the budget gap caused by the loss of state aid. Closing Cozy Lake and selling the Central Office are necessary steps to ensure we can continue providing quality education for our students.”
District Reconfiguration Plan
To offset the budget crisis, the Board of Education charged the administration with incorporating feedback from a Stakeholder Committee into a comprehensive district reconfiguration plan. The closure of Cozy Lake Elementary is a critical part of this plan designed to optimize space and resources while maintaining academic and developmental programs for students. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the new grade structure will be as follows:
- Most preschool programs will be located at Ellen T. Briggs Elementary School
- Grades K-3 will move to Stanlick and White Rock Elementary Schools.
- Grades 4-12 will be housed at the Middle and High School Campus.
The reconfiguration aims to make better use of the district’s available facilities and resources, ensuring that students receive age-appropriate education and support despite the growing financial challenges.
Sale of Central Office
The district’s Central Office building, located outside the Highlands Act’s protected area, will also be placed for sale. Proceeds from the sale will provide an immediate, one-time infusion of revenue. Central Office staff will be relocated to another district-owned facility once the sale is finalized.
“The sale of the Central Office is one of the few financial opportunities available to us,” Howe added. “With 88% of Jefferson Township’s land protected by the Highlands Act, our ability to increase ratables and grow the community is severely limited. This sale is a necessary part of our effort to stabilize the district’s budget.”
Media Contact:
Heather Racansky, Coordinator of Human and Public Relations
Phone: (973) 663-5787
Email: hracansky@jefftwp.org
About Jefferson Township Public Schools:
Jefferson Township Public Schools serves the students of Jefferson Township, a rural community in Northwest New Jersey. The district aims to be a leader in academic excellence while developing healthy, well-rounded, resourceful students who are positive, contributing members of local and global communities.
