Nutley opens Early Childhood Center; board approves two-month lease of 777 Bloomfield Ave

The Nutley Board of Education approved a two-month access agreement to rent 777 Bloomfield Ave for Sept. 1'Oct. 31, 2025, and heard from Superintendent Beinyer about the district's new Nutley Early Childhood Center, which officials said will open for students on Sept. 3.

The access agreement with 777 Nutley LLC and 413 Nutley LLC was brought forward as a walk-on addendum and approved by roll call; the board authorized the business administrator to execute the agreement contingent on state monitor and board-attorney approval. Superintendent Beinyer announced the district's expansion of the Raising Raiders preschool program to add roughly 130 seats for 3- and 4-year-olds and said a brief meet-and-greet for preschool families is scheduled for Sept. 2.

The move puts preschool classrooms on Bloomfield Avenue into use for the start of the 2025'16 school year, district officials said. "First and foremost, we are thrilled to announce the opening of the Nutley Early Childhood Center on Bloomfield Avenue," Beinyer told the board, adding that the district is working with the township and thanked staff including April Viriello and Daniella deCunha and facilities staff for summer preparations.

In public comment, staff member Cheryl Glasso asked how preschool funding and other items will be sustained. Business Administrator DeVita said preschool expansion funding is allocated year to year by the state and that the district's director of early childhood is paid from preschool funds rather than the general fund. DeVita and other officials explained that the district is responsible for the special-education share of preschool costs and that the $478,000 on the bills list in June represented the district's local share for preschool special-education obligations.

Board members and administration also clarified the district's property arrangement: the board will lease 777 Bloomfield Ave from the township while attorneys finalize terms. The board's ability to buy property would require a voter-approved bond referendum; municipal borrowing rules differ, officials said. DeVita said the district is still looking to vacate and possibly sublease its Valley National office lease, which he said has about three years remaining.

Other questions during public comment included staff dress-code enforcement, an extended-day support stipend and the use of Title III immigrant funds to support an immersion "excursion" camp for newcomer students. Officials said dress and uniform policies exist and are enforced when brought to administration's attention, the extended-day support stipend was carried over from the prior year in place of a secretarial position, and Title III funds were used for an immersion-style camp for students new to the district.

Votes at a glance

- Walk-on addendum: Approve access agreement to rent 777 Bloomfield Ave (term 09/01/2025'10/31/2025). Outcome: approved (roll call); agreement contingent on state monitor and board-attorney approval.

What this means

The short-term lease will allow the district to occupy classroom space on Bloomfield Avenue when preschool classes open next month. District leaders said the arrangement preserves flexibility while legal and monitoring approvals are finalized. Officials emphasized that state preschool funding allocations are decided annually and that local special-education obligations must be met by districts.

The board adjourned to an executive session earlier in the meeting to discuss contracts and legal matters before returning to vote on the access agreement.